Circumcision and the Catholic Church?

Question

Why does the Catholic Church believe so highly in circumcision? Jesus was circumcised, but how does that represent a bond between man and Catholicism?

well, yesterday in church the deacon was giving us a homily on how circumcision was so important back then, I just got confused if it was today--thanks for the clearing up on that subject!

Answer 1

we have the sacrament of baptism to join us to the new and everlating covenant Christ made with God the Father. circumcision was part of the old covenant, it is no longer necessary. The Catholic Church doesn't use or believe in circumcision.

Answer 2

My dear you are totally wrong about the catholic church is for circumcision. Absolutely not at all. The beginning of Christianity was exactly the stand against circumcision (particularly) and against the purification and kosher laws of Judaism. Read the letter of St Paul to the Galatians and see for yourself the major confrontation between St Paul and St Peter about it.

Who gave you such an idea?

Peace

Answer 3

I think you're mistaking Catholicism for Judaism. In Judaism, circumcision was a sign of the covenant between man and God. In Catholicism, the sacrament of baptism is the beginning of a person's relationship with God and the Church.

I've been a Catholic for a long time now, and I have never heard anyone mention the subject of circumcision -- let alone "believe so highly" in it. The only time I've ever even heard it alluded to is during the Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: "The Presentation in the Temple." But that refers to the circumcision of the Christ Child, Who was Jewish.

Could you cite your sources for your information? Thanks!

Answer 4

WE Catholics( and Orthodox and many liturgical Protestants)celebrate the Circumcision of Christ (Jan 1) but we do not have a position on circumcision as a medical procedure

Baptism is our circumcision of the spirit.

Answer 5

It is not true that the Church believes in circumcision, something that is NOT widely practiced in most of the Christian world and is losing "popularity" even here in the US. The Church has no opinion regarding this practice other than what the New Testament says--i.e., that circumcision is not an issue for becoming a Christian. Note, too, that the Church no longer celebrates 01 January as the feast of the Circumcision of Christ.
Beyond this there is the question of the foundation for the requirement of circumcision of males as found in the Old Testament. Some might argue that the Bible's words are divinely inspired and literally true in all instances. There's plenty to disprove the literal meaning of some of Scripture's passages, and there are serious questions one might ask regarding mutilation, especially of a sexual nature, and whether the command given to Abraham might have as much validity as the description of an ark carrying two each of every species inhabiting the earth. In short, some biblical passages might record more fancy than fact; and, if fancy, we might ask about the root of the fancy regarding circumcision.

Answer 6

It don't, in the old testament circumcision was of the flesh, now circumcision is of the heart under the new covenant. It is no longer a commandment. Jesus did away with that when He arose from the grave and the veil in the temple was torn into. We are now saved by grace thru faith, Ephesians 2:8-9

Answer 7

There is nothing in the Catechism stating whether we are for or against circumcision, although some use the paragraph talking about body mutilation as an argument against it.

Answer 8

In the old law a man had to be circumsised, they would do this with their children, but in the new law, we exchanged circumsision for baptism. In baptism we become a child of God, and not before then. Unless you consider batism by desire, that is having the intent to do what Christ taught us to do.