I'm Confused?

[leftyladyfrommo]

Probably because I am not Catholic - just go to Mass because I happen to love Mass. And the church I go to is very conservative on just about everything.

Are there many American Catholics who are more liberal?

Back to the young priest. One of the things he talked about was the importance of not using contraception. And it sounded like he was saying that couples should only engage in sex if they wanted children. And abortion - well, you know how he felt about that.

I love the Mass but don't think that I could ever join the church simply because of the politics.

I love the ancient liturgy. And I am huge fan of Gregorian Chant. Right now I feel like I will just have to be happy with the Mass and leave the other stuff to more conservative souls than myself.

[elshiva]

1. You can look around for a more liberal church, I guess...

:shrug: I also am not a Roman Catholic but go time to time to week day Masses. The liturgy is great. The sermons last 5-10 minutes and are usually wise sayings based on the readings and/or life experiences. Close to zip about morality. Sometimes someone in the congregation will pray for "the end of abortion" but usually prayers for sick people.

Try to find a church in the city or at a liberal Catholic University.

[CBHagman]

2. Priests and nuns don't necessarily hold his views.

The officials stance of the Catholic Church is that sex is only for marriage and that couples should always be open to the conception of a child. That said, the church does accept natural family planning, which is based on monitoring the changes in the woman's cycle and body and deciding which times could result in conception and which would probably not.

However, I've heard a priest say that the informed conscience is always the ultimate guide. My experience has been that A) many Catholics do not necessarily follow the guidelines on sex or contraceptives (or even homosexual relationships) and B) priests and nuns vary in their attitudes, too.

Churches vary in their approach, too. You might just be attending a very conservative church.

I'm one of those people who prefers to stay in the church instead of bolting, even though I hold many views that don't fit in with the current leadership.

[leftyladyfrommo]

7. That is what I have always heard but -

I know that this young priest said that all birth control is not allowed. And that the men should use the eucharist to control their lust.

I found that to be a little odd. To say the least.

[demosincebirth]

14. control your lust? I'd like to have a little chat with that young priest.

[AngryOldDem]

3. Younger priests

Younger priests, from what I can tell, are much more conservative on Church teachings than their older counterparts. Perhaps it's because that those who are of such mind are those who are entering the priesthood in greater numbers than those who are more liberal; perhaps it's how seminaries are vetting candidates in light of the sex scandal and the pressure by some conservative laypeople and groups that the Church return to its doctrinaire stance on such issues as contraception, etc.

Some churches are just more conservative, too, based on their demographics.

[hedgehog]

4. Consider this,

Assuming you are referring to last weekend's homily, wasn't the reading from Deuteronomy a warning against prophets who say things the Lord does not tell them to say? Wasn't the Gospel about how Jesus taught with authority? I don't remember Jesus's Sermon on the Pill.

I amazed week after week to listen to the Gospels and wonder whether the members of the hierarchy are listening to the same readings and if so, do they really believe them. I fear that rough times are ahead for us all because of the pride of a few.

[SeanQuinn]

5. Yes, it was.

Also, St. Paul said in the second reading we should be dedicated to God as unmarried and married. That's how sex got pulled in.

[hedgehog]

8. I wonder about that reading

What was the original context? Also, what happened to loving one another? How does serving one's family somehow not serve God? Clearly there's more than meets the eye to that letter (perhaps a belief that the Second Coming was imminent?)

[Beer Snob-50]

6. I just went over this in my CCD class this week

We are taught that Jesus gave the first disciples and by extension our modern day Pope two fold power: 1. He/She has the power to release sins, and 2. He gave them the Holy Spirit to guide them in this power.

thus, the Pope is guided by the HOly Spirit in making these pronouncmements.

[hedgehog]

9. The role of the Pope is subject to much more controversy than

we were ever taught. The question is whether the power of the Holy Spirit is invested in one man, all the bishops or all the Christian people. Vatican II was about a lot more than turning the altars around, and this was one of the topics.

[Beer Snob-50]

10. Jesus gave the power to Peter

and by extension all the other Popes. However, I would be remiss to not mention that God also gave Man free will so that he may make his own desicions.

[hedgehog]

11. Jesus gave the power to Peter, but was Peter Pope?

It's not even really clear that he was Bishop of Rome. Honestly, I'm not trying to be anti-Catholic, just pointing out that the roleand history of the Pope is not as clear and uncluttered as taught in the Baltimore Catechism. It's one reason the Eastern Patriarchs took off.

[Beer Snob-50]

12. No it is not clear that Peter was Pope

Something about him being the "Rock on which to build my church" I guess it is just tradition that tells us this. I have a lot of problem with the whole idea of infalliability what with the free will concept.

btw, I unlike GWB do not consider someone who disagrees with me (although I don't see why as I AM INFALLABLE) as being anti-anything.

[meow2u3]

13. The word "Pope" came at a later time

when the Romans converted to Christianity. "Pope" comes from the latin "papa" which really means "dad."

So one can say the Pope is the Father of the Church on Earth.

[scarlet_owl]

15. My parish is very liberal, in contrast with some of the other

Catholic churches around here. The Church is so much more than politics.