Replies

I am a lifelong Catholic and spent 9 years in Catholic school, and I was never taught that you must be Catholic to be saved. Never.

- Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, never had sexual intercourse after she gave birth to Jesus?
- Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was without sin?
- Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was a co-redemptrix with Jesus?
-Were you ever taught that the unleaven bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ?

My wife had a strict Catholic upbringing and went to Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school and she was taught all of this man-made juju and much, much more.

I liken the Catholic church to a ship that is in dire need of some time in dry-dock. Scrape all the barnacles of Catholic tradition off her, sand and paint her hull and she'll be fit to carry trusting passengers again.

Not to single your comments out, but I find it amazing onthis thread and others, that many (not all) of my Protestant brethern are so hell bent on telling us Catholics what the Catholic Church believes and why it is so wrong. If you would expend half that effort evangelizing non-Christians instead of trying to point out every perceived flaw with in the Catholic Church's 2000+ year history, think of how many people you would bring to Chirs!!

Also, in my 42 years as a Catholic, I have never heard a Catholic Priest, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope or Brother tell be that non-Catholics are going to hell. Sadly, I have attended Protestant services with my wife and other family members where the minister stated that Catholics were going to hell, that we were a cult, the the Church was the Great Harlot of Revelation and that the Pope was the anti-Christ or his precussor.

What does all of this bickering do but widen the divisions among us?

As for me, I would rather focus on our common beliefs -- That Chirst, the Son of God, came to earth, lived and died for my sins, and freely gave my the unerned gift of Eternal Life. That's it. That's what Chritianity is all about, Cahrlie Brown!

Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, never had sexual intercourse after she gave birth to Jesus?

Before OR after. Yes.

Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was without sin?

Conceived without original sin. Yes.

Were you ever taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was a co-redemptrix with Jesus?

No, that's silly. People pray to Mary because they believe she'll listen sympathetically, like a mother, and that she will pray for them in Heaven, but she's only human.

Were you ever taught that the unleaven bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ?

Of course. Jesus said it Himself. "This is my body. This is my blood."