What Catholics Really Believe

http://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/ ^

[NKP_Vet]

“….the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates , lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)

God gave everyone a Free Will. No one is forced to be Catholic. People are Catholic because they want to be Catholic. The Catholic Church is not a salad bar where individuals can pick and choose what he or she wishes to believe. We do not vote on what is or is not sinful, nor does the fad of the day or secular popularity drive what is and is not permitted in our Faith.

All those who wish to be Catholic must adhere to the teachings in the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ in entirety. “This catechism is conceived as an organic presentation of the Catholic faith in its entirety. It should be seen therefore as a unified whole.”

[NKP_Vet]

Great site. Wonder if Caroline Kennedy and the rest of the cafeteria "catholics" have ever heard of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

[OCMike]

RE: “We do not vote on what is or is not sinful, nor does the fad of the day or secular popularity drive what is and is not permitted in our Faith.”

Then why did the nuns try to scare the cr*p outta me saying I would go to hell if I ate meat on Friday? Now it’s OK to eat meat on Friday.

Just sayin.

[AHerald]

Thanks for the link! Good resource.

Also a great resource is the classic Radio Replies. It's timeless and something that should be in the library of every serious defender of the Catholic faith.

The 3 volume set of Radio Replies is available for under a dollar on the Kindle and Nook. Even though RR is free at various sites on the Net, having all the notation, bookmarking, etc. features associated with ebooks is really worth the tiny cost.

Here's the link for the Kindle version on Amazon: Radio Replies - Volumes 1-3

And for the Nook version at Barnes & Noble: Radio Replies Vol. 1-3 for Nook

It's also available for free at several locations on the Net. My fave is www.radioreplies.info.

The layout of the site is professional and, better, it includes extra volumes of the classic series.

[Alex Murphy]

Ping for later

[boatbums]

God gave everyone a Free Will. No one is forced to be Catholic. People are Catholic because they want to be Catholic.

How come when I say that I am no longer a Roman Catholic I get people telling me that if I was baptized a Catholic (as an infant), I will always be a Catholic? I am a born again Christian and I serve and worship the Lord Jesus Christ just not in a Catholic church. I wonder if the next time I get the same insistence that, "you were born a Catholic, you will die a Catholic", I can point them to a place in the Catechism that says it ain't so?

[D-fendr]

Pick yer nuns better.

:)

[D-fendr]

Just tell them you’ve decided to travel around a bit for now, but you always come home to Mother.

:0

[D-fendr]

Or..

If you wanted to wow them you could say:

I’m not in communion, or I’m excommunicated Latae sententiae.

You could pick either heresy, being the lesser, or schism, and continue:

“As you’re aware, in Roman Catholic Church canon law, an act of schism, like an act of apostasy or heresy, automatically brings the penalty of excommunication. As stated in canon 1312 §1 1° of the Code of Canon Law.”

Personally, I was baptized Lutheran and excommunicated from Lutheranism similarly.

I was, however, pleased to learn, my baptism was still valid when I converted.

[NKP_Vet]

When you are finally tired of searching and looking for that right faith, exactly like I was........chances are you’ll find yourself right where you started. God bless you on your journey.

http://www.catholicscomehome.org/

[boatbums]

When you are finally tired of searching and looking for that right faith, exactly like I was........chances are you’ll find yourself right where you started. God bless you on your journey.

Thank you for the concern, but I knew I was done with searching for the truth when I heard the gospel of my salvation - that Jesus Christ is my shepherd and that he gives to me eternal life through faith and I will never perish or be snatched out of his hand (John 10:27-30). The "right" faith is the faith that brings justification because it is based on the work of redemption performed by Jesus Christ. It is a faith that accepts that we are all sinners who deserve judgment and condemnation but receives the gift of eternal life by God's grace through faith.

I am no longer searching because I have the word of God to guide me accompanied by the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads me into all truth and who gives me the grace and strength to live a life that brings glory to God.

I simply asked for the Catechism reference that the article spoke about that says that being a Catholic is an optional thing and that no one is forced into being a Catholic. I'd like to know where to point those who insist that, because I was baptized a Catholic as a baby, I have no choice and must remain a Catholic whether or not I want to or not. Is there a blurb in there somewhere? Again, thank you for the kind reply. God bless you too on your journey to truth.

[D-fendr]

It is your option to be Catholic; sounds like what you’re looking for is to undo your baptism.

Otherwise, you can tell those big meanies you left the Church, you’re no longer in communion, you ex-communicated yourself, you don’t believe the Church teachings… whatever you wish.

But no, you can’t undo your baptism; I guess you can blame your parents if you wish.

[MarkBsnr]

Then why did the nuns try to scare the cr*p outta me saying I would go to hell if I ate meat on Friday? Now it’s OK to eat meat on Friday.

Not really. The teaching is that meatless Fridays are a discipline. There are various other disciplines that may be substituted, but in their absence, the discipline still stands. For greater clarity on this than most Latins, you may wish to consult with our Orthodox brethren.

It is difficult, but, as Jesus says, the way is narrow. I used to enjoy Buffalo chicken wing (habanero mango) Fridays...