The Cross & Icon blog » Catholic

What is the catholic explanation for anything bad that happens in the world?

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:08:32 +0000

For people who do not believe in God, when arguing their point, they often pose this question: "If there is a God, then why does he let bad things happen to good people?" How would a Catholic priest or any informed catholic respond to this question?

Your idea that God judges situations exactly the way that you do is interesting.

Have you ever really thought about that?

Love and blessings Don

What’s the difference between Roman Catholic and just Catholic?

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:20:27 +0000

I was having a conversation with my boyfriend about religions and he asked me if I was Roman or just Catholic. What’s the difference? I’m Catholic, I believe in God and Heaven and Hell and that’s about as far religious as I go. I was Baptized and I had my confirmation.

The word, catholic, means "universal" . All those in Christ everywhere are "the church", the universal church.

Roman Catholic has the Pope in Rome as it’s head, and ascribe to all it’s rites and rituals, etc.

And God never said- to be saved, you must do rites, rituals, oh did you get baptized, confirmed, etc??? No- God says, you must be born again. Do you have Christ?

That is the question, not what denomination you "belong" to.

How do you become excommunicated from the Catholic Church?

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:57:53 +0000

I have a friend who was raised Catholic and thinks it would be really funny to have a letter from the Catholic Church stating that he is excommunicated. So do such letters exist and what is the easiest way to get one?

For all practical purposes a simple lay person will never actually be formally excommunicated and won’t ever get a letter.

It is relatively easy to incur an automatic excommunication – assisting someone in procuring an abortion would do it for sure, but no letter.

Formal excommunication is used primarily for theologians and clergy who teach heresy. Even then, they need to do it pretty publicly to get attention, and then there will be reviews and hearings and advocates etc. It’s a long process.

Formal excommunication could conceivably and possibly may be used on prominent Catholic politicians who support abortion. But one major reason that hasn’t been done so far, is that typically lay people who don’t have Phds. in Theology haven’t been excommunicated formally in decades.

Sorry

How do I return to being Catholic after having forgotten all the teachings?

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 19:16:43 +0000

I became Catholic at age 7. However, over the years, my parents took me to a Presbyterian church. I now want to resume being Catholic. However, at age 21, I have just about no memory of what I knew back then. Thus, How do I resume being Catholic?

If you are interested in rejoining or just learning more about the Catholic Church, contact your local parish and ask for information about their RCIA Inquiry group.

You can go and ask any questions you want.

This is the first step in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) but you can stop at any time.

There is no obligation to become a Catholic.

Some resources: http://www.archdiocese.la/evangelization/rcia/index.php

With love and prayers in Christ.

What is the difference between the Catholic Church and Episcopal Church?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:16:49 +0000

I agree with a lot of the Catholic beliefs.

I do NOT agree with the Catholics Church’s take on homosexuality,infant purgatory and them not ordaining women.

I’ve heard the Episcopal Church is basically the same as the CC except they don’t recognize the Pope and they are more lenient.

So what are the big differences?

The Episcopal church is both catholic and reformed at the same time, holding onto catholicity of the early church all the while seeing this through the enlightenment of the Reformation.

Some of the primary differences of the Episcopal church are rejection of the idea that the Bishop of Rome (Pope) has primary authority over the Church Universal, clergy can marry, transsubtantiation of Eucharist is not mandatory doctrine, females can be ordained as priests in most dioceses and provinces, much less centralized control by church hierarchy, lay persons have far greater involvement in church administration and leadership, bishops are generally elected (as opposed to being appointed by a central authority), and there’s a system of governance that is similar to our federal structure with bicameral houses and a presiding bishop.

Why should a Catholic Priest be banned from marrying or receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony?

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:44:32 +0000

>Why should a Catholic Priest be banned from marrying or receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony?
>Do you think that the Catholic Priests could marry a woman? Why?

Out of 23 rites of the Church, only the Roman or Latin rite requires celibacy, and in the Roman rite, there are some priests who are married, such as Protestant or Anglican converted ministers. Celibacy is a discipline, not a doctrine, and a priest cannot break the solemn vows he freely took.

Matt. 19:11-12 – Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. Jesus praises and recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church. Because celibacy is a gift from God, those who criticize the Church’s practice of celibacy are criticizing God and this wonderful gift He bestows on His chosen ones.

Matt. 19:29 – Jesus says that whoever gives up children for the sake of His name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus praises celibacy when it is done for the sake of His kingdom.

Matt. 22:30 – Jesus explains that in heaven there are no marriages. To bring about Jesus’ kingdom on earth, priests live the heavenly consecration to God by not taking a wife in marriage. This way, priests are able to focus exclusively on the spiritual family, and not have any additional pressures of the biological family (which is for the vocation of marriage). This also makes it easier for priests to be transferred to different parishes where they are most needed without having to worry about the impact of their transfer on wife and children.

1 Cor 7:1 – Paul teaches that it is well for a man not to touch a woman. This is the choice that the Catholic priests of the Roman rite freely make.

1 Cor. 7:7 – Paul also acknowledges that celibacy is a gift from God and wishes that all were celibate like he is.

1 Cor. 7:27 – Paul teaches men that they should not seek marriage. In Paul’s opinion, marriage introduces worldly temptations that can interfere with one’s relationship with God, specifically regarding those who will become full-time ministers in the Church.

1 Cor. 7:32-33, 38 – Paul recommends celibacy for full-time ministers in the Church so that they are able to focus entirely upon God and building up His kingdom. He “who refrains from marriage will do better.”

1 Tim. 3:2 – Paul instructs that bishops must be married only once. Many Protestants use this verse to prove that the Church’s celibacy law is in error. But they are mistaken because this verse refers to bishops that were widowers. Paul is instructing that these widowers could not remarry. The verse also refers to those bishops who were currently married. They also could not remarry (in the Catholic Church’s Eastern rite, priests are allowed to marry; celibacy is only a disciplinary rule for the clergy of the Roman rite). Therefore, this text has nothing to do with imposing a marriage requirement on becoming a bishop.

1 Tim. 4:3 – in this verse, Paul refers to deceitful doctrines that forbid marriage. Many non-Catholics also use this verse to impugn the Church’s practice of celibacy. This is entirely misguided because the Catholic Church (unlike many Protestant churches) exalts marriage to a sacrament. In fact, marriage is elevated to a sacrament, but consecrated virginity is not. The Church declares marriage sacred, covenantal and lifegiving. Paul is referring to doctrines that forbid marriage and other goods when done outside the teaching of Christ and for a lessor good. Celibacy is an act of giving up one good (marriage and children) for a greater good (complete spiritual union with God).

1 Tim. 5:9-12 – Paul recommends that older widows take a pledge of celibacy. This was the beginning of women religious orders.

2 Tim. 2:3-4 – Paul instructs his bishop Timothy that no soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim his to satisfy the One who enlisted him. Paul is using an analogy to describe the role of the celibate priesthood in the Church.

Rev. 14:4 – unlike our sinful world of the flesh, in heaven, those consecrated to virginity are honored.

Isaiah 56:3-7 – the eunuchs who keep God’s covenant will have a special place in the kingdom of heaven.

Jer. 16:1-4 – Jeremiah is told by God not to take a wife or have children.

What should the Catholic Church do to priests who interfere with young boys and teenagers?

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 04:00:45 +0000

What should happen to a priest if he gets caught abusing young boys?

And has the Catholic Church done the right thing so far?

Or have they not done enough? Please explain yourself.

What should happen if anyone abuses children . . .

They should be reported, arrested, tried by group of their peers and sentenced.

Did the Roman church do any of these things, no she didn’t.

I am at a loss at how a church can blatantly proclaim she is the only church with God’s sanction and authority, yet have such wicked atrocities happening repeatedly in her church.

The latest scandal isn’t the first, nor is it the only.

The fact that the Roman church’s priest have been abusing children for decades is a tragedy.

Be Blessed:-)

How do Catholic schools reconcile differences between science and church doctrine?

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:57:37 +0000

For example, what if in science class they learn that the Earth revolves around the Sun and in Catholic class they learn that the Earth is the center of the universe, not the Sun.

They say, ‘…and that’s how goddidit.’

Why is the Catholic Church allowed to discriminate against women?

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:21:46 +0000

The Catholic Church is allowed to have discriminatory hiring practices (women are not allowed to be priests). Why is that? Why are they unlike every other corporation operating in the United States who is not allowed to deny a job to a woman simply because she is a woman?

Imagine if Wal-mart said "sorry ladies, but our corporate charter clearly states women should not have authority over men, so you can’t be a manager"

Why does the Catholic Church get special treatment? I guess money can buy you anything.

Apparently they think Jesus discriminates and wants it this way.

I think it’s abominable. To the poster that said men can’t be nuns- but they can be monks, which is similar. Men have the Church wide open to them. They can be priests, monks, deacons, acolytes, etc. All roles that are denied to women. Even being an "official" Lector is denied to women. It’s disgraceful..and so is defending it.

Women have absolutely no real say in the Church or on teaching that affects the most personal areas of their lives- or exclusively affects them. If the tables were turned, men would be rioting.

Can a Catholic priest deny the Communion to an Anglican person and why?

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:53:41 +0000

My husband is Anglican and I am Catholic, sometimes he goes with me to mass in the catholic church and the last time the priest did not give him the communion. Is that discrimination ?

I am sorry, but the Roman Catholic Church is not in communion with the Anglican Church although it reconizes that Church as apostolic and holy.

There are priests who would not recognize your husband as Anglican and give him communion, but that is a mistake. If you have become more outspoken in the parish and people know your husband is Anglican, someone should have taken you aside and asked you to have him not participate in the reception of the Eucharist.

All separation into boxes is discrimination, however, this is not illegal discrimination for the Catholic Church to include only members and select non-members in their Communion Service.

The Church believes that this is scandalous and brings ill repute to Christianity and we hope that it will some day be no longer necessary. Unfortunately, that day is not today.