I'm wondering whats goin on in the catholic faith?

Question

I've recentely converted from catholocism to christianity becuase i'm convinced that catholics are headed i the wrong direction. As a people. I've spoken to the higher hiearchies of caths and that pretty much get it right. but somewhere down the line it gets screwed up. and people start believing salvation is done through ur good works. Also IN MY OPINION priests ask for alotta money not really focusing on God anymore. anyway heres my thought. I wondered y tehy call the priest father. When Jesus said there is only one Father, in heaven. I asked this girl and she said. They believe God is in their bodies, ok fine then i started to think. God is holy so holy we cannot look at him without dieing. If God posseses those bodies then why have some priests committed adultery and pedifieling? God CANNOT sin for he is God so how do catholics answer this?

Answer 1

I'm not exactly sure what your question is but here is a reply about calling priests "father":

In context, Matthew 23:7-9 reads, "... And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.

We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.

Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Yet Jesus chose Judas as one of His twelve Apostles! Peter denied Him three times after promising to die with Him.

The difference?

Hope.

Biblical Proof of Good Works
Mt 7:21, Mt 19:16-17, Jn 14:21, Rom 2:2-8, Gal 5:4-6, Eph 2:8-10, Phil 2:12-13, Jam 2:14-24

Biblical Scandals in the Church
Jer 32:32-35, 2 Kgs 23:7, Jn 4:22, Mk 14:43-46, Mk 14:66-72, Jn 20:24-25, Mk 14:50, Rom 3:3-4, 2 Tim 2:13, Mt 13:24-30,
Mt 13:47-48

Answer 3

Dear bboy,

I am a youth/college pastor at a small Christian Church. Wanted to give you a bit of counsel which i think can help.

There are definite some theological difficulties with traditional Roman Catholicism. While there are those who well tell you that Christianity any Catholicism are synonymous they are not. There are practices within the Catholic church that violate principals of Scripture (ie: Praying to Saints, Mary, etc.) Confession to a Father (when Timothy tells us there is only one mediator between Man and God- Christ Jesus!)

I've found over the years that there are those in the Catholic faith that are genuine believers, and i have a lot of Christian friends who grew up Catholic.

Basically i would advise you to not make a judgement based on what one calls themselves-- but just treat everyone as an individual and if someone claims to know God- ask them about their thoughts and views about Jesus.

I've found over the years that you will even get varying answers from Catholics or those who say "i am Christian" actually belong to a cult... so ask individuals the essentials and make your discernment from there. If they don't know the truth- kindly and lovingly share with them.

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 4

I'll start at the bottom and work my way up...

Many things are done in the name of Our Lord God that are not Holy or Good. Unfortunately, a small number of pedophiles just so happen to be Catholic priests, and this, of course, is what every other religion seems to focus on obsessively. Not all Catholics are bad people, and not all bad people are Catholics. Prejudice should not be based on religion any more than it should be based on race, or sex, or anything else. I'm getting sick of it.

I'm not sure why priests are called "Father", but it may come from Judaism, in which religious leaders are called "teacher". We are able to look upon items, such as the Eucharist (the bread and wine), because God is able to take many forms, and only His true form would kill us upon sight.

Many priests, for example, Father Mark at my church, do ask for money fairly often, but most do so for legitimate reasons. I repeat, not all Catholics are bad people, and not all bad people are Catholics. Our church roof is in desperate need of repair, which is VERY expensive. Also, many missionaries working in impoverished areas or countries come to our church asking for our support, which most people do. We try to help those in greater need than ourselves, and these efforts often do require quite a bit of money.

I'm a bit confused about this wrong direction part, though. What's wrong with the idea that our good works bring us closer to heaven? What do you believe? Please send me a message; I'd really like to know what's wrong with my particular direction.

Answer 5

God sends His Holy Spirit to all true believers in Christ. This is not limited to priests. Our body is the temple of God and He resides in us. Don't confuse the comforter and healer with our fleshly corrupt bodies. We are the sinners, not God.

Many call themselves Christian and are not. Being Christian doesn't mean we will never sin again, it means we are forgiven. We learn from our errors and move on. We strive to be pleasing to God, but we often fail. We repent and do better.

I am an ex-Catholic who had some of the same concerns that you have raised. This doesn't mean that Catholics are not Christian. Do Catholics believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ? Do Catholics believe that Jesus is the Savior and the only way to heaven? Do Catholics believe in the Trinity? If you answered yes to these questions, then Catholics are Christian too.

I am a Christian or perhaps a better title would be, a believer in Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

The priests are humans, and from the beginning humans have failed. If there is or ever was a person, outside of Jesus that lived without SIN then there would be no reason for forgiveness’.

Peter sinned when he lied and said he did not know Jesus. And the peoples continue to sin hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly! Every last one of them!

Would you stand before GOD and make the statements that you have written?

GOD gave humans a free spirit, Choices. GOD did not make humans love him or to believe in Him. He gave choices.
If GOD had to make Humans love HIM. Then He would not have made Humans perfect.

If you hypnotize a woman into having sex with you, did you really have HER or did you just use her body? Did she, with her own free will and out of her desire give herself to you?

Is it not the same with Humans? God calls us to love Him, not sin, but He does not make us LOVE Him! In fact, if you pray that He makes someone love you that prayer will never be answered because to do so would be to take away that persons free spirit.
Do you contribute your 10% to support the needs of others?
Your quality of life is higher than over 70% of the peoples on earth. Millions and Millions of babies are starving to death. Have you chosen to share your good fortune by adopting one of those babies that they might have half the chance that you have.

The book says, "Do not Judge". You look at the chip on the shoulders of others but you ignore the tree growing in your own eye!

Too, why do you worry about what others do? Have you not enough to try and live your life as GOD has called you to do.

Answer 7

Catholism is a denomination of Christianity. It is the one started by Jesus Himself.

Priests, reverends, ministers, pastors, clergy are all humans and all sin. Just like all humans. Don't stop gong to mass because some priests 20 yrs ago molested boys. Priests can't commit adultery because they aren't married. Some Catholic priests have left the Catholic priesthood to get married and become a pastor in a Protestant or Methodist church. Some of them have later committed adultery. Sin follows us every where we go.

I assume you have been baptized a Catholic. Then you will remain a Catholic for the rest of your life, no matter what church to belong to, even if you decide to become an atheist. Once baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity as a Catholic, you are a Catholic for life. Leaving the Catholic church will be a sin on your soul and that's something you have to talk to God about. The Catholic church is the only Christian church that the pope has authority over, a pope that the Holy Spirit selected and was given to us by Jesus Himself. The Catholic church is the only church that celebrates Holy Communion the way Jesus directed His apostles to do. The Catholic Church is the only church that has all the 7 holy sacraments that Jesus gave us. I suggest that you talk to God about this. I disagree with some things that priests and nuns have done. I disagree with New Age things coming into my own church and I have written to our bishop about. But I will not stray just because of them. I stay because of Jesus. I receive Him every week in the Eucharist, I can receive His forgiveness with Reconciliation, etc. I am right now looking at attending mass at a different church in our city, I prefer the older traditional churches instead of the modernized ones. I like kneelers and having the tabernacle on the altar, not in a side room.

I give money to my church but not 10% because I am poor. I try to give $3 a week. I haven't given any money in the past 2 months because of medical expensives. The church has enough money. I know they need money to help the poor but buying new gold chalices, now $800 robes, expensive CCD books that are rarely used, this isn't necessary. That I agree with. They do need money to stay open and to provide us with services but they can spend it better. So I give what I can when I can. If I'm wrong, God will let me know.

Please think about it some more. Of course, you will do what you want in the end. But remember that you have been baptized as a Catholic and nothing will take that away. Not even yourself. And by leaving the church, you are living in sin. You don't have to give money to the church, tithing isn't just for a church, it's for the poor, like local food pantries and thrift stores. There has always been sinners in the priesthood and sadly probably always will be. But Jesus gave you His church, not a human.

God bless!

Answer 8

I feel your heart brother. I also converted from Catholic to Christian and I disagree with the 1st answer, Catholic does not equal Christian.

My biggest thing with it is that there is no encouragement to read or even OWN a bible. Its all about the church, not about God.

I pray this will be the start of a great experience for you. You'll really like the music and the lack of rituals in Christian church. God does live in us through the Holy Spirit,,, hope you get alot of it!

Remeber, nothing is without flaws on this earth. There can be politics and gossip in Christian church, but you will probably have good bible teaching and love there. Remeber Jesus and forget the people and the church. Follow him and you'll be great!

Bless you!!

David

Answer 9

Why is abraham called our father why is there alot of metion of spiritual fathers in the NT, ask yourself this. No offence but I see alot of ministers living in big houses fancy cars and expensive clothing the priest doesn't even ask for money he may as for help but for the donations that go to him a basket is past around if your priest is saying I need more money for myself theres something wrong there...Salvation is obtained by Faith + Good Works and i dont get the last question......fast sloppy answer sorry.

Answer 10

Thanks to Adam and Eve our first fathers we have had to live with sin, and unfortunately Satan finds his way into the heart and minds of many, which lead them to sin.

Remember that these holy men, no matter what religion they put their faith into, are not god, and will never be perfect like god.

We cannot only point fingers to one faith because there are others that commit the same due to imperfection, think of all the incest relationships happening this very moment, family should have the greatest love for us, but if they can cause harm, why would'nt some stranger regardless of social status?

Answer 11

The Catholic Church is the mother church of Christianity.I presume that your speaking to the hierarchs of the Church you mean the bishops.Impressive.My parish priest is reluctant to ask for money for the church but the reality is that the physical plant of the church exists(gas,telephone,electricity,maintenance etc.). iamcatholic2 has replied well to your query about calling priests father.Priests of the Orthodox and Anglican Churches are also addressed as father.One of the most respected Protestant biblical commentaries remarks"If one takes this command literally,the titles 'doctor' and 'professor',as well as'rabbi'and 'father'are forbidden to Christians in addressing their leaders."(Interpreter's Bible:vol.7,on the Gospel of St. Matthew).
Your lady friend whom you asked is not the arbiter of Catholic faith.The bishops of the Church in union with the Bishop of Rome are the official teachers of the Church.Please refer to their work,the Cathechism of the Catholic Church.Also,read Karl Keating's 'Catholicism and Fundamentalism' for an explanation of the various misunderstandings people have about the Catholic Church.