So I'm Catholic

[N4m4w45]

Hey everyone! Just joined this group today and thought I'd throw it out that I'm Catholic! I made this discussion for two purposes:

1: For other Catholics in this group to meet and say "Hi."

2: (This is the main purpose) To answer any questions all you other Christians might have about my Faith. 

I hope we can keep this nice, clean, and nerdfightastic! DFTBA, and I can't wait for your reply!

[James Michael DeMaio]

I like Catholics a lot. I think one common misconception is that Catholicism is monolithic in what Catholics can believe and still be Catholic. But it really isn't. They may hold a lot of the same beliefs (like all Christians) do, but there is some leeway for belief on anything that isn't Catholic doctrine (which is significantly smaller than the entirety of Christian though and theology). Anyway, I'm not Catholic, but from working alongside Catholics and growing up in a Catholic extended family, I thought I'd share that.

Also as my favorite prof. once said (who was Presbyterian I think), "if Christianity is ever to be united it will be in the Catholic Church embracing the rest of Christianity, and the rest of Christianity accepting that embrace."

[Aravis the Tarkheena]

First of all: I go to a Catholic School but I am not Catholic, so I do know a tad bit, but there is one thing that's always confused me. I know it's something silly that doesn't really matter, but I've never understood why women can't be priests. I know it's stupid because God loves you whether or not you're a priest, but I just don't get it. People have tried to explain it to me, but we just end up going around in circles and both of us get frustrated with each other. Any takers on explaining it any better?

Second of all: When I was a bit younger, I had a priest who taught me religion class and he told me that "all of you who are protestant now know the truth." And he proceeded to say in a very politically correct way that all the protestants in that class were going to hell unless they converted to Catholicism. After that I was very angry at the C.C. and everyone in it. During religion class I would get into debates with everyone and since I knew a lot about scripture, I would throw the Bible at them whenever they started talking about Tradition. I would rant to my mom, dad, and anyone who would listen about how horrible Catholics were. Then I got a new religion teacher. I became a nerdfighter. I went on a religious retreat with the people at my Catholic School. I want you guys out there who are Catholic to know that it's because of awesome people like you that I changed my opinion of Catholicism. In Nerdfighteria, you're all really cool with the difference of denomination and y'all make me like Catholics! Keep up the good work!

[James Michael DeMaio]

This was most of my experience as a minor. Once I was an adult I met many Catholics that respected other Christians. Narrow mindedness is cross-denominational. Hopefully, acceptance can be as well.

[Aravis the Tarkheena]

I think acceptance is coming more easily to everyone now, but it's sad sometimes how we meet the worst possible people when we are young enough to be fooled into thinking that everyone is like that

[N4m4w45]

Well, I went on this retreat once and asked why that is, and the leader of my group said it was because the priest's roll is to take the place of Jesus on Earth. And since Jesus was a man, so priests shall be men. But I personally think it'd be cool if girls could be priests, too. Weird, 'cause I'm so used to only guys, but cool.

And I'm sorry about that teacher. He shouldn't have said that. No one on Earth has the right to declare someone damned.

[Galya♡]

I'm catholic! :D

[N4m4w45]

Cool! So am I! :P

[Amanda]

I'm Catholic and have always gone to catholic school, and in my experience it seems that many people of other denominations often have bad encounters with very narrow minded catholics and that experience tends to shape their opinion of us for a long time. I've attended a presbyterian youth group for a long time because it was smaller than my church's and I've formed great relationships with christians of other denominations. I think it's important for us all to realize that we're all christians and that we can only make any impact on the world if we all work with one another (:

[N4m4w45]

Aye, that they are. 

[Daniel Sik]

I'm nearly Catholic :). Joined the Rite of intitiation and should be ready for first communion by easter. Carried out a two year long study of catechism and canon law and am loving it. Before I was Catholic I was a pentecostal evangelical/ chairsmatic christian. Good to know there are some Catholics out there, if any of you got any question's I wouldn't mind having a bash :)

[N4m4w45]

Thanks for putting in a reply! That's great about your Rite of Initiation! I'm really happy and excited for you, and I'll keep you in my prayers!

[E_Lewis]

I have a few questions about Catholicism:

1) Why do you believe it and not protestantism? (honestly wondering)

2) Why do you have to confess your sins to a priest instead of confessing them to God? And why do you have to do small actions for penance depending on the sins and that resolves you of your sins instead of actually honest repentance?

3)Aren't you concerned that the overemphasis of saints can lead to idolatry, even if it's unnoticed by the person committing the idolatry themselves? Like, when Christianity was first introduced to Rome and Greece they sort of treated saints like gods and goddesses because they were used to having several of them, not just one.

4) How can you trust the pope and church as a whole to do God's will? In the older days of Europe, there was much corruption ranging from indulgences to the pope molesting small boys (not in secret) to the Spanish Inquisition. Jesus said "Whatever you allow on Earth will be allowed in Heaven and whatever you don't allow on Earth will not be allowed in Heaven", but does that really mean that it's okay to molest little boys, sell tickets to Heaven, and torture people into faith that they don't actually gain from the torture? Regarding that aspect, what do you think he meant?