Question about catholics.?

Question

firstly I am catholic.
I believe that the Catholic Church was the first group of Christians but I have a question about Catholic belief, apart from the Nicene Creed is there anything that is fundemental to believe.

do you have to believe all the church teaches, for example everyone agrees that there were "Worldly" Popes and that there were many mistakes in the past as now.

I dont believe that birth control is wrong, I think mandatory celibacy for priests is unbiblical (and traditionaly wrong).

Do you have to believe everything that the church teaches given that personal or Papal revelation can indeed be flawed from time to time.

The current pope was responsable for the protection of Children from the 1970s to 1990s which he failed at as we all know. I say that to show the failures that we all can have.

So really, do you have to believe every trinket they tell you or are they key truths and the rest is more "subjective"

Answer 1

Actually - the Jews were the first Christian church. Peter and Paul both set off in different directions and founded sects at roughly the same time.

Answer 2

The Catholic church was not the first Christian church. There are some Middle Eastern Christian churches in operation today that came way before the Catholic church. The catholic church did not have roots until the middle of the 300"s and was not official until the time of Gregory in the early 600's.

Now, your problem is, "do you want to be Catholic"? If so, then you need to be a "real" one- In belief and practice. If there are some things about the church that bother you- then maybe you are in the wrong place. That decision is between you and God-not the church.

The Catholic church does have a very ugly history, that is fact. And there are serious problems still today. The way the government is set-there is nothing you can do about the problems in the church.

There are other good churches that allow the congregation (parishioners) to have a voice in the affairs of the church. One person can make a difference in that kind of situation. There are several factions of Baptists and also Presbyterians that are pretty straight groups. The Anglicans (Episcopals) and Lutherans would be more like the Catholic church.

Answer 3

In a nutshell, no you do not have to believe every little thing. You do have to believe everything in the Nicene Creed, which you say you do. And your BEHAVIOR has to be in line with what the Church teaches or you cannot receive the Eucharist.

So, with the example you gave of priestly celibacy -- you can think that it's a bad idea, as long as you aren't trying to set your priest up on dates. (I used to be protestant and worked for my church, so I know how difficult it is for married clergy, but you don't have that experience, so I can see why you might object to the rule.) Besides, priestly celibacy is just a discipline and it can be changed at any time.

Your other example is birth control. Here, you can think that artificial birth control is okay, as long as you don't use it yourself. And seeing as how that would be rather difficult for a person to swallow, your best bet is to read everything you can about the Church's teaching on birth control to see if it makes sense to you. In other words, it's not always wise to persist in casual disagreement -- get the facts and try to learn the WHYs behind the policy. One good resource is "Contraception: Why Not?" by Dr. Janet Smith.

Answer 4

I'm a bit confused about one statement you made -- that the "current pope was responsable for the protection of Children from the 1970s to 1990s which he failed at as we all know". Arguably the Church leadership as a whole bore responsibility, certainly. But as a matter of direct responsibility, Cardinal Ratzinger was not prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy nor the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He was an academic, then Archbishop of Munich and Freising, then prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith prior to becoming Pope. Your statement is correct only in terms of the bishops in aggregate -- and therefore would apply regardless of who was elected.

Answer 5

I am also Catholic, and I agree with what you've said.

I too agree with the basic tenets of Christianity, but I don't at all agree with the idea that the Pope is infallible or with some of the Church political agendas or rationales.

The way I look at it is, I believe in God, and I prefer to worship in the mode of the Catholic church. Anything religious created by humans, it is up to me to accept or disregard.

Historical trivia--Up until the 7th century AD, Catholic clergy did not have to be celibate. In fact there were monasteries and convents which were located next door to each other, in which the monks and nuns married and had children.

I really believe that celibacy shoud be reserved only for those who desire lives of intensive contemplation. It isn't suitable for everybody.

Answer 6

it is quite obvious from reading the comments listed here that many many ppl are in fact ignorant when it comes to the catholic church. Yeah it is ok to bash this church and all she stands for. but that is ok....like someone once said...even if I came from outer space and knew nothing about any other church, i would have to become a catholic because even in the scriptures Jesus. says they will hate you because of Me. Now if you want to be catholic try not to be the cafeteria type. The answers are in the catholic church for those that are honestly and HUMBLY seeking them The truth is not something... Jesus Christ is the truth and he did indeed establish a church before he left. If there are bad popes or bishops or priests so what...do we not all fall short of the glory of God....That only proves that for this church to have survived 2000 years it has to be divinely protected and inspired.and all of you that want to believe constantine made it up...get real and read history from the church fathers again....history has been written and re-written by protestants that hate the church...tell a lie long enough and loud enough and everyone will believe it. to be steeped in history is to cease to be protestant!

Answer 7

My general understanding is that you must believe all that the Church teaches. I know that there are big "T" Traditions and smal "t" traditions - the big "T" ones being not open for discussion.

I'm not sure where priestly celibacy falls, but I've seen it mentioned on YA that it is a discipline and not hard doctrine.

Birth control is another issue. It is adamantly condemned by the Church, as it rightly should be. God is the one who determines when life begins and ends, not us.

You should read the catechism and other Church-related material to get a better answer and not rely soley on the answers you get here.

God bless.

Answer 8

FIRST WHAT U BELIEVE TO BE TRUE IS OF NO COSEQUENCE, what you should believe is what is written.. and not your own suppositions or anyone elses 1. the catholic church didnt gain full power until it uprooted 3 other nations the ostergoths , the heruli, nthe vandals, these 3 nations were completely wiped out of existance by the catholic church. christs church led by the apostles where love was the key to adding to the church lasted to about 100 ad after the last apostle john died the church then that was pure began to change ever slowly compromise crept in untill it was pale the church of CHRIST and the pure truth became corrupted by strange doctrine being added. paul had mentioned that grevious wolves would enter the flock scattering the flock the whole book of 2 timothy deals with holding on to the truth and how some wont hold on to this but fall to the ways of satan..the apostle paul stated to continue in what you have learned and been assured of knowing from whomyou have learned them and that from a child u have known HOLY SCRIPTURES that are able to make u wise unto salavation THROUGH faith IN CHRIST JESUS suming it up IF WHAT IS NOT STATED IN THE SCRIPTURES ITS MADE UP BY MAN WISDOM IS GIVEN INTO BE FOLLISHNESS, U DECIDE WHAT U WANT TO BELIEVE

Answer 9

It is OK not to understand everything the Church teaches but you must follow the teaching of the Church as one of Christ's faithful. I would suggest that you read what the Church teaches on the issues you question. A good place to study other than the Catechism is www.catholic.com

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 10

I am a protestant, and I commend your honesty and search for the truth. Even in my circles, the leadership sometimes is definitely wrong. I don't think you can find a church that is perfect, but it is our obligation as individual believers, to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). Some things I go along with in church, while other things I just say - "they don't know better."

Answer 11

The Lutheran and Episcopal churches are similar in liturgy and order of worship style as the Catholic church. When I first went to an Episcopal church, I followed along easily, pleasantly surprised at the similar order of worship and wording. However, the Lutheran Church, ELCA and the Episcopal church welcome all believers who believe that Christ is present in the bread and the wine to commune. The Catholic church, apparently, is picky about whom they allow to commune. (My father-in-law is a lifelong member of the Catholic church and isn't allowed to commune because he is divorced, but the marriage is not annulled. I guess it doesn't matter that their reasoning for divorce [his first wife cheated on him] is Biblical.) The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Synod (The ELCA, Missouri Synod and Wisconson Synod are three separate denominations) do not allow "outsiders" to commune unless they speak with the pastor first. (Missouri and Wisconsin also do not allow women to be pastors, council [board] members, or to even read the Scripture passages in church.)

I'm a member of the Lutheran Church, ELCA. The way I see it, the Bible was essentially written by humans. Humans make mistakes. While there is an underlying theme in the Bible, I don't think it is inerrant. The ELCA has official statements of beliefs, but I don't agree with all of them. I also don't do things like go to church on Sunday just because it's Sunday morning. My husband left for the church he is long term preaching at and I wasn't ready and our daughter was still sleeping. I could have either gone to the Episcopal church with which I'm active or a Lutheran Church, but I decided not to. I like the Wednesday Eucharist services at my husband's seminary and will try and go this week. Not to make up for today, but because I want to. I try and go every week, regardless of whether or not I made it to church on Sunday. As it is, I spent the last two Sundays sitting in the back room with my baby, only getting part of the service. I digress. I also believe that the Pope is human and is capable of sin and error. My father is a pastor. My husband is a seminary student. I have friends who are pastors and who are also seminary students. They're just as human as the atheist next to them on the bus.

I think that there are key truths and the rest is more opinionated.