Ask-A-Catholic

[Charles Sloan]

Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

I don't know, that seems to have its place. (Acts 2:23, 4:10, 5:30, 10:39)

[broach972]

I am hoping to introduce a balance concerning Catholics here.  If Protestants are going to witness to Catholics, and lead some to Christ (if, in fact, they are lost to begin with ), they need to put aside some of their prejudices first and approach from a more loving and well informed place.  Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

love,

Sopranette

You must be new to this section.  I would encourage you to view the various boards in this section.  While your intentions are honorable, I doubt that they are realistic.

There was a time when numerous Catholics posted on this forum.  However, as you can see from the various message boards, that time has clearly passed.  The atmosphere becomes quite hostile.  There are those who are not interested in learning what Catholics really believe in.  Many of my Protestant brethren are determined to cling to their stereotypes, misconceptions, and misrepresentations.  If people wish to wallow in their ignorance, there isn't much I can do about that.

Besides, when your faith has been called unChristian, anti-Christ, pagan, etc., somehow being called "dark-sided murderers" just doesn't seem all that shocking.

[Corbley]

I am interested in starting a friendly discussion about the similarities and differences between Protestant doctrine and Catholic doctrine; I also hope to clear up any misconceptions about the Catholic Church, along the way.  My purpose here is not to talk anyone into becoming Catholic, to attack anyone's faith, or to engage in any conversation that isn't educational in nature.  For the record, I believe any person who has a personal relationship with Christ and is in agreement with the Nicene Creed is a Christian - so please do not ask me if you have to be Catholic to be Christian.

It is also important to let you know that I reconciled to the Roman Catholic Church about 6 years ago after about 15 years as a born again Christian in a Protestant tradition.

Finally, I am hardly the last word on Catholicism, if you are Catholic please feel free to answer any questions, enter into dialog, or add to any of my comments.  In the end, the Catholic Catechism is the best way to find accurate information on all Catholic teachings.

blessings

If Christ were alive (in the flesh) today, It would be the Catholic church, that would verify if he were real of not.......They would be the ones who would seek to discredit his miricles or prove his miricles...............It would be the Catholic Church that would seek to hang him on the cross......And when Christ spoke against the Scribes .......Today, he would be speaking out against the Vatican and the one who is named "Vicor of Christ" = Substitute for Christ
Jesus would condemn praying "Hail Mary"           
The Catholic church breaks the second commandment throughout every one of their buildings around the world....By setting up symbols to be revierred: Cross with dead Christ on it, Rosery, Golden Idols all around........Ritualistic Prayer...........And the belief that one man has a direct line open with God.
The Pope is nothing more than a sinner, no greater than any one man.....

[broach972]

If Christ were alive (in the flesh) today, It would be the Catholic church, that would verify if he were real of not.......They would be the ones who would seek to discredit his miricles or prove his miricles...............It would be the Catholic Church that would seek to hang him on the cross......And when Christ spoke against the Scribes .......Today, he would be speaking out against the Vatican and the one who is named "Vicor of Christ" = Substitute for Christ
Jesus would condemn praying "Hail Mary"           
The Catholic church breaks the second commandment throughout every one of their buildings around the world....By setting up symbols to be revierred: Cross with dead Christ on it, Rosery, Golden Idols all around........Ritualistic Prayer...........And the belief that one man has a direct line open with God.
The Pope is nothing more than a sinner, no greater than any one man.....

As I stated Sopranette, I rest my case....point made.

[Elaine]

"I am hoping to introduce a balance concerning Catholics here.  If Protestants are going to witness to Catholics, and lead some to Christ (if, in fact, they are lost to begin with ), they need to put aside some of their prejudices first and approach from a more loving and well informed place.  Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

love,

Sopranette "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
That's my girl - I'm very proud of you  - you rock!

"Hoping, balance, more loving" ----you go girl!!!

And I will, too. We'll teach these pagan heathens...kidding!!

We all  have to sugar coat our words - that's technical for: Prov 4:24
Which I believe says you get more flies with honey...kidding - I'm reading into it.
Manna for you.
Cheers, Elaine

[Corbley]

"I am hoping to introduce a balance concerning Catholics here.  If Protestants are going to witness to Catholics, and lead some to Christ (if, in fact, they are lost to begin with ), they need to put aside some of their prejudices first and approach from a more loving and well informed place.  Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

love,

Sopranette "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
That's my girl - I'm very proud of you  - you rock!

"Hoping, balance, more loving" ----you go girl!!!

And I will, too. We'll teach these pagan heathens...kidding!!

We all  have to sugar coat our words - that's technical for: Prov 4:24
Which I believe says you get more flies with honey...kidding - I'm reading into it.
Manna for you.
Cheers, Elaine

But it is not the "Catholics that Christians condemn.....It is the Catholic Church and all of the Idols it creates,   That is what we condemn

[Elaine]

"I am hoping to introduce a balance concerning Catholics here.  If Protestants are going to witness to Catholics, and lead some to Christ (if, in fact, they are lost to begin with ), they need to put aside some of their prejudices first and approach from a more loving and well informed place.  Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

love,

Sopranette "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
That's my girl - I'm very proud of you  - you rock!

"Hoping, balance, more loving" ----you go girl!!!

And I will, too. We'll teach these pagan heathens...kidding!!

We all  have to sugar coat our words - that's technical for: Prov 4:24
Which I believe says you get more flies with honey...kidding - I'm reading into it.
Manna for you.
Cheers, Elaine

But it is not the "Catholics that Christians condemn.....It is the Catholic Church and all of the Idols it creates,   That is what we condemn

Now see Corbley, one small tiny step -and already - you've clarified that it's the Church and not the Catholics ----now let's see if we can soften that darn word 'condemn' a bit.

Let's see - how's about "It's not the Catholics some Christians have an issue with..."  See how that is an easier pill to swallow?   That's all...so you're point was made, but without the polarizing words ( picture 2 north pole magnets together -that's polarization).

That's all and it takes practice and thought ---can you tell I've been in a lot of couples therapy --oh yeah.   That's why you'll never get any judgment from me.

It's a b**ch to have to think about everything you say -so it will be accepted instead of a brick wall going up from the other person.

Put the check in the mail, My little boy's growing up, I'm chokin' up here...
XXElaine

[Corbley]

"I am hoping to introduce a balance concerning Catholics here.  If Protestants are going to witness to Catholics, and lead some to Christ (if, in fact, they are lost to begin with ), they need to put aside some of their prejudices first and approach from a more loving and well informed place.  Calling people dark sided murderers is just going to result in the closing of more doors, and reach nobody.

love,

Sopranette "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
That's my girl - I'm very proud of you  - you rock!

"Hoping, balance, more loving" ----you go girl!!!

And I will, too. We'll teach these pagan heathens...kidding!!

We all  have to sugar coat our words - that's technical for: Prov 4:24
Which I believe says you get more flies with honey...kidding - I'm reading into it.
Manna for you.
Cheers, Elaine

But it is not the "Catholics that Christians condemn.....It is the Catholic Church and all of the Idols it creates,   That is what we condemn

Now see Corbley, one small tiny step -and already - you've clarified that it's the Church and not the Catholics ----now let's see if we can soften that darn word 'condemn' a bit.

Let's see - how's about "It's not the Catholics some Christians have an issue with..."  See how that is an easier pill to swallow?   That's all...so you're point was made, but without the polarizing words ( picture 2 north pole magnets together -that's polarization).

That's all and it takes practice and thought ---can you tell I've been in a lot of couples therapy --oh yeah.   That's why you'll never get any judgment from me.

It's a b**ch to have to think about everything you say -so it will be accepted instead of a brick wall going up from the other person.

Put the check in the mail, My little boy's growing up, I'm chokin' up here...
XXElaine

But Elaine, I have always believed that way,   So perhaps, it is a little of both....Perhaps, I need to "soften" my words a bit.....
But also, Catholics need to realise it is not them personally, that Christians speak against.....It is the symbols and Idols within

[Elaine]

Corbley,
Can I ask you something?
Why do you care so much?

I mean about whether someone bows in front of a statue or says a Hail Mary 50 times.

I used to get irritated or mad at so many things and would hang onto them for a long time  ( see, you won't be judged by me)---when asked why  these things got me so angered ---by a person that this "thing" happened in front of also, say ----I had to go deep to ponder later by myself ---and ask "Yeah, why does this bother me sooo intensely...What is my problem anyway...boy, I have issues."

I've lost people in relationships because of my "issues" - things I couldn't let go of ----whether it was how they squeezed the toothpaste -or - leftover childhood  issues --where most of the stuff comes from.

In other words -why this need to control people -or change people - why do they have to believe as you do - or as you interpret the Bible ?

And why these people ( Caths) --why not Hindus, or Buddhists. Or selfish people or gluttonous people. Maybe all of that bothers you and you want it all to change, too, I dunno.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm hoping you don't answer immediately with ---you ' love Christ and you're acting this way for His sake' or something of this nature.
No, I think it's deeper and more complicated and pathological --and I may be totally wrong at the same time.

I think you may be this way in many aspects of your life.
Does it raise your blood pressure if you don't get served in a timely manner at a restaurant -and even worse -if others get served first that came after you?

Will you sleep on this and wait a little to answer me?
I don't know you - it's hard not being in person. I hope you understand.

Still love ya, Elaine

I'm thinking you're in your early 30's...or did you say that .

[Corbley]

Corbley,
Can I ask you something?
Why do you care so much?
Because I love you,,,,Christs love is in me and I love you and do not want you to burn in Hell for giving reverence to a statue

I mean about whether someone bows in front of a statue or says a Hail Mary 50 times.

I used to get irritated or mad at so many things and would hang onto them for a long time  ( see, you won't be judged by me)---when asked why  these things got me so angered ---by a person that this "thing" happened in front of also, say ----I had to go deep to ponder later by myself ---and ask "Yeah, why does this bother me sooo intensely...What is my problem anyway...boy, I have issues."

I've lost people in relationships because of my "issues" - things I couldn't let go of ----whether it was how they squeezed the toothpaste -or - leftover childhood  issues --where most of the stuff comes from.

In other words -why this need to control people -or change people - why do they have to believe as you do - or as you interpret the Bible ?

And why these people ( Caths) --why not Hindus, or Buddhists. Or selfish people or gluttonous people. Maybe all of that bothers you and you want it all to change, too, I dunno.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm hoping you don't answer immediately with ---you ' love Christ and you're acting this way for His sake' or something of this nature.
No, I think it's deeper and more complicated and pathological --and I may be totally wrong at the same time.

I think you may be this way in many aspects of your life.
Does it raise your blood pressure if you don't get served in a timely manner at a restaurant -and even worse -if others get served first that came after you?

Will you sleep on this and wait a little to answer me?
I don't know you - it's hard not being in person. I hope you understand.

Still love ya, Elaine

I'm thinking you're in your early 30's...or did you say that .

Elaine,
It is my job as servant of Christ to spread the gospel message, to as many people as I can. I willfully, choose to follow Christ. When I see something that goes against bible teachings, I point it out and pray that people will listen and study in the word to find the truth, but that part is not up to me.

Today, mankind has gotten so full of self and this world, that we tend to form our own oppinions and theories. Then those theories have been written in books and pasted down to you. Now because, someone tells you these things are OK...You do them...Perhaps, you do not even know that type of behavior is a sin against God (it says so in the bible),   Thats were God uses people like me to point out the things that people do, that go against bible teachings.

It will make very little difference to me, one way or the other...If you choose to hear anything I ever talk about. It is only God who would choose to deal with it, If that is his will.......But my part is done, when I say  "HEY!  That is a sin against our Lord!   Stop it!"

[sopranette]

Corbley,
Can I ask you something?
Why do you care so much?

I mean about whether someone bows in front of a statue or says a Hail Mary 50 times.

I used to get irritated or mad at so many things and would hang onto them for a long time  ( see, you won't be judged by me)---when asked why  these things got me so angered ---by a person that this "thing" happened in front of also, say ----I had to go deep to ponder later by myself ---and ask "Yeah, why does this bother me sooo intensely...What is my problem anyway...boy, I have issues."

I've lost people in relationships because of my "issues" - things I couldn't let go of ----whether it was how they squeezed the toothpaste -or - leftover childhood  issues --where most of the stuff comes from.

In other words -why this need to control people -or change people - why do they have to believe as you do - or as you interpret the Bible ?

And why these people ( Caths) --why not Hindus, or Buddhists. Or selfish people or gluttonous people. Maybe all of that bothers you and you want it all to change, too, I dunno.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm hoping you don't answer immediately with ---you ' love Christ and you're acting this way for His sake' or something of this nature.
No, I think it's deeper and more complicated and pathological --and I may be totally wrong at the same time.

I think you may be this way in many aspects of your life.
Does it raise your blood pressure if you don't get served in a timely manner at a restaurant -and even worse -if others get served first that came after you?

Will you sleep on this and wait a little to answer me?
I don't know you - it's hard not being in person. I hope you understand.

Still love ya, Elaine

I'm thinking you're in your early 30's...or did you say that .

Gosh, Elaine.  Awesome post...again.  I want to be you when I grow up.

love,

Sopranette

[Elaine]

[/quote]
Gosh, Elaine.  Awesome post...again.  I want to be you when I grow up.

love,

Sopranette
[/quote]

Girl, You better have given me manna then...I'm watchin' for it.  ;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corbley,
I know all about loving Christ and loving others because of Christ in them and  Christ in me  - and not wanting people to burn in hell and all that.  And I follow all of your post we are tracking together...

But, that wasn't my question.
My question or point was  - why does it bother you so much. 
It seems to - maybe it doesn't at all - and you're all mellow when you speak in person with someone and look like a darling little angel. 
It could be that in the written word here it comes off more intensely.  It's ok if it does  bother you---but why does it.  I've fishing in deeper waters here.

I'm trying to get to some stuff here.   Like if a child screws up - and we really are all children -- would you be more gentle?
  Example --"You're going to burn in hell for that."  ---as opposed to - say, "That's not the best thing you could be doing and God would be happier if you did this instead"... -  again ---telling me I'm going to be condemned for something  -I don't feel like you love me - or  that you really care about me at all - I feel that you have a trigger about this ---it scares the crap out of me and pretty much I start feeling afraid of God with all this condemning/ fire talk. 

I kinda feel when people get all intense about some religious Bible thing that they are kinda nutty -because they haven't mastered the 'art of  the approach' - or finesse.  If I'm not being approached with kindness and gentleness like from a teacher ----I feel all judged, afraid, alienated from the Lord and think the person again is not someone I want to be around.

Does this make any sense to you?  I don't know why I like you so much and am taking the time to talk to you - I think you probably remind me of me.   

Yup, that's it.    I want to do for you what very kind people did for me.

My middle name used to be " intense".    Yup, that's it in a nutshell.

Love ya, Elaine

[midnight]

Hi Elaina - and everyone else,

This thread has taken a friendly turn since the last time I checked in - I am glad.  The fact is, Christ called us to love God and love and serve our neighbors as ourselves; in order to do this - we need to spend our lives connecting with ourselves and our neighbors and living out Christ's love.

I have certainly failed at this throughout my life, yet I continue to get back on the horse and ride on to salvation.

Midnight

[Elaine]

Hi Elaina - and everyone else,

This thread has taken a friendly turn since the last time I checked in - I am glad.  The fact is, Christ called us to love God and love and serve our neighbors as ourselves; in order to do this - we need to spend our lives connecting with ourselves and our neighbors and living out Christ's love.

I have certainly failed at this throughout my life, yet I continue to get back on the horse and ride on to salvation.

Midnight

Hi Midnight ,
I was so surprised to see that there was a post here -I've been so involved with other topics. I love that "Notify" thing at the bottom. Very handy.   I hope to catch you on other topics...I left this Catholic area.

Yes, getting back on the horse ---my phrase is 'putting the needle back on the record.'    Ha!!! Big smile.

I would love to know if you have ever read anything on Sister Faustina? I'm reading about her now -  since this is the 'ask the Catholic' section. :)

Some people think that if it didn't happen in the Bible - they don't want to know about it.  I was in a 14 person Book Club -and I found that to be very true.  People seemed to get the heebies if I talked about my own experiences or insights --if it wasn't in the Bible  -"Well, forget it. " Was kind of the attitude.  That's definitely ok with me --but I can't go there.

I don't know why - but I have been very blessed with many experiences of the Divine --so Sister Faustina interests me.  I was thinking you may be Catholic.   Anyway, it's a starting point to get to know each other.

God Bless you, Isn't He wonderful, :)
Elaine