Question regarding non-practicing Catholics:?

Question

I have always heard that the "bare" minimum obligation requires Catholics to receive the Eucharist once a year, as is set forth in the Third Precept of the Church ("You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter Season.")

Wind-up Question: Is this true, or are all of the precepts mandatory to be considered a practicing Catholic?

And Here's the Pitch: My grandfather was raised Catholic, and always considered himself so, but he was denied his request for a Catholic burial in 1962 because he was not practicing. Is this now, or was this proper at the time? Or were we dealing with local custom or uninformed priest?

Thanks - Jim C.
www.PrayTwice.Com

Answer 1

There are "minimal" standards for Catholics, such as receiving the Eucharist at least once during the Easter Season, going to Reconciliation (confession) at least once a year, and going to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day. These are called the Seven Laws of the Church, and they are not difficult for any person to follow who has the will to practice the Catholic faith.

I'm afraid it sounds like your grandfather willfully refused to follow these basic laws, which would get him classified as "not practicing." He was still Catholic, however.

If your grandfather was in a state of mortal sin and not reconciled to God when he died in 1962, most priests would not have allowed a Catholic burial. (Never going to Mass though a person has the ability and Mass is available is a mortal sin, because it's the person's refusal to worship the Lord, so that alone would qualify.) It was not a local custom or an uninformed priest. Today, most devout priests would follow the same standards.

Answer 2

from what i understand in 1962, your Grandfather was not a participating member of a parish so they would not necessarily have to bury him. a parish has a lot of obligations and responsibilities - while that sounds harsh, i am sorry it's true. i do not know if this is still the case however, my parish has a "bottom file" for those people like myself who live out of state but still support the parish and those who are elderly who can not attend or support the parish. while most members give $2 a week it's okay. our pastor asks people to even turn in their envelopes empty just to be able to keep them as a participating member. churches are "taxed" on their membership count through the diocese. our "bottom file" is not counted in the membership but still offers me the "membership" burial, baptism, marriage, etc.

Answer 3

Once a Catholic always a Catholic just what I think.

Answer 4

Just remember: a non-practicing catholic will never perform in Carnegie Hall.

Answer 5

9d5ed678fe57bcca61140957afab571iblical foundation for penance: "And while Ahab heard those words, he hire his clothing, and placed sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went approximately dejectedly. And the notice of the Lord got here to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'have you ever seen how Ahab has humbled himself in the past me? 9d5ed678fe57bcca61140957afab571ecause he has humbled himself in the past me, i won't be able to deliver the evil in his days'" (a million Kgs. 21:27-29). "[B]ecause your heart became into penitent, and you humbled your self in the past the Lord . . . and you have hire your clothing and wept in the past me, I even have heard you, says the Lord" (2Kgs. 22:19). "Then I became my face to our lord god, searching for him by making use of prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" (Dan. 9:3). "For it is for thy sake that I even have borne reproach, that disgrace has coated my face. . . . For zeal for thy homestead has ate up me, and the insults of people who insult thee have fallen on me. when I humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. when I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them" (playstation . sixty 9:7-11). "9d5ed678fe57bcca61140957afab571ut once you rapid, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting won't be seen by making use of adult males yet by making use of your Father who's in secret" (Matt. 6:17-18). "I pommel my physique and subdue it, lest after preaching to others i incredibly could be disqualified" (a million Cor. 9:27). "Draw on the factor of God and he will draw on the factor of you. Cleanse your palms, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you adult males of double innovations. 9d5ed678fe57bcca61140957afab571e wretched and mourn and weep. enable your laughter be became to mourning and your exhilaration to dejection. Humble yourselves in the past the Lord and he will exalt you" (Jas. 4:8-10). "and that i will grant my 2 witnesses skill to prophesy for a million,260 days, clothed in sackcloth" (Rev. 11:3).