Posted on 04/04/2009 3:29:51 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
This is a distressing new Gallup poll. It shows that churchgoing Catholics are far more likely to approve of moral behavior (sex between unmarried people, homosexuality, etc.) that their church deems immoral than are churchgoing Protestants.
This is a conundrum to me, one I thought about a lot when I was a Catholic, and troubled over. Why is it that Catholics have a Pope and a Magisterium -- a clear teaching authority -- as well as a complex, coherent and profoundly intellectual moral theology ... and yet these things, which ought to give it a tremendous advantage in maintaining the obedience of its flock, avail the Catholic Church little? It shouldn't be that way, logically, but it is in practice.
Lee Podles, an orthodox Catholic, has some thoughts.
[I wish I didn't have to say this, but I do: this is not an anti-Catholic post, but rather intended to spark discussion on various reasons why this poll found the things it did. As someone who would like to raise my children to believe in what my faith teaches, I'd like to know what works, and what doesn't. Anybody who tries to derail the thread by making specious claims of anti-Catholicism will find their posts unpublished. So don't even start.]
What a bunch of BS.
I don’t care for your “charity” so you can keep it.
Fortunately, you have no say in The Catholic Church.
“Besides, isn’t the gist of Protestantism that you read the Bible, have a chat with Jesus, and make up your own mind about everything?”
Heavens no.
The conservative, that is to say, Bible believing churches have certain standards. They are usually basically covered in the Apostle’s Creed. You can’t be a member unless you submit to those standards.
Were you to walk into my church any Sunday, you’d be welcomed. But you could not be a member without baptism, a public profession of faith, and regular attendance, and without any outward observable unrepentant sin going on.
You couldn’t just go home and hide, either. You’d get regular visitation and interaction with church elders and other church members.
If you aren’t a member, you can’t vote, you can’t lead in any ministry from Sunday School teacher to greeter, and you can’t take communion. All you can do is attend.
ROTFLMFAO!
“Educate and cleanse your faith of the ethnic and cafeteria Catholics and milquetoast clergy?”
You gotta be freakin’ kidding me.
Oh that post makes a ton of sense. Seriously.
Drinking alcohol, gambling. Oh my gosh, Bingo.
This thread is hilarious and sad at the same time.
Don’t forget the talking the girl out of her clothes. RME.
I bet you are a ton of fun to hang out with.
So, about those Catholic Frat brothers you speak about...
Got some issues there don’t you? Tell us more, lol.
And the truth is...that is exactly what most people do. I've seen Churches that have maybe half a dozen people who actually run the church and the rest of the people sneak in and out after they say hello to a few friends.
Look, I know there are some really great Protestant Churches out there that are really alive with the Spirit and have lots of active members but to say that all of them are that strict is simply not true.
Going on visitation involves maybe two or three groups who mostly make phone calls once a week to make sure people are well who didn't attend. You make it sound like they are the gestapo or something. LOL
ding,we have a winner.
GMAFB! LOL!
There are tons of problems with the Catholic schools, in our area anyway, but it’s no reflection on the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church teaches the faith. There’s no leeway there. The American Catholic Church is a bit more liberal for sure. Yet, still more conservative than the Baptist, Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Assembly of God, countless other Prostestant denominations. But let’s trash the Catholic Church more, it’s the popular thing to do.
Granted, there are schools, Catholic schools that lean toward the liberal side but your post and most on this thread show just how UNINFORMED you all are.
But let’s get back to trashing the Catholic Church.
And of course they are right...they’re not Catholics after all. But they interpret the Bible correctly. RME.
So these non-Catholic people, interpret the Bible correctly and honestly. Pleas expand on that statement. I’m waiting with bated breath.
Well...you all play nice, we have bigger enemies to confront than each other.
G'night.
Shame and Martyrdom?
You gotta me kidding me! WTH?
You were raised wrong or you are just a loon. Take your pick. But don’t blame the Catholic Church for your parents or you.
and this is news..hell, it was this way even when I was a boy in the 60s
Prods ain’t got confessional, it all keeps adding up and bill comes at the end of the trip
So the Catholic Church doesn’t discipline its members effectively, or at all, according to you?
Interesting.
After reading your post, no offense of course, just like your no offense to Catholics and the crap you posted, you make no sense and are seriously a part of our problem.
This post by you told me all I needed to know, and not in a good way. So, thanks. What a “good” Christian you are. Heh.
Heh. Nice volley. Shame you lost.
Talk about your own chip there earthdweller. Glass houses and all. Oh wait. I forgot. That doesn’t apply to you all. And I can back up my “chip” - seems all some can do is throw stones.
We do have bigger problems. Seems we eat our own. As witnessed here. That’s why we will never fight our enemies and win.
“the other side?” Elaborate please.
“Witness the large numbers of Catholic legislators advocating abortion, voting for abortion, etc., yet kept on as members in good standing in the Catholic church.
Witness Catholic universities inviting rabid pro-abortion and other immoral speakers for commencement, etc. Not only are the speakers allowed, the inviters aren’t disciplined.
Witness the fact that as a new Christian I wandered into several Catholic churches and partook of mass with no understanding of what on earth I was doing. No one questioned me, asked me where I was from, anything. I was just served”
Witness the Christian faith posted here. Oh wait. You can’t because it ain’t there. Guess you ain’t a Witness for the Faith you profess and the Church you trash is just too easy. Jesus would be proud, rme.
So in your Church, eveyone is perfect? Right? No one commits any sin at all, ever? Good to know. They must be perfect, as are you of course.
Thanks. Eye opening post and thread.
LOL! Good post.
So if you’re not a Catholic, or RCC as you said, why do you care? Because your relatives are Catholic? Are any of your relatives Jewish? or Hindu? Or Buddist? Or Athiest? Or Agnostic?
I didn’t see any attack or accusation towards Protestants. If that is true, it’s wrong.
We have to stop attacking each other, imo.
I didn’t see any post slamming Protestants. I’ll look when i can, but if you said it happened, I believe you.
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