Question about the Catholic Faith?

Question

I grew up in a Catholic family but a very relaxed one. I guess my problem with the faith is I was attending CCD classes and my teacher was explaining to me that if someone killed a family member of mine that I must forgive them as a Catholic. But honestly most Catholics I know wouldn't even do that. Is this true that you must forgive someone so sick and twisted? Is there a good book or website that answers a lot of questions like this. I'm always questioning the faith to the point where I just believe something exists and I wont know what it is till I get there.

Answer 1

And people ask why Christianity is complicated.

Jesus Christ instructed us to forgive and even love our enemies. This is one of the most difficult teachings of Jesus to follow.

Forgiving and loving our enemies does not mean accepting or approving what they did. We also let the criminal justice system take its course.

Forgiving our enemies means that we hand our lust for vengeance over to God. We trust God will deal with the perpetrator. This trust in God actually helps us to heal and become happier people.

Loving our enemies does not mean that we have to like them. It means that we want what is best for them. We really do want them to come to Christ and be redeemed.

This is especially true for someone who is sick and twisted. This person can be so sick that they do not even know what they did was wrong.

Questioning is way we grow in faith and wisdom. I think you are doing a great job. Keep the faith!

For better answers that I can give, take a look at Catholic Answers at: http://www.catholic.com/

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

There have been great answers so far from fellow Catholics, but let me add a few things.

It is important to remember that CCD classes are often taught at a very low level and a lot of the minutia is missing. It is true that forgiveness is necessary, however it is also important to remember James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment.

Forgiveness is not simply a saying "pay it no mind", but it is something that involves both justice and mercy, but in such a way that mercy triumphs justice. Forgiveness does not excuse evil. If I did evil to you, it would not be just or merciful for you to simply ignore the evil that was done. Forgiveness occurs with justice and mercy are present: Justice in that the action but not the person is called out and condemned as evil, Mercy in that a just punishment is lessened and the possibility for reconciliation and rehabilitation is extended to the offending individual. The amount of mercy to be extended should greatly increase as the offending individual repents of his actions.

In your example, forgiveness is not being indifferent to the action of murder, but it is to call the action evil and to definitely say that is was wrong and shouldn't have occurred. You should not wish that the individual should be repaid with evil/sufferings/torments but you should wish that the individual might repent. You are to offer a path of reconciliation to the individual.

Forgiveness is the wish for communion to be restored, rather than for it to be permanently severed. Forgiveness is false when you call the communion restored with it is not, either from your own actions (harboring ill will etc.) or from the other person refusing to enter back into communion and yet you declare there is communion.

The key in forgiveness, is that it is to restore the offending individual to a right relationship with God and with humanity.


If you are interested in becoming a better Catholic and more knowledgeable, I do suggest the Compendium to the Catechism published this year. For dealing with how to live the Catholic life, I suggest "Introduction to the Devout Life" by Frances de Sales.

Also, The Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine by OSV. If you are more advanced in your education, try Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Ott and The Christian Faith by Dupuis.

Answer 3

I was brought up Catholic, but at age 12 I started to doubt Catholicism. One must remember that practicing religion is not the same as being a born from above Christian. Religion is the belief of the traditions of men, where Christianity is a reality. A daily walk with our LORD.

Yes, there is a good book you can acquire. Its called the Word of God. I suggest you pick up a copy of the 1611 King James Version and a Strong's Concordance. You can now look up for yourself the true meaning of every word contained in the Bible right back to the Hebrew or Greek.

Answer 4

Forgiving and condoning are two different thing. Yes, it is the teaching of Jesus that we should forgive to those who trespassed against us. He never said it was easy.

We human aren't perfect, and hatred and revenge are human feelings that are hard to repress, particularly if someone has hurt you in such terrible way. We're weak, we're fallible, and we don't always succeed, but nonetheless, that's the teaching.

the keyword is "teaching". It's not an order. But if you can take the teaching, you will be a better person.

I can't think of any website at present, but do not be afraid to ask yourself these questions. The fact that you are asking these sorts of questions means that you are an intelligent person trying to figure out things for yourself. You will find your spiritual journey to be a lot more fulfilling by finding answers than by repeating the textbook.

Answer 5

While the Catholic faith has many teachings that contradict the Bible, this isn't one of them. Holding someone in unforgiveness doesn't hurt them it only hurts you. The person whom you can't forgive may not even know, or if they do, may not even care what you think.

But you get stuck at that point in your life and make a mental jail for yourself. Besides, as Jesus has told us...

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Answer 6

Jesus was beaten, scorged, tortured beyond human recognitiion. And while he was on the cross suffering, He said" Forgive them Father, for they no not what they do". He died from that beating, yet forgave his murderers before he left this world, then rose again from the dead 3 days later

Being a Christian means to be Christ like. To do our very best to live the way He lived. It's vertually impossible, but all He expects from us is dedication and for us to do our very best every day, to try to be more like Him. The closer we are to Him, the more the old part of who we were dies, and we become more like Him in our thoughts, beliefs, and how we act in life.

If you do not forgive those who sin against you, and that includes someone killing a family member of yours, do not go to the Lord for His forgiveness, since forgivness is not within you.

Here is that scripture...

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Answer 7

Well, you need to forgive everyone who has done you wrong, even pray for them because Satan has taken hold of us all an confused the mind to hatred.Yes it is difficult but we must. Remember if you don't forgive how can he forgive you. We all have fallen away from the glory, we all have sin. There is no greater sin than sin itself. It doesn't really matter what we have done cause we are judge for the breaking of the law.Yes to believe is very difficult but we need to realize that religion is part truth not all is done an practice,cause the rest its more tradition of men.

Answer 8

A current edition of the Baltimore Catechism would give you a Catholic doctrine explanation of your question. More in depth explanations could be found elsewhere.
Catholics are called to forgive every transgression against them. But this is not to say that they are called to forget. In so many words, you have to forgive someone for stealing money from you if they are sincerely sorry, but you don't have to give them your checkbook to hold on to. In some form forgiveness is not wishing the damnation of their soul for their sins against you. This does not mean one must necessarily wish to mend social fences if it is improper due to the offending parties continued conduct.

Answer 9

Catholics of the Roman sect do also follow that teaching.

Those of the Christian Faith must forgive all who tresspass agains us... That is what we are about. It is the teaching of our Lord Christ Jesus.

This is difficult for new believers. I know from hard experience. But as I go along my walk with my Lord is is becomeing easier... I am ot all the way myself to being able to just do it... I am struggleing. I a probably will continue to struggle with the concept as long as i am in this mortal flesh.... But I try... OH God...He knows I try... and he forgives me... Me, the wretch that I am... he forgives me.... can i do anything less for those i must forgive...

Answer 10

yes. it is true. its unlikely, but that is what we as catholics strive for everyday. we try to forgive those who do us wrong, hence the line in a very famous prayer "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." jesus, even on the cross, forgave the people who beat him and killed him. and by doing that, he forgave all of us and our sins, so long as we're sorry. however, forgiveness doesn't mean that if someone did something horrible like that, they don't deserve punishment....for example, pope john paul II got shot. and he visited the shooter in prison several times and forgave him. even though he believed he should be punished, he was still forgiven for what he did. we're all human and make mistakes. some bigger than others, and as hard as it is, being catholic means being forgiving.