My near fiance is non-denominational. I'm Catholic & uncomfortable with her decisions to question my ways?

Question

She has great questions for me, for which I attempt to research. But, i always feel that my answers aren't enough for her to understand the "why" in me being Catholic. She is a huge Bible buff, believes she is "Right." What can I do to help counter her opinions...its for some reason I feel in my gut that the Catholic faith is rooted in truth rather than opinion, and I'm not sure how to convey that to her. Any other help I would appriciate, especially any questions I should ask her, so that she has to defend herself as she makes me defend myself.

(please no "you shouldn't fight" responces. We are not looking for compromise, we are looking for a way to demolish the hurdle of us starting a life together.)

I need some real Catholic help here - my adreniline is pumping in hopes of helping her see the way, she is inteligent, but I believe she only has believed in what she was taught by her parents. - I became catholic, drawn to it, but she isn't drawn to it for the same reasons.

Answer 1

This is the issue you have to resolve: Is the Bible the sole infallible guide to Christian doctrine and practise? For Catholics the answer is a resounding no! Nowhere in Scripture does it say that either explicitly or implicitly. According to the Bible, divine revelation is transmitted in three ways - Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the teaching authority of the Church. The final authority is the Church.

Matt. 18:17-18 - the Church (not Scripture) is the final authority on questions of the faith. This demands infallibility when teaching the faith. She must be prevented from teaching error in order to lead her members to the fullness of salvation.

Matt. 10:20; Luke 12:12 - Jesus tells His apostles it is not they who speak, but the Spirit of their Father speaking through them. If the Spirit is the one speaking and leading the Church, the Church cannot err on matters of faith and morals.

Matt. 16:18 - Jesus promises the gates of Hades would never prevail against the Church. This requires that the Church teach infallibly. If the Church did not have the gift of infallibility, the gates of Hades and error would prevail. Also, since the Catholic Church was the only Church that existed up until the Reformation, those who follow the Protestant reformers call Christ a liar by saying that Hades did prevail.

Matt. 16:19 - for Jesus to give Peter and the apostles, mere human beings, the authority to bind in heaven what they bound on earth requires infallibility. This is a gift of the Holy Spirit and has nothing to do with the holiness of the person receiving the gift.

Luke 10:16 - whoever hears you, hears me. Whoever rejects you, rejects me. Jesus is very clear that the bishops of the Church speak with Christ's infallible authority.

Matt. 28:20 - Jesus promises that He will be with the Church always. Jesus' presence in the Church assures infallible teaching on faith and morals. With Jesus present, we can never be deceived.

Other Scriptural references.

Christ promised to guide and protect HIS Church, which will last till the end of the age.

"And so I tell you. Peter; you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven." - Matthew 16,18-20

"And teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28,20

The Catholic Church is the Church of the living God and the pillar and foundation of truth.

But if I delay, this letter will let you know how we should conduct ourselves in God's household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth. - 1 Timothy 3, 15

Infallible authority from God to teach with certitude:

All of this wrangling of how to interpret Scripture gets one nowhere if there is no way to know with infallible certitude that one's interpretation is the right one. The teaching authority of the Catholic Church is infallible because it comes directly from Christ.

"And so I tell all of you; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven". - Matthew 18,18

Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." - Luke 10,16

Christ sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect the Church:

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, who will stay with you forever". - John 14,16

"I have told you this while I am still with you, The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you". - John 14, 25

"When, however, the Spirit comes who reveals the truth about God, he will LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH." - John 16,13

Holy Tradition and Continuity

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

"It was he who gave gifts to people; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ". - Ephesians 4,11-12

"Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith". - Hebrews 13,7

The early Church preserved this Holy Tradition

"When, therefore, we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek among others the truth which is easily obtained from the Church. For the apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her most copiously everything, which pertains to the truth; and everyone whosoever, wishes draws from her the drink of life. For she is the entrance of life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers. That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with utmost diligence the things pertaining to the Church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth. What then? If there should be a dispute over some kind of question, ought we not have recourse to the most ancient churches in which the apostles were familiar, and draw from them what is clear and certain in regard to that question? What if the apostles had not in fact left writings to us? Would it not be necessary to follow the order of tradition, which was handed down to those to whom they entrusted the Churches? (Against Heresies 3.4.1 [ca. A.D. 180])

The true Spirit and the False Spirit

"Those false prophets speak about matters of the world, and the world listens to them because they belong to the world. But we belong to God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error". - 1 John 4,5-6


Oral or apostolic tradition, additional verses

"I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2).

"Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us" (2 Tim. 1:13-14).

"So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter." (2 Thess. 2:15)

"You, then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:1-2).

"First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21).

"‘Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete" (2 John 12).
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 2

This is both a common and simple question. The Catholic Church has a program called R.C.I.A. It is The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. I went through this program in the year 2000 and have been working within it as a team member for the last 5 years. The questions you ask and many more can be answered in this course. It is of course designed to be a preparation for adults who intend to join the church but is often used by engaged couples to inform one of them about the others beliefs. There are a lot of misunderstandings between Catholics and Protestants that can easily be dispelled by some real truths told by people who understand the differences. It's not a good idea to pressure someone into these classes,rather let them know that they are available and are not binding in any way. They should be preceded by an Inquiry session to determine the readiness of a person to at least be open to hearing what the Catholic Faith is about. You might try to explain that the Catholic Church can trace it's roots all the way back to the original disciples of Jesus. Also that the word Catholic simply means Universal . Another good thing to do is to sit done and read together the Nicene Creed. Study it ,and talk about it. She will probably find little that she can find problems with.Go to your Priest and have him help you with this. If your Love for her is true you WILL find a way to work this out. Also the greatest strength of our Church is our people. Take her to Mass, Church functions and socials and let her get to know the people and she will see God in their faces and will come to believe that Jesus is really alive and ever present in our hearts and in our Church.
God Bless!!

Answer 3

The Only Church That Christ Established Is The Catholic Church. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned." [Mark 16:16].

Have her to read the seven
Deutero-Canonical books, missing from non-Catholic Bibles.

Tobit
Judith
Wisdom
Sirach or Ecclesiasticus
Baruch

Additions to Daniel:
Song of the Three Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24-90)
Story of Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13)
The Idol Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14)

1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
1 Esdras
2 Esdras

There are several websites that offer the answers you are seeking. Here are a couple:

http://www.catholicapologetics.net/...

http://www.fisheaters.com/beingcatholic....

.

Answer 4

I am catholic also and I'm not surprised what you are going through, you both have a choice, you either become of the same belief or go your separate ways, because your life together will be hell, believe me I have been there and have seen the consequences in a relationship with two different beliefs and or religions.

Answer 5

Pastor Billy says: see my other answer to your other question. The Christian bible is a Catholic book there is nothing in it which contradicts Catholic doctrine.

What your fiance need to be taught is Catholicism is not a denomination hence it is the only non-denominational Christian Church. Your fiance is not being supportive of the bible alone, she is being supportive of an interpretation of it! What she might fail to realize is their are numerous biblical interpretations hence the denominationalism of Protestantism which she is part of. The challenge here is to discover which is the authoritative and authentic Christian biblical interpretation.

listen to ewtn live on radio

addition: well it looks like bloodiebaptist didn't like me, but truly this isn't about conversion as much as it is coming into the fullness of Christian faith. I've heard the personal stories of numerous Protestant converts (including many Baptists) and they all are thankful for their previous walk toward Catholicism. Many understand they have not made a conversion as Catholicism is Christianity. They now know they are more complete in their Christian faith being Catholic and unified with the One universal Church Christ created.

Answer 6

Please make an appointment to see your priest, and then her pastor, together. Ask the questions you each need to ask. It is very likely that you both feel very strongly about your faiths - and each version says the other side is going to hell, which is quite a hurdle to leap. Best wishes to you - however - to make this work you'll very likely have to reach a point of believeing that both can be right... and figure out how to raise the children in advance!

Answer 7

Then let her be. Would you convert to her beliefs? No you believe what you want and she should also. If you are truly looking for a compromise, then understand that you still appear to believe in the same god/gods. That should be enough. Don't get all muddled in the how and why, just enjoy life... who knows you might both be wrong and then what was all the fighting for? If you are christian, then follow the whole jesus saying religion is bad thing and just believe it your own way.

Answer 8

This is the perfect time (I think!) to offer it up to the Lord. You can show her by your example of 'good' living, and maybe steer her towards meeting with other like-minded (Catholic) people.

Example works a lot better than preaching, imho. Also, if she sees her folks acting hypocritical...BINGO!

Answer 9

maybe you are uncomfortable because you have accepted things as truth or fact without ever studying for yourself.history has much to say in how and why the catholic church gained so much power over the years.you will be surprised to know -its not such a pretty picture.still to each their own i would say read and study for yourself you may or may not feel the same when you see the whole picture but i wish you happiness! good luck.

Answer 10

I don't think you should "counter" her opinions, why do you think the Catholic faith is more right than her views? I don't like the way you say you want her to see the "way" as in your church is the only way. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. If she is saved and you are saved, then that is half the battle. How dare you suggest that her church is rooted in "opinions" and not "truth".

Personally, I would never date a Catholic, your doctrine is different from mine and I refuse to convert. There is no compromise when it comes to religion, if you two can't agree on church, how are you gonna agree when it comes to child rearing and your marriage? The Bible says we should not be unequally yoked. I think you two have more problems than just religion.

Answer 11

have her talk to a priest. if i were you, i would call a priest and have them have a discussion. I have referred other people to do so, and all has been settled out.

or you can have her contact a Catholic here on yahoo answers, or join a catholic forum, where discussions can take place.

there's a site, called www.christianforums.com.. it's a huge site, 88,000 members, and they have a booming Catholic forum. maybe you should talk with them there. joining is free and all, and it's a great community.

and if you need to answer to WHY you are Catholic..

* because Jesus instructed Peter to build the Catholic Church. Matthew 16 says "and upon this Rock I will build My Church." Jesusn wasn't saying He was going to build a Church on a rock! He was saying He was instructing Peter to start the Catholic Church! Peter, greek Petra, means Rock. So Jesus is saying "Upon you Peter, I will build my Church." Peter set off to Rome, where the One Holy and Apostolic Church was started!

* we stick to Tradition.

*we are the ONLY Christian Denomination that sticks to tradition, and has truths based off of 2,000 years of research.

* we are the OLDEST Christian Denomination! in fact, it wasn't until the 1500's until Protestants came along!