Catholic Beliefs?

Question

I am dating this guy who doesn't really practice being catholic but I know that his family does very much. My question is this, what are some catholic beliefs that kind of sets them apart from other religions? I heard that they do not believe in taking birth control, can someone tell me more about this belief and if it is true? Thank you very much!

If you hadn't figured it out I'm not Catholic and that is why I'm asking. Thank you very much!

Answer 1

I assume that you want to know what the differences are between Catholic beliefs and non-Catholic Christian beliefs. First, it should be noted that there is a lot more common ground than some might be willing to admit. That being said, there are some significant differences.
When speaking of Catholic beliefs, you have to realize that they can fall into a variety of categories.
The first category is the dogmatic teaching of the Church. These are non-negotiable beliefs that one must hold to be legitimately called a Catholic Christian. Many people call themselves Catholic but choose to ignore (or even deny) these teachings - they are heretics. I know that sounds rude but it's true and sugarcoating it won't change the fact. This doesn't mean you can't have doubts or questions or that you must fully understand these things at all times - it means that you must acknowledge them as revealed truths and give your intellectual assent.
Another category of beliefs are perhaps better described as theological suppositions. Theologians ponder weighty issues and try to draw conclusions based on what we know and believe. Many of these have been around for a long time and they sometimes go in or out of favor. These are not dogma and one is not bound to believe them.
A prime example of the difference between these two is purgatory and limbo. Purgatory is where people are cleansed of any remaining penalty of sin before entering into the presence and glory of God. It is a dogmatic article of faith. Our notions of what exactly it is like might change over time, but not our belief in it's existence. Limbo, on the other hand, is a final resting place of perfect and complete natural happiness for unbaptized infants. Noone with sin can enter into heaven. Babies who are unbaptized still have original sin but it is through no fault of their own and God is merciful. So the concept of limbo reconciles this. It is not a mandatory belief.
The third category is more properly called discipline or practice rather than belief. These are the things which are usually the most visible differences. Disciplines would be things like Friday penances (it used to specifically include not eating meat) and the various days of fasting, etc. Practices would include things like making the sign of the cross or praying the rosary.
Others have already provided links to good resources and I would especially recomend perusing the catechism.

As to your specific question about birth control - yes it's true. The Catholic Church does teach that birth control is a sin. Most Protestant denominations also used to teach this. However, most studies that I have seen show that people describing themselves as Catholic are only slightly less likely to use birth control (or even to be sterilized) than the general population. Part of this is people who claim to be Catholic but make no effort to live as such, and part of it is bad, or non-existant, teaching. Unfortunately, to find out much of what the Church teaches many Catholics have to go out of their way to find the information.
When you say that the guy you are dating doesn't really practice being Catholic, what do you mean? Does he have nothing to do with the Church except maybe going to mass once or twice a year to appease his parents? Does he attend mass fairly regularly and more or less believe what the Church teaches but lacks zeal and doesn't make his faith a regular part of his daily life? Since you are asking about birth control, I assume you are either having sex or considering the possibility that you might one day get married. If so, you need to find out where he stands because these are questions best answered earlier rather than later. And if you are having sex, don't assume that his current indulgence in sin will preclude him from a conversion or reversion to the faith - many of the greatest saints were once great sinners.

+Pax Tecum+

Answer 2

The English word Catholic comes as a contraction of the Greek kata and holous. It means "all embracing," or "according to the whole." So the Catholic Church is the Church that hugs all, or so that is its simplest meaning. Unfortunately, since the reformation this has often had the translation of universal. It does mean universal, but it is a poor phrasing.

Second, it means according to the whole. A Catholic belief is only those beliefs held across all time and place and not a local belief or a belief held during some time periods. So, since women have never been ordained presbyters, the belief cannot be changed. Belief and Truth are not subject to voting, unlike Protestantism. The Pope has no more say over Catholic beliefs and what is believed than any person on the street. Very few Catholic beliefs are mandatory, most are local and time focused. It can be very hard for an outsider to distinquish between a Catholic cultural belief and a Catholic belief.

Finally, Catholic believe that God is the lover of mankind and He alone is good in the true sense. But, Catholics also believe God "tents among us," through Jesus in the Spirit and so enlivens us through the mysteries of baptism, confirmation, communion, marriage, ordination, healing and reconciliation.

This is profoundly different from Protestant beliefs. You do not get a say in the beliefs, the apostles are the only ones who did. You cannot change them. You cannot vote on them. And God is an in your face, always present, loving parent who gave the Universe its order as an act of Love.

The belief in birth control, so you have a frame of reference, is limited to certain types of birth control. Any type which kills a child is absolutely forbidden, such as the morning after pill. That is considered out and out murder. If God makes a life, no one can take it. Artificial birth control is more of a mixed bag.

There are two competing beliefs here. One is that couples should have no more children than they can responsibly raise. The second is that artificial birth control implies an absence of trust in God to provide. Natural forms of birth control leave God room to sabotage your intentions if they are not His intentions. Artificial birth control leaves no room in creation for God. Further, it has the effect of giving unmarried women less power. They must compete against other "willing" women for men and so reduces the ability of women to say "no," and remain competitive in the goal of finding a man. It makes a woman less valuable and sex a commodity.

All the other beliefs, such as popes and bishops and so forth, are really minor and secondary beliefs compared to the profession of faith in Jesus of Nazareth as Savior of Mankind, True God of True God and True Man of True Man. Basically, if you have the belief that Jesus Christ liberates mankind from sin, then you have the big belief. Everything else was handed down by the apostles in the bible, in services, in stories, in songs, in art (Luke painted), and in practices. What was done in the beginning is still done today, what was not done in the beginning cannot be added now. No gay marriage, no women priests and so forth.

Answer 3

I read a few mistakes in the other answers, it always seems the non-catholics are the ones ready to explain our beliefs..
1. Our religious do not marry..i.e..Nuns or Priests
2. We do receive Communion every day if possible, because at the last supper Christ said when you are together do this in memory of me.
3. We do not pray to Mary or the Saints, but ask them to take our prayers to God.
4. We believe the Pope is infallible IN MATTERS CONCERNING THE CHURCH.
5.We baptize our babies to erase the original sin we all received from Adam and Eve..BUT..we also have adult classes in every church for adults who have never been baptized.
6. Adultery is a sin.
7. As already mentioned the purpose of marriage is procreation..birth control is a no no.
8. Believe it or not to us Easter is a more joyous time than Christmas..because that is when Christ arose form the dead to save us.

Answer 4

My aunt and uncle were Catholic and had 11 kids. My parents are Catholic and had two. Some Catholics practice birth control (other than the rhythm and "prayer" methods) rather they admit it or not. The official church stance is still anti- birth control as far as I know.
Unfortunately, when you ask any type of Catholic question on here, you are going to get a lot of ignorant responses.

Answer 5

First of all go back to school and explain to your teacher that Catholics are Christians and ask if you should write a paper on the Protestant vs. Catholic beliefs.

Answer 6

+ Family Planning +

The Catholic Church is not against natural forms of birth control.

Judeo-Christian tradition has taught for thousands of years:
1. Single people should be celibate.
2. Married people should be faithful to each other (adultery is wrong).
3. Married couples should welcome God's gift of children and, therefore, artificial birth control is against the will of God.

Here is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's website on Natural Family Planning: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/

+ Catholic Beliefs +

A summary of Catholic beliefs is contained in the Nicene Creed (from the year 325):

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 7

Compare their doctrine with the Bible. Only the Bible can give you the truth. Birth control is a minor doctrine. I'd worry about how their doctrine stands up to the Bible.

Catholic pastors are called Father.

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Matt. 23:9

They pray to mary and the saints. This is idolatry.

Thou shalt not commit idolatry. Ex. 20:4

Apparently only their priests can forgive sin. This is wrong. Only God can forgive sins.

They have the eucharist many times for the forgiveness of sins. Christ did it ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME! The eucharist is an abomination to God.

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Heb. 10:12

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb. 10:14

They also believe you can pray people out of hell. Once your sent to hell your there for eternity.

He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night. Rev. 14:10-11

And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Jer. 14:14

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:6-9

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor. 11:15

Answer 8

Catholics have very conservative beliefs. Yes it's true about the birth control although I have known a few who used it secretly.

Answer 9

The following is the teaching of the Church regarding your question.

Human life must be respected and absolutely protected from the first moment of conception. The rights of the human person (especially the right to live) must be recognized from the first moment of existence. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I consecrated you" (Jer 1:5).

First Century Teaching
From the first century, the Church has taught the unchangeable truth that every procured abortion is evil. Direct abortion (willed as an end or a means) is gravely contrary to the moral law. "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish" (Didache). "Life must be protected with utmost care from the first moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes" (Second Vatican Council).

Peace and blessings!

Answer 10

Catholics believe that sex before marriage is a sin. Birth control is preventing the natural occurance of conception. Sex is for reproduction within a marriage.