I am a catholic, i go to church on Sundays (most of the time) I went to a catholic grade school, high school, even a mostly catholic college yet I dont agree or follow many of the "rules" I dont go to confession, I perform sexual acts with women, I drink heavily (on the weekends), I believe in condoms and birth control, I think abortion is right in some circumstances, and people who are really really religious piss me off.
I am sure there are other catholics like me, what do you think?
2007-11-16 07:24:03 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
then you are not a practicing Catholic. you know these things are wrong, you know they are against the teachings of the Church, you are saying you know better then God.
You need to find a denomination that is more suitable to your preferences in life. I am assuming you do not receive the Eucharist as you do not confess or repent for your sins so....
why you claim to be Catholic is beyond me and a disappointment.
if you know these things are wrong, why do you continue with them?
If you do not believe the denomination of which you "claim" membership - why would you?
if you belonged to a country club and didn't like the rules of the membership - you would quit and find another.... same concept.
apparently you are not getting that which you need to keep you on the strainght and narrow. I pray you will wake up to your destructive lifestyle. I was there myself, but sure didn't have such an "up yours Catholics" attiotude as you do. i just "didn't" and wasn't any more. I thank God I woke up to HIs Truth before my life ended - which would have easily done with the drinking & driving and other things that occured.
God BLess & Keep you.
2007-11-16 08:15:40 · answer #1 · answered by Marysia 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What's the point? Are you here for the excitement of considering yourself a Catholic? The Church holds keys to heaven. Our rules are there for a purpose - Christ put them in place.
Do you wish to know and love God? If so, you might want to re-examine why you choose to believe that God thinks just like you!
Christ wasn't some "peace and love" hippy when he was on earth - he spoke some very inconvenient truths which made a lot of people walk away from him.
Maybe you should spend some time examining *why* the Church teaches what it does. Once you fully understand certain things, and desire to be with God, you will find that these things are not imposed by others, but are truly God's way.
Sure - we all still sin because we are just human. But, trying to conform your will to God's will is the best way to Heaven. Not going to confession is depriving yourself of grace. I know that you would say that you don't feel guilty for certain things, but youc an confess the sins and confess your lack of emotional guilt. You can pray for the grace to see His way.
All the best to you.
2007-11-17 00:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by SigGirl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What does, "being Catholic" mean to you?
If it is a social designation rather than a religion, then you are Catholic if you belong to the church. What you say, think or do is irrelevant.
If you mean believing in the religious teachings of the church then its more complicated. How many things can you not believe in and still call yourself Catholic before you become a hypocrite?
2007-11-16 15:41:38 · answer #3 · answered by David S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Though I am not a Christian I was a tone time but now am a Tibeton Buddhist. Regarding rules, do what I do just rewrite them! Rules often times reduce thinking, rational thought and spirituality down to legalism, didnt Jesus Christ cast off all the rules form the old codes? He sure did! He said, in essence, it is what is in that the heart that matters. Granted, we should not cast off rules completely for we need them but there is a big difference between blindly obeying them and using practical reasoning. For instance if you know that you are going to fool around sexualy and are concerned about VD and such then protect both of yourselves and use a rubber. Okay so you get drunk on weekends as long as you are hurting no one then who cares but word to the wise, do not over due it to the point you hurt yourself. Though no fan of abortion either I do not think that it should be totaly outlawed, simply because there are some cases where there are no other choices. I am a very religous person but have a disdane for strict rules for they are often just shallow codes of legalism and reduce folks down to automations.
2007-11-17 22:54:03 · answer #4 · answered by chinavagabond94122 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you do not want to be a Catholic.
Cafeteria style dining means to pick and choose what food to take from a cafeteria line.
The term "Cafeteria Christians" refers to people who view Christianity like a cafeteria where one picks and chooses only those beliefs that appeal to them and reject a genuine interpretation of Christian doctrine and the teachings of Jesus.
The term "Cafeteria Catholics" is similar. It is used to describe people who dissent from certain teachings of the Catholic Church while maintaining an outward identity as Catholics.
In Los Angeles in 1987, Pope John Paul II said: "It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church's moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a "good Catholic," and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere."
Heresy is the obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.
"Cafeteria Catholics" in denial of certain truths are in danger of committing heresy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafeteria_Christianity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafeteria_Catholic
With love in Christ.
2007-11-17 00:58:48 · answer #5 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You can be anything you want. Catholic, Muslim, Atheist, etc. and break the rules. Don't we all do that one time or another!
Don't you find it funny when people speak of how Catholic are not suppose to have sex before marriage. they are viewed badly, but when Muslims say the same thing. They are viewed as honorable! do you think that is PC of the media or just plain bigotry!
When the Buddhist monk live all their life without marriage, they are devoted to their religion, but when the priests do that, they are brainwashed. another example of double standards, or just prejudice treatment.
Edit:
I am sure there are many Catholic like you, I am somewhat like, but we are not all alike, we all are different.
I went to Catholic school, but not Catholic college. I don't go much to confession. No sex before marriage, that is were we differ. Don't drink, because I just don't like liquor. I believe in family planning. for me abortion is wrong, but it doesn't mean I will down on anyone who think it is fine for them. Their body, their choice. I don't mind really really religious people, as long as they don't push their religion on me, even if they were the same religion like me.
2007-11-16 15:30:45 · answer #6 · answered by Bravado Guru 5 · 13⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you can be Catholic and disobey rules. Pretty much everybody does, to one extent or another. I do myself, though it shames me to admit it.
In your case, though, if what you say here is true, you must refrain from Holy Communion when you are at Mass until you go to Confession and resolve to truly set aside these sins and do better. It does no good to confess them (here or with a priest) unless you are committed to giving up the sins.
It troubles me, of course, that your conscience is so ill-formed that you do not recognize the gravity of having sexual relations with multiple women whom you are not married to, nor the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual danger of drunkenness, nor the preciousness of human life, even a human life that is unwanted, "deformed" or short-lived. Perhaps this question is your way of hinting that you aren't quite comfortable with where you stand, either? If that's the case, I recommend that you set up a plan to feed your spiritual self, the same way you feed your intellectual, emotional, and physical self. When we don't feed our spiritual selves, they atrophy, and we start thinking that the sins described by the Church or in the Bible aren't really so bad to engage in after all.
May God bless you and show you His love and mercy.
2007-11-16 16:07:50 · answer #7 · answered by sparki777 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
By your actions you're not Catholic. No Christian would do those things because Jesus said not to. Repent and go to confession.
2007-11-19 08:53:04 · answer #8 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called a cafeteria Catholic.
2007-11-16 15:29:16 · answer #9 · answered by Kiwi 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I will try to say this without sounding critical. Maybe you should look into another faith. If you do not agree with many of their "rules", I think that is very different than breaking them and then feeling remorse. I am not saying to just change religions, but I do not believe there is much harm in looking into it. Whatever you decide, it is your choice, and good luck.
2007-11-16 15:34:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋