Beetow
Member
- Dec 14, 2024
- 321
- 41
.
FAQ: I'm considering joining the Catholic Church. Would it be a mistake?
REPLY: Roman Catholicism is a very heavenly form of Christianity; but it isn't easy.
Once someone is fully committed by completing First Holy Communion and
Confirmation and undergone Christian baptism --the Church will be holding them
accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and stands for, e.g. the
Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the Traditions, the
Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of obligation, and the
entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles taught in the New
Testament, i.e. all four gospels and all twenty-one epistles, plus Acts and
Revelation.
That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.
In addition, Catholics are just inches from the worst, because if it should happen
that they leave this life with just one un-absolved mortal sin on the books, they go
directly to Hell and eternal suffering; no stop-over in a purgatory. No, their trip is a
direct flight. Even if they've been a faithful Catholic for 49 years, they will miss the
boat just as if they had been a Hindu, or a Muslim, or an atheist. All their years as a
faithful Catholic will be stricken from the record and count for naught. (CCC 1035)
Now; the Church recognizes your moral right to choose either to join it or ignore it.
"Man has the right to act in conscience, and in freedom, so as personally to make
moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must
he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious
matters." (CCC 1782)
However, be aware that when someone joins the Church, they're expected to
relinquish the freedom of conscience they once enjoyed.
"The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its
written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching
office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of
Jesus Christ." This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the
bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (CCC 85)
Bottom line: Catholicism isn't a democratic structure-- it's more like Big Brother in
George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four". I'm not saying that's necessarily a
bad thing; only saying that it's a level of governance that some folks find a mite too
invasive.
NOTE: I grew up in Catholicism, and for many years was under the impression that
my affiliation with The Church would give me an advantage, but I was wrong.
The Almighty isn't a political appointee like members of the US Supreme Court, viz:
He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice of God is fair across
the board regardless of age, race, gender, and/or religious preference; so that
joining The Church grants no one a certain amount of special consideration not
afforded outsiders. (Rom 2:6-11 & 1Pet 1:17)
And the irony of it all; the supreme irony, is that Catholicism's hierarchy-- its
priests, nuns, Popes, and Cardinals, etc. --are in just as much danger of failing to
make the cut as John Que and Jane Doe rank and file pew warmers; in point of
fact: according to Luke 12:47-48, and Jas 3:1, they may be in even greater danger
because their responsibility is greater.
_
FAQ: I'm considering joining the Catholic Church. Would it be a mistake?
REPLY: Roman Catholicism is a very heavenly form of Christianity; but it isn't easy.
Once someone is fully committed by completing First Holy Communion and
Confirmation and undergone Christian baptism --the Church will be holding them
accountable to comply with everything Rome teaches and stands for, e.g. the
Commandments, the Canon Law, the dogma, the rituals, the Traditions, the
Councils, the Bulls, the Encyclicals, the rites, the holy days of obligation, and the
entire Catechism; plus everything that Jesus and the apostles taught in the New
Testament, i.e. all four gospels and all twenty-one epistles, plus Acts and
Revelation.
That's a lot to remember, let alone put into practice.
In addition, Catholics are just inches from the worst, because if it should happen
that they leave this life with just one un-absolved mortal sin on the books, they go
directly to Hell and eternal suffering; no stop-over in a purgatory. No, their trip is a
direct flight. Even if they've been a faithful Catholic for 49 years, they will miss the
boat just as if they had been a Hindu, or a Muslim, or an atheist. All their years as a
faithful Catholic will be stricken from the record and count for naught. (CCC 1035)
Now; the Church recognizes your moral right to choose either to join it or ignore it.
"Man has the right to act in conscience, and in freedom, so as personally to make
moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to his conscience. Nor must
he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious
matters." (CCC 1782)
However, be aware that when someone joins the Church, they're expected to
relinquish the freedom of conscience they once enjoyed.
"The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its
written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching
office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of
Jesus Christ." This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the
bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome." (CCC 85)
Bottom line: Catholicism isn't a democratic structure-- it's more like Big Brother in
George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four". I'm not saying that's necessarily a
bad thing; only saying that it's a level of governance that some folks find a mite too
invasive.
NOTE: I grew up in Catholicism, and for many years was under the impression that
my affiliation with The Church would give me an advantage, but I was wrong.
The Almighty isn't a political appointee like members of the US Supreme Court, viz:
He isn't biased towards the left or to the right, i.e. the justice of God is fair across
the board regardless of age, race, gender, and/or religious preference; so that
joining The Church grants no one a certain amount of special consideration not
afforded outsiders. (Rom 2:6-11 & 1Pet 1:17)
And the irony of it all; the supreme irony, is that Catholicism's hierarchy-- its
priests, nuns, Popes, and Cardinals, etc. --are in just as much danger of failing to
make the cut as John Que and Jane Doe rank and file pew warmers; in point of
fact: according to Luke 12:47-48, and Jas 3:1, they may be in even greater danger
because their responsibility is greater.
_
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