Ask a Catholic

[Randy Carson]

Do you think you can be a Catholic and disagree/not obey the pope?

This is a huge issue. The Catholic Church has given much consideration to the question of individual conscience.

I am not especially knowledgeable about this particular subject; however, it is my understanding that the Church teaches that the individual must always follow his or her own conscience. Consequently, I will venture that the answer would be that a Catholic can disagree/disobey the Pope.

My own qualms about this would have to do with the recognition that we have the obligation to form our consciences properly...something that is all to convenient to neglect...and to obey the authority that Jesus has established in His Church.

But I tend to be more black and white than some folks who have more pastoral sensitivity than I do. 

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Hope this helps.

Not in the least.


You are supporting a criminal conspiracy which, as far as I can tell, reached to the very highest levels and is probably continuing.  You should be ashamed to be part of it.

Min-

I gotta be honest...I feel really, really badly for you. I will try to remember you at mass this weekend. Seriously. 

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Do you pray to saints to intercede for you to God, and if so which saints do you go to?

Chad-

Talking with the saints - Christians who are already in heaven - is an optional devotion, as you may know.

I am a convert from Protestantism...from Methodist 35 years ago...so, I did not grow up with that. 

I should probably ask them to intercede for me more than I do!

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This one's been on my mind for a while

How do you reconcile your beliefs with reality?

They are completely incompatible.

For example, I often believe that I am the center of the universe, that my life and problems are the most important, and that everyone else exists to serve me.

Then, I consider the reality that I may be in heaven one day and that I'll be there for the rest of eternity.

Thinking about that helps me to see the foolishness of my selfish beliefs in a clearer light...even if it's only for a few minutes.

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If there were no catholics, there wouldn't be anyone for protestants to protest against.

And if there were no Protestants, there might be any atheists. 

John 17:20-23
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

The unity of believers was supposed to be a sign for the world that Jesus really did come from the Father, but we blew it. 

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Not in the least.

I agree. Playing the "but they do it too" card is a putrid red herring that stinks the place out. Yes, similar abuses have happened in schools, in care homes, in the BBC. And in each case that's uncovered, inquiries have been launched and those found guilty sacked and imprisoned. If the organisations involved quietly moved the alleged abusers around to potential fresh victims, suppressed evidence, and blamed the victims as a matter of policy, as does the Catholic Church, there would be the riot to end all riots. Randy, I appreciate your attempting to tackle the question, but don't you dare try to whitewash the issue in such a pathetic way again.

There was no whitewashing. 

Just my politically-incorrect pointing to the fact that pedophilia (technically, the problem is homosexuality) is MORE prevalent in secular endeavors than in the Catholic priesthood. The media does NOT want to recognize the homosexual angle because it has been championing the LGBT agenda for decades.

And you don't want to acknowledge that because it's too valuable to use as a cudgel with which to pummel the Catholic Church. I DO understand.

<set rant=off>

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I'm not sure about that, but I have seen the resulting darkness when people close their minds. 

My, you're clever. 

Sarcasm aside, have you figured out yet that you are not being taken seriously? Do you honestly think we haven't heard this same nonsense dozens of times before? Here's a suggestion: Pick a specific topic. Respectfully present that topic in the appropriate forum without the ridiculous holier than thou attitude. You'll get your discussion. If you do well, you'll earn our respect - even if we don't agree with you.

But barge in here like a clown and think you're going to wow anybody...sorry, we've been around the block a few times. We've seen better.

I'm the new guy here, but you've been a member of this forum for what? Four months? And you have the audacity to say "we" as if you are a forum elder.

Dude, in MY home forum, I have 10 years of membership and thousands of posts. Talk to me when you've paid some dues.

Please?