Catholic religion?

Question

Do you follow it and if so what part does it play in your life?

Answer 1

My view;
I was born and raised Catholic and went through 11 years of Private Catholic School in the 70's and 80's. I received all the required sacraments and was an alter boy for 7 years (no jokes Please!).
The parish priest was (and is) a good friend to my family and was there for us when my father died of cancer when I was 14.
As a kid and as a teenager, I was always happy and proud to be a Catholic. I would see other religious groups preaching fanatical, absurd ideas like the Southern Baptists who would make their kids burn Rock Music because it was "evil" or protest against the game "Dungeons & Dragons" because those idiots thought it taught "witchcraft" to children and I would thank God that I was part of a tolerant, pragmatic and enlighten religious group because no one at Catholic School seemed to have a problem with our music or hobbies (as long as it Didn't involve SEX!).
As I saw it, My religion was the FIRST Christian faith and as far as I was concerned the other Christian sects were nothing more than "strap hangers" on the Catholic Church's coat tails.
After high school, I fell away from the church. It happens to young people. They get involved in college and with their careers and going to church isn't always convenient or possible.
In the last two decades, I have become a non-practicing Catholic. Even so, I jumped through all of the "new" bureaucratic hoops to have my marriage done in the church and to have my son baptized Catholic but the truth is, I can't see myself going back and I just recently made the decision Not to send my son to Catholic (or Any religious) school.

The truth Is, the Catholic Church of today is Not the same church I grew up in. Since my departure in the mid 80's, the Catholic Church has rolled back many of the progressive changes that were instituted at Vatican II for a more conservative, forceful and controlling approach to dealing with church members. Couple that with the priest sex scandals as well as other issues have left me unwilling to continue practicing the Catholic faith.

When I was in college, I studied the history of the Catholic Church and was surprised to find out how Little of that Very bloody history was taught to me in private Catholic school. The Very same school where a certain Sister Irene lectured me about the "sin of omission"!
The Truth is, that after seeing the world and getting a higher education that wasn't subject to Catholic censorship, I have developed certain views and beliefs that are not welcome in the church.

1) I believe that All Catholics have the Right to question church doctrine!
2) I Do NOT believe in Papal Infallibility!
3) I'm Against abortion in all but a few extreme circumstances but I'm For contraception!
4) As far as I'm concerned, ALL of the bureaucratic crap the Catholic Church has imposed on couples who wish to wed, on families who wish to have children Baptized and on parents who seek a Catholic education for their kids isn't worth an ounce of dehydrated manure!

The TRUTH is the Catholic Church of today is Only interested in "Blind Obedience". That is why groups like Opus Dei are given special consideration by the Pope.
You can see from Many of the other answers to your question, that there are those out there who are happy little fanatics that are Always willing to drink the church's "Kool-Aid".
The Truth is I love The Catholic Church of my youth and I believe in God but I wish the Vatican would join the Rest of us here in the 21st century in regards to doctrine. I believe its time for the church to publicly come clean with its past and evolve forward instead of regressing backward!

The Truth is, I will Not be a hypocrite and go to church, take communion or practice the other sacraments with these beliefs in my heart.
Does That answer your question?

Answer 2

Yes, Catholics between the ages of 14 and 64 are required to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent and to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (which generally means one light meal and two small snacks, unless a person has an illness, a laborious job, or a pregnancy or something like that that requires them to eat a regular diet). Actually, every Friday is still a penitent Friday, even outside of Lent, so if a Catholic does not abstain from meat on that day, he/she must substitute a devotion of prayer or some corporal work of mercy or something like that.

Answer 3

I live a Sacramental Life in the Catholic Church.

My Catholic faith gave me the strength to continue after my wife was tragically killed in an automobile accident, leaving me to care for a 10-month-old and 3 year old daughter.

I have absolutely no doubts that the Catholic Church IS the Church founded by our Lord and Savior. By living a Sacramental Life in the Church, I feel that it is entirely possible to live a holy life, to be a living saint, to imitate Christ and have a share in His Divine Estate.

Answer 4

I no longer follow it. I was an adult convert and left the church after 25 years because I found that some of the things that are actually valid spiritual tools are not allowed within Catholicism. Like divination.
When I was a Catholic, that was all that I was.... I was the best judgmental, offensive, superstitious, orthodox, "my church right or wrong" Catholic you could have found anywhere. I was attracted to it because it made sense to me from a Biblical and practical (sacramental) perspective, but when it no longer fit my needs for spiritual growth, I left.
That's not to say that it's all lies, however. I think there is still some valid ritual magic going on during the transubstantiation.

Answer 5

Not any more. Seen first hand too many hypocrits in action.
Lies......and deeds which bend the rules and then the use of confession to supposedly put back on track and then repeat the whole thing again and again.
However that said once a Catholic always a Cathoilic just one who chooses God and not the Church.

Answer 6

The Catholic church is the source of all authentic Christianity, because Jesus personally set it up that way.

Jesus and his and universal church are number one in my life ... but it wasn't always that way.

Answer 7

I am a Catholic and I am constantly working at allowing my Faith to influence all facets of my life.

Answer 8

It is one of the most backward and evil of all religions. Its leader is a former Nazi; there are thousands of paedophile preists around the world (with the churches knowledge!); they have help spread AIDS in places like Africa by banning contraception; they have stolen millions (if not billions) from vulnerable members of society; the vatican holds many artefacts (again) stolen by these "godly" people for their evil ends.

So, evidently I don't follow it. It plays no part in my life and shouldn't in any other good humans life either.

Answer 9

Catholic religion, do you mean Christianity, or are you asking about the rules set down by the Catholic church and if that is the case, each mainline denomination has its own doctrine.

...i may skew the results, but i want to answer your question anway...

Christianity is a relationship with Christ, so it plays the world of a difference in one's life. it changes one's lifestyle and the way one perceives the world.

...but if you are talking about the religious mentality...i suppose they don't drink for recreational purposes...well, actually i don't know enough about the Catholic doctrine to answer that.

Answer 10

The catholic religion relies on works and penence to "win" a persons eternal life. It also teaches about purgotory. It teaches about saints and prayer to them.

These things are contrary to the Bible and should not be followed. These are an abomination to Jesus Christ...the begotten Son of God...begotten, not made. From everlasting to everlasting. He is the only intercessor to God...He is the door to God the father. Only by trusting that his death paid for all our sins, and his resurrection is the title to his kingdomship. He is the KING. He earned the right to sit at the right hand of God...no one else. Not Mary or any other person. There is nothing that we can do to gain our eternal life...EXCEPT belief on Christ, and him crucified. Nothing else will work.

I tell you the truth....Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the father except thru me."
john 14:6

If we pray to someone other than Christ(the father or the holy spirit)....we brake the 1st commandment....Thou shall have no other gods before(except) me.