Question about the Pope--I dont understand but want to...

[StormChasr]

What IS important is that, no matter which Christian denomination we practice, we all worship God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; the details thereof are superfluous to that belief.

AMEN, and beautifully put. I go to the Episcopal Church, and could not agree more. Requisat in Pace, John Paul II. +

[Rainband]

Rainband,

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity. To say that Catholics are not Christians is a bit misguided. The original Christians were strictly Cahtolic and Protestantism (which I may very well leave to be a Catholic since Catholicism does follow the teachings of the gospels far more closely than do Protestant teachings, which vascillate with public opinion), only began in the 1500's with Martin Luther.

I was replying to kelly's post. It wasn't mean't to say that there is a difference just that I believe that the blessings by the pope are genuine. But thanks for the info

[Rainband]

Excellent Post Bill

[JTD]

I have a question too:

What led to the disillusionment of so many to the Catholic church. A lot of you here say that you are no longer practicing catholics. Is that because you believe the catholic church is too liberal and the reforms of the 2nd Vatican Council are bad?

I look forward to your thoughts.

[streetsoldier]

Not at all; in my case, I had questions about the differences between the Church's position on governance (nowhere does it state that there should be a "bishop of bishops" running His Church), and the (unrealistic) demands for clerical celibacy, in clear counter to 1 Timothy.

There are also several women mentioned in the Letters of St. Paul describing their obvious clerical service (Phoebe, mentioned in Romans 16, is but one example); the lack of women in the Holy Orders is another question that Rome has yet to address adequately, IMHO.

Other than these, I still retain most of my faith and practice intact; which, after many years, eventually led me to the Anglican Communion.

[MSRobi911]

From some of my friends that were raised catholic and have gone to other churches, their main reason has been divorce.

Divorce in the catholic church is not accepted. You have to get an annulment in the church in order to participate in Holy Communion and sometimes the annulment can not be done.

But, being a convert, I can say that there are just as many back slideing Baptist (they just don't go) as there are Catholics.

Mary

[Stephanie]

The Catholic religion, IMHO, is one of the more restrictive of the religions.

According to the Catholic church, I am damned because I a) married in a Methodist church. My ex was very active in his church, so I saw it was more appropriate to marry there. b) I am divorced. c) I am currently living in sin. Pope John Paul II held up these laws of the Catholic church. However, even though I am not a practicing Catholic, I do believe in God and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I admire and mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II because he was a man that was approachable, respected other people's beliefs, fought for human rights, loved to travel and spread the good word and hope throughout the world be it powerful countries or Third World. He was a Holy man, but not one to be feared, but rather to be embraced.

[StormChasr]

According to the Catholic church, I am damned because I a) married in a Methodist church. My ex was very active in his church, so I saw it was more appropriate to marry there. b) I am divorced. c) I am currently living in sin. Pope John Paul II held up these laws of the Catholic church. However, even though I am not a practicing Catholic, I do believe in God and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I admire and mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II because he was a man that was approachable, respected other people's beliefs, fought for human rights, loved to travel and spread the good word and hope throughout the world be it powerful countries or Third World. He was a Holy man, but not one to be feared, but rather to be embraced

That's why I go to the Episcopal Church for many similar reasons---Catholic Lite= 40% less guilt.

[Stephanie]

According to the Catholic church, I am damned because I a) married in a Methodist church. My ex was very active in his church, so I saw it was more appropriate to marry there. b) I am divorced. c) I am currently living in sin. Pope John Paul II held up these laws of the Catholic church. However, even though I am not a practicing Catholic, I do believe in God and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I admire and mourn the loss of Pope John Paul II because he was a man that was approachable, respected other people's beliefs, fought for human rights, loved to travel and spread the good word and hope throughout the world be it powerful countries or Third World. He was a Holy man, but not one to be feared, but rather to be embraced

That's why I go to the Episcopal Church for many similar reasons---Catholic Lite= 40% less guilt.

Remove the Italian part of me and I'm light as a feather!

[StormChasr]

Remove the Italian part of me and I'm light as a feather

You tooooo!!!! You poor dear child. I empathize completely. My mother's maiden name was Vallone.

[Terry]

Nice discussion streetsoldier.

I'm also a "lite Catholic" Episcopalian and actually spent many Sundays at Catholic Mass with friends who HAD to go to Mass each week. However, I am an Extra Lite Epicopalian, having been brought up in a "low" Episcopal Church.

The Pope, especially this Pope tends to be a spiritual and moral leader for many Christians and even some non-Christians. John Paul II, due in large part to his upbringing in Poland, was able to reach out successfully to those of Jewish faith.

[Stephanie]

Remove the Italian part of me and I'm light as a feather

You tooooo!!!! You poor dear child. I empathize completely. My mother's maiden name was Vallone.

My mother's maiden name is Gentile. I'm only a quarter Italian - the rest is from jolly ol' "Great Britain".

[Rainband]

Excellent post stephanie I agree.

[sunny]

Remove the Italian part of me and I'm light as a feather

You tooooo!!!! You poor dear child. I empathize completely. My mother's maiden name was Vallone.

My mother's maiden name is Gentile. I'm only a quarter Italian - the rest is from jolly ol' "Great Britain".

Okay, Stephanie. ANOTHER reason I like you - I am part English as well! English, Irish and Cherokee Indian.

[Stephanie]

English, Italian, Irish, Scotish and Welsh - in that order. I represent Great Britain very well.

[sunny]

English, Italian, Irish, Scotish and Welsh - in that order. I represent Great Britain very well.

That you do!!

[JTD]

OK, thanks guys.

From what you guys have told me and from reading stuff on the internet, I understand that the catholic church is not "liberal" at all. It's funny I was thinking about joining them yesterday because of how much I admired JP 11 but after finding out some of their policies, I am going to stay far away.

70% of practicing catholics didn't even listen to these policies, btw, according to a poll.

[streetsoldier]

My mother was a Sullivan...Irish, ultra-Catholic, Marianist to the hilt.

After leaving the RC Church, I found myself (after 20 years or so, and many other churches) to be drawn to the "High-Church" Anglican communion...few "musts", but more guiding the communicant to a deeper personal understanding.

I refer to myself as "Anglican" rather than "Episcopalian" due to my rejection of the General Convention's actions two years ago. Much of it was done in spite of the beliefs of the congregations, by Deputies and Bishops desiring to embrace "inclusiveness", even when in violation of Scriptural injunctions.

In matters of faith, I am not "post-modern" at all; why "fix" something that isn't broken, just to accommodate current "trendiness" or change for the sake of change? There are absolute truths, beyond which we must not go.

[Miss Mary]

Well, I was born and raised Catholic. So was my husband and we've raised our daughters in the Catholic faith (public schools though, religious instruction on Sunday mornings at first then for 2 week sessions over the summer). I am so glad my girls were taught in public schools, over strict parochial schools. Early on, circa 1960, I was taught that Catholics were the only ones who would get into Heaven. Yes, nuns actually taught us that. I proceeded to educate and lecture any public school kids I saw on the way home from school (who quite honestly could have been Catholic for all I knew). It's a wonder I got in the front door without being beaten up. I was a skinny, scrawny kid too. Fast forward to when I had children, I was already thinking that whole parocial way of life was close minded and one sided. As stated above, our daughters received religion education on Sunday mornings, later all day 2 week sessions over the summer. Thank goodness the Catholic Church doesn't teach kids today what I was taught. And thank goodness my daughters could have friends of other faiths (I didn't).

I wonder why we are still Catholic and so does my husband. We are both very disgusted at how the CC has handled the sexual abuse cases. Calling it a scandal. Trying to sweep it under the rug, shuffling offending priests to another parish with new pickings (our former Pastor was sent to our parish, after having abused other kids from his previous church, unbelievable).

I am sad the Pope is gone. I am relieved he is in no longer suffering. But as for my opinion on the CC right now, it's not very high. So count me in on one of those disolusioned Catholics. Very much so.

Mary

[streetsoldier]

Mary,

You can thank the American Catholic heirarchy for the cover-ups; Pope John Paul II was MUCH less forgiving (if at all) on this point, but didn't get accurate data often enough to act.

This is one reason why an American Cardinal won't be elected to the Papacy anytime soon; Americans are considered too liberal, headstrong or just plain "squirrelly" for the Universal Church.