Catholicism question?

Question

Do Catholics believe in the WHOLE Bible? Because Leviticus 11 in the Bible states that there are certain foods like pork that are unclean and should not bere eaten. Yet, I see Catholics eating all different kinds of unclean and unhealthy foods. Since Seventh-Day Adventists don't eat these foods, studies show that we live 5-8 years longer than other people. When God gives laws, we should obey them. But what about this one?

Well, yea it's only for the Jews, but Jesus was a Jew. And we all want to follow Christ's example right? I don't think he ate any unclean foods so there's no reason why we should.

Thanks everybody.

Answer 1

Christians are under grace, not law. The Mosaic law was for a certain people, at a certain time, in a particular place.

Answer 2

If one is truly a Catholic, then one believes in the WHOLE bible. The law stating that pork is unclean and should not be eaten pertains to the old testament law. When Jesus came, he made several changes on how the rules are applied, emphasizing on the values and virtues from which the laws themselves emanate. Take the case of Mary Magdalene. Old testament law says that any woman proven to commit adultury should be stoned to death. When Jesus was confronted with this situation, He said that whoever has no sin be the one to throw the stone first. Jesus did not exactly follow what the law has written but rather, emphasized on the value of mercy and forgiveness as more effective ways for a person to change, rather than stoning that person. The same way related to eating pork. Old testament law states that pork should not be eaten because it is unclean, and by eating them, it makes you unclean. But Jesus emphasized that it is not what you take in that makes you clean, but rather what goes out from you - your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Thus, in the Catholic teaching, eating pork is not prohibited, because it does not make you unclean in God's eyes, it is the things that you say, think, or do which may put you unclean in God's eyes.

Answer 3

The Old Testament is a type and shadow of Christ. To abstain from unclean things, post Christ, is now brought into a deeper meaning than just abstaing from certain meats.

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Answer 4

Matthew 19:17-78 states:

Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"

He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."

For Christians, Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses.

Christians are not held to the ceremonial parts of the Mosaic Law concerning of dietary purity and temple worship.

Christians are held to the moral law of God, some of which is expressed in the Ten Commandments.

However Jesus took the Ten Commandments to the next step summarizing them into the two Great Commandments:
+ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
+ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

And teaching things like
+ Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
+ Everyone is our neighbor including our enemies.

Therefore we have to go much farther than the original recipients of the Ten Commandments ever dreamed.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, part 3, section 2: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt3sect2.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

If you look back through history, there is so many things about the Catholic Church that are messed up and controversial. The main idea behind Catholicism is the same as other christian religions. We all love god!! My favorite is "love thy neighbor" because honestly, with all the "religious" people out there, there seems to be an awful lot of hate. In fact, I'd say you're hating a little!!!

Answer 6

It is not what goes into the belly that defiles a man or woman it is what comes out of the mouth.For it comes from the heart. That is what defiles a person deceit,lies hatered,sin in general.It come as a thought and if thought about long enough goes to the heart...then comes murder,slander,raping,stealing and such as these is against the word of God.

Answer 7

Jesus declared all foods clean...

Mar 7:18 And He *said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
Mar 7:19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

You need to read your Bible a little better...

Answer 8

Yes, Catholics do believe the WHOLE bible.

We just don't believe you have to follow every little Levitical rule in it.

I guess 7th Day Adventists don't either, or they would stone to death any woman caught in adultery and kick out of church any person wearing clothes made out of cotton and rayon. Those rules are in the bible too. Why aren't the 7th Dayers following those too?

I guess they don't believe the WHOLE bible.

Answer 9

I was raised Catholic, and most Catholics, from what I recall, believe that the Bible requires interpretation. Catholics don't take the Bible literally. And, in this case, neither do Protestants or Evangelicals.

Answer 10

Good question. The verse you cited comes from the Old Testament -- but there are New Testament verses (I don't have them right in front of me) that supercede such laws.

There are other things in the Old Testament -- such as slavery and stoning people to death -- that we don't do anymore either, again because the New Testament contains teachings that supercede the Old ones.

This does not apply to homosexuality, though -- with regard to that issue, both the Old and New Testaments specifically condemn it.

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