Pope: Half-hearted Catholics aren't really Catholics at all

cns ^ | June 5, 2014 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Those who insist others pray and believe exactly like they do, those who have alternatives to every church teaching and benefactors who use the church as a cover for business connections may call themselves Catholics, but they have one foot out the door, Pope Francis said.

"Many people say they belong to the church," but in reality have "only one foot inside," the pope said June 5 at the morning Mass in the chapel of his residence.

(CNS/Paul Haring)

"For these people, the church is not home," but is a place they use as a rental property, he said, according to Vatican Radio.

Pope Francis reflected on the day's Gospel reading, John 17:20-26, and Jesus' prayer that there would be unity, not divisions and conflict, among his disciples. There are three groups of people who call themselves Catholic, but are not really, the pope said. Apologizing for making up words, he labeled the three groups: "uniformists," "alternativists" and "businessists."

The first group, he said, believe that everyone in the church should be just like them. "They are rigid! They do not have that freedom the Holy Spirit gives," and they confuse what Jesus preached with their "own doctrine of uniformity."

"Jesus never wanted the church to be so rigid," Pope Francis said. Such people "call themselves Catholics, but their rigid attitude distances them from the church."

The second group, those with alternative teachings and doctrines, "has a partial belonging to the church. These, too, have one foot outside the church," he said. "They rent the church," not recognizing that its teaching is based on the preaching of Jesus and the apostolic tradition.

Members of the third group "call themselves Christians but don't enter into the heart of the church," they use the church "for personal profit," the pope said. "We have all seen them in parish or diocesan communities and religious congregations; they are some of the benefactors of the church."

"They strut around proud of being benefactors, but in the end, under the table, make their deals," he said.

Pope Francis said the church is made up of people with a variety of differences and gifts, and if one wants to belong to it, he or she must be motivated by love and enter with "your whole heart."

Being open to the Spirit, who fosters harmony in diversity, he said, brings "docility," which is "the virtue that saves us" from entering the church half-heartedly.

[Salvation]

**Or...here’s another one...if receive Holy Communion in your hand (as opposed to the tongue) you’re not really a Catholic.**

Also not true. But you will be much happier in heaven for having received Communion on your tongue.

[Salvation]

I don’t hold hands, etc. If a priest preaches anything political candidate the church can lose its tax-free status — so it’s not done.

The Kennedys, sad to say, were CINOs, Catholics in name only. They, nor Pelosi, etc. represent true Catholicism.

[Salvation]

Check out this link. I bet you will find someone like yourself here.

Coming Home Network

[Salvation]

Sanctity of life IS part of social justice. BTTT!

[cloudmountain]

Being a Christian of one of the 30,000 different Protestant denominations is a piece of cake. Nothing is required of those folks.
There is no Sunday and holy day Mass obligations, no rosary, no Stations of the Cross, no "first Fridays," no Advent, no Lent, no required first Communion, or any communion at all for some, no required Confirmation, no confession, no penance, no Last Rites...and no meatless days. Though, when one can substituted lobster, shrimp or crab...lol, never mind.

Catholics? Sacraments, first Communion, Confirmation, marriage by a bona fide priest, Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, no divorce/remarry, confession, penance, Communion once a year, no meat on Ash Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent and, finally, Last Rites. WHEW! What a HUGE burden to bear!! < sarc. >

[dsc]

“We know how groups vote”

We have a secret ballot, and therefore do not know how groups vote.

We have self-reporting by a self-selected sample, and I find it hard to think of anything less reliable.

Even if we accept your numbers, though, we still see substantial numbers voting against republicans.

[ansel12]

You can pretend that we don’t collect voting data and have been for over a 100 years, and that all the billions of dollars of campaigns and strategies and voting studies, and history books and analysis based on the data is all an illusion, but why?

Do you think that blacks and homosexuals and Jews and atheists and Catholics are actually voting pro-liferepublican?

[af_vet_1981]

Because neither Hebrew nor Aramaic (the language spoken by Christ and his disciples) had a special word meaning "cousin," speakers of those languages could use either the word for "brother" or a circumlocution, such as "the son of my uncle." But circumlocutions are clumsy, so the Jews often used "brother." These “brothers” are never once called the children of Mary, although Jesus himself is (John 2:1; Acts 1:14).

Hebrew and Arabic use a construct of multiple words, "uncle's son" or "aunt's daughter" to express the idea of cousin. I am not aware of a single Hebrew or Arabic word for cousin.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[pbear8]

How do you think your reasons will sound to Our Lord? Go to Latin Mass where no nonsense is preached, Our Lord awaits you there. As for the real estate we own, which hospitals, schools, churches and orphanages should we sell? The sins of the Kennedys are their personal sins, we all have enough of our own. Humble yourself, submit to God, go to confession, be all that God wants you to be. In the midst of chaos He raises up great saints from the humble.

[hosepipe]

All christians are NOT christians...

[dsc]

“You can pretend that we don’t collect voting data”

How nice it would be just once to get an honest answer out of a certain cadre.

I didn’t say people weren’t collecting something; I pointed out, clearly enough for anyone to understand, that these “data” are collected for the most part by extremely untrustworthy organizations, that they are based on self-reporting, and that the sample is self-selected. If you don’t know enough about research to understand the implications of the foregoing, look it up.

“all the billions of dollars of campaigns and strategies and voting studies, and history books and analysis based on the data”

Neither all that, nor all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, were unable to get algore, bob dole, Ensign Band-Aid, or Romney elected.

“Do you think that blacks and homosexuals and Jews and atheists and Catholics are actually voting pro-liferepublican?”

If your own data are to be trusted, it is very probable that a large percentage of Catholics are.

Prejudice is an ugly thing.

[dsc]

“over a 100 years”

You can say “over 100 years” or “over a hundred years,” but “over a 100 years” is just wrong. Makes the writer look semi-educated, at best.

I don’t know why I’m even trying to help you, since it’s virtually certain that my reward will be a shitstorm of abuse.

Anyway, you’re welcome.

[dsc]

Should have been, “Neither all that, nor all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, were able to get algore, bob dole, Ensign Band-Aid, or Romney elected.”

[ansel12]

I have to assume that your only interest in this political site, is the religion section.

[JPX2011]

Prejudice is an ugly thing.

Certain people glom on to what they perceive as a truth but which is nothing more than a ham-handed hypothesis. They see correlation as causation. They then combine that with a little Glenn Beck-inspired flow chart/blackboard razzle dazzle and voila, you've got a psychohistorian whose able to project the trajectory of mankind from one civilization to the next. Thus sounding the alarm. A Paul Revere for the ages.

[af_vet_1981]

thank you for your kind words and prayers. Like I said, it’s a “me” problem. I appreciate your advice and use pride to be lazy and not just grind through and stay at mass. You’ve met me before.... I’m the guy that always has an excuse and hopes time doen’t run out before he decides to be a ‘good” Christian. I’m self aware at least and try not to lie to myself. Once again, thank you for your prayers brother.

Today, confess your sins today. Do not delay.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

[NYer]

Why doesn’t he speak to the consciences of non-Catholics like this? Seems the only people he criticizes are Catholics.

Matthew 7:5

[Dick Vomer]

As for the real estate we own, which hospitals, schools, churches and orphanages should we sell

Try some of the metric tons of gold, art work, apartment buildings, real estate, the throne the pope sits on, bonds, shares of stocks in companies.... Where do you think the RC church came up with the millions of dollars to cover up the homosexual rapes that were settled out of court and are used to rehab the pederasts?

[betty boop]

...Pope Francis described these Christians as “rigid”, because “they don’t have the freedom that the Holy Spirit bestows."

Yes, that blessed freedom, truly a gift of the Holy Spirit....

A robot like Nancy Pelosi just doesn't get it.

Thank you dear NYer for posting this splendid article. And thank you, dear YHAOS for the ping.