Following are the minimum requirements for Catholics: Attend Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation. Worship - As to the manner of worship, Luther chose to retain altars and vestments and prepare an order of liturgical service, but with the understanding that … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. They are constantly inundated with so much ‘pleasure’, they fear ridicule if they question any of it, or hesitate to participate. In fact, the scholars of the law in Jesus’ day were so wrapped up in doctrine as an end in itself, they were unable to see that Jesus was leading people down a new and surprising path toward his glory, the pope said Oct. 13 during his morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives. Accept and believe all that the Catholic Church definitively and authoritatively teaches. (The pope emeritus acknowledged in, That said, it is also incumbent on those Catholics who are seeking to grow in their own faith to also be open to admitting when they are in error, to being willing to accept and consider carefully constructive criticism, and to continue to learn and grow in their own knowledge of the Faith. Therefore, Catholics always stand in good company. Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments to Catholic members of the Christian faithful only and, likewise, the latter may licitly receive the sacraments only from Catholic ministers with due regard for parts 2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and can. In the end, it is just Jesus and the woman. The Church will always be attacked by those, determined to undermine (and question) her authority. Fr. -----If your occupations and condition of life allow you, make a daily meditation for at least a quarter of an hour or half an hour. Tower of Babel, Noah and the Ark, Kings of Israel, etc…) Thus, the need for rules! Our secular culture enjoys portraying Catholics as those radical ‘kill-joys’, who lie in wait, as you express your means to happiness and the pleasures of this world, so they can rebuke you with, “NO! Or that, or that, or even that, too…”  (And of course they stand 10 feet tall, hold a ruler in one hand, and admonish you with the other; extending that incredibly long forefinger.). Then you admit that abortion is killing. We in the USA live according to rules (laws) too. THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY Why Pope, Bishops and Priests? 1. Actually, this regulation merely reflects an ancient tradition in our Church, which is even rooted in Judaism. Attendance at a different rite fulfills the Sunday obligation. That is a metaphysical concept for which there is no supporting evidence. But why should there be any rules at all? He provides for their safety and their needs. He wants to help us remain truly free. (They just can’t explain where.) First among equals. All of the Precepts of the Church are binding under pain of mortal sin, but since they seem so obviously man-made rules, … At the beginning, God gives Adam and Eve dominion over all the earth; the plants, animals, all living things. The Catholic Church is ruled by an entirely dysfunctional hierarchy. Life and growth entails all forms of life and growth of your beloved (intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual). There is a heartbeat a 3 weeks. If she is, someone should be authorized to make it on her behalf, especially if her life is in danger. This includes loving our neighbor as ourselves. But they were there to protect me and not spoil all the fun, as I once thought. Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law states, "One who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion." 314. 1. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, conspicuous, worthily decorated, and suitable for prayer. But, just as Jesus once said of the Sabbath, rules are for man, not man for rules. It is illegal to kill a 2 year old. He is a proud family man and has a passion for all things Catholic. Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel: “So be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Learn how your comment data is processed. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God’s laws are meant to lead all people to Christ and his glory, and if they do not, then they are obsolete, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. I met my future wife. We live in a society that promotes indulgence, and everyone feels entitled to their way. Some Catholics may believe that the idea of a personal relationship with God is a Protestant invention that they should spurn. (John 8:11 NAB) Jesus shows compassion. (Exodus 20: 1-17)  Again, they were given freedom first, then rules. We didn’t start the fire. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. Even if I were to maintain a “personal relationship” with God (I know, that’s a Protestant term that is sometimes ridiculed by Catholics), I would be concerned that my children would view the Church as a mountain of rules and eventually fade into apostasy. The Pope does not even have a cabinet. When I was teaching moral theology, my students learned a definition for love, composed by Eric Fromm: “Love is the active concern for the life and growth of that which we love.” Active concern means you always care. The apologists here at Catholic Answers seek to provide people with the documentation they need to consider, and to help in applying the principles to given situations, but the final decision is left to them. So, the DNA is all there for a human being. But the New Testament idea of faith is not simple; indeed, it possesses a breadth of meaning that has led to varying understandings, even within a single Christian communion. Catholicism is a religion that places value on learning from people, not just from documents. It’s been always burning since the world’s been turning. Pope Paul VI, in his monumental encyclical Humane Vitae (July 1968), made some startling predictions about what would happen if contraception became widely accepted. Jesus’ Way! (Exodus 14:21-31 NAB)  It is later on that God presents Moses with the 10 Commandments. To hear them tell it, a Catholic dare not let out a wayward squeak for fear of the Ruler of Doom being cracked across his knuckles by Sister Mary Ferocious of the Divine Wrath. What does this have to do with rules? I can honestly say that living by the rules never hurt me and not living by them did. Every created being, even creation itself, is subject to the rules (whether they be scientific or moral) that shape its being. Isn’t it?) The “rules and regulations” of Catholicism no more stifle an individual’s personal relationship with God than the “rules and regulations” of a car’s owner’s manual stifle a driver’s personal freedom to drive his car. WWII had just ended and the nuclear age had begun. No. 1981 The Law of Moses contains many truths naturally accessible to reason. The level of value placed on the opinion of a fellow Catholic should increase based on that person’s fidelity to the Church, his education and spiritual maturity in the faith, and (if applicable) on the reception of the sacrament of holy orders. While he himself is the bishop of the diocese of Rome, he is the leader of the entire Christian flock as commissioned by Jesus (John 21:15-19). The Church has specific rules on what constitutes a proper Catholic burial that date back thousands of years. NEW VIDEO EVERY FRIDAY This also includes letting go of pleasure as the path to happiness (spoiler: it’s not). Damaged lives when love goes wrong remind us why the Church has such stringent standards when it comes to sexual sin. Looking back, I see critical turning points. There’s nothing modern –or moderate –about that. Though we are sinners, we are still called to persevere in righteousness. To those who do not need to ask why the Catholic Church follows a path, contrary to the world, no answer will ever be necessary; and for those who do no answer will ever suffice. States have all kinds of laws regulating vices like gambling, drinking, marijuana use, etc. Pingback: This Week's Best in Catholic Apologetics | DavidLGray.INFO, Pingback: Martyrs Read Joel Osteen Tweets - BigPulpit.com. http://lifeteen.com/epic-pope-francis-quotes-world-youth-day-rio-2013/, This Week's Best in Catholic Apologetics | DavidLGray.INFO, Martyrs Read Joel Osteen Tweets - BigPulpit.com, The Ongoing Incarnation: A Christmas Meditation, Answering a World of Lies with the Fifth Advent Candle, Eugenics in America: The Legacy of Sanger and Gates, A Countercultural View About Women in the Church, Religious Life – A Gift to the Church and Society. We believe in a God who lived among us, died for us, and showed us the way to live lives of courage and conviction–whatever our culture. I will concentrate on three specific examples from Sacred Scripture that prove this point. Instead, they see rules as an infringement upon freedom (No rules = true freedom). Cremation has been permitted in the Catholic Church since 1963, but many Catholics don't know there are also many rules surrounding the choice. Her response is, “No one, sir”, to which Jesus exclaims, “Neither do I condemn you. Being counter-cultural “includes letting go of pleasures as the path to happiness.” Rules also build self-control. The main rule of the Catholic Church forbids anythings that goes against happiness. MORNNG OFFERING 1-----MORNNG OFFERING 2-----BASIC CATHOLIC PRAYERS III. He is the Vicar of Christ in that he guides the Church in faith and morals. The present day process for selecting a pope is through election. We put a man on the moon. Rules, rules, rules!” This comment is usually made by someone who feels they are perfectly capable of making decisions without the interference of religion. To dismiss constructive challenges by informal and formal teachers of the Faith to one’s own settled opinions by labeling anything with which one disagrees as “personal opinion” is problematic, especially when one does so because of disagreement over how a Church document should be read. (Matthew 5:48 NAB). Those Catholics would be in ignorance of the many saints who stressed the. A lot, actually. Prostitution is usually illegal because it draws other socially unacceptable elements such as drugs and other vices. Instead, Catholics are called to live in radical service to our God. 2. A Catholic apologist should also be open to admitting when he is in error, to being willing to accept and consider carefully constructive criticism, and to continue to learn and grow in his own knowledge of the Faith. The sexual revolution began. This caricature has long been the model of everything contrary to popular culture; and the Catholic Church seems to be its poster child. He remains close to them as Pharaoh pursues. As someone considering conversion to Catholicism once said to me: Should I ever make the move to Catholicism, I would hate for my perception of God to recede from a God who created me and continually directs my footsteps to a God who stands behind a gray wall of do’s and don’ts. Whenever I hear people talk about the lack of love in our world, I am quick to remind that love is indeed, everywhere, however it mostly exists in a misconstrued form.”. I don’t believe in the soul. “A woman should have the right to choose what goes on in her body.” Yes, she should, but when she is carrying another life, with another soul and DNA, she has no right to dispose of it. The Church sets out the parameters in such documents as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law (not to mention Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition) and then leaves it to individuals to apply what they know about the Faith to the situations they face. 3. This might seem fun at first, but it will eventually get really old, really boring, and really frustrating! Bill answers that question in a new set of videos in the CATHOLIC BASICS series. People have become immune to the dangers of questioning rules, and the media capitalizes on this ignorance. (John 8:1-11 NAB) This crime was punishable by death (stoning). Knowing what you should do (and not do) provides for an enjoyable experience. It is a shame that many in society do not. and now lives and works down south. Bill, I was born about the same time as you were, 1946. The Catholic Church defines three conditions under which the Pope is infallible: I. The level of value placed on the opinion of a fellow Catholic should increase based on that person’s fidelity to the Church, his education and spiritual maturity in the faith, and (if applicable) on the reception of the sacrament of holy orders. (Look it up if you’re confused! Take, for instance, the Precepts of the Church, which cover a number of things that many people regard as man-made rules: the Sunday Duty; yearly Confession; the Easter Duty; fasting and abstinence; and supporting the Church materially (through gifts of money and/or time). We find countless examples where God gives us freedom before He institutes rules. Of all the bishops and archbishops in the world he is the leader. The term Church, in this connection, can only denote the teaching Church, as is clear from the passages already quoted from the New Testament and the Fathers. We are a fallen people. The Catholic Church does likewise. I lost my virginity. What you or I think is morally acceptable or not is irrelevant. Catholics are called, yes, to engage with the society around them, but not to adapt ourselves to the popular sentiments of our time. I must start off by acknowledging that the personal opinions of Catholic apologists are not binding in conscience on any Catholic, and conscientious apologists will do their best to distinguish for inquirers between what the Church teaches and what is their personal opinion. She is indeed (and unapologetically) counter-cultural. Required fields are marked *. Bill, it is another life in her body. Guy. That is why He instituted rules. So. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It has been over 45 years since this document was written and people still believe he was wrong. Why does the church teach that marriage is a sacrament? Copyright © A.D. 2018 Catholic Stand | Powered by Astra. (http://lifeteen.com/epic-pope-francis-quotes-world-youth-day-rio-2013/) Deacon Mike would agree. Throughout its long history, the Catholic Church has been rocked by scandals ranging from the dissolution of the Knights Templar to Galileo’s trial to Mother Theresa’s questionable donors.Over the course of the 20th century, many more scandals have come to light—no matter how much the Church would like to keep them secret. Nonetheless, now that I am approaching senior citizenship, I feel I don’t need too many rules anymore. Texas set it at 20 weeks. He frees her of this capital offense, but then tells her not commit sin ever again. As for DNA, I fail to see the concern. I realize I am on a Catholic blog so I might not have much support. Rules ensure this. They're quite lengthy. My mother died of breast cancer. We are stuck with an absolute monarchy akin to the rule of King Louis XIV in France that led to the French Revolution in 1789. In the catholic church there are rules and in those rules it states, "Catholics cannot marry outside the catholic religion." Kennedy was assassinated. He earned his M.A. In so doing, the Vatican has created a non-spirit based religion that offers faithless heathens a structured system of religion from the cradle to the casket. Like the other sacraments, marriage is not just for the good of individuals, or the couple, but for the community as a whole. Go to confession annually if not more often or when needed. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. As a teacher, I became aware of this underlying sense of loyalty early on. The … More → Yes, the Catholic Church is radical, but in a good way. 1980 The Old Law is the first stage of revealed law. They do not want to betray the other (and many times, the other is a family member or close friend). Observe the Precepts of the Church: The Precepts 1) You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor. It is a necessary foundation for the erection of moral rules and civil law. At times, admittedly, the altar looks like it’s been attacked by a rioting mob of florists. How is that possible? Making prostitution illegal is based on what the state considers to be in the public interest not sexual morality. (Genesis 1:28-30 NAB)  He even tells them, “You are free to eat from any of the trees in the garden…”. Many women play active roles in the Catholic Church, but few of them have sanctioned titles. Roman Catholics believe that, under certain circumstances, the pope is infallible (that is, he can not make a mistake). The reason women can’t be priests goes to the establishment of … Abortion and killing a pregnant woman both usually involve taking the life of a fetus. Maybe we should kill people who are bedridden who can’t live on their own. (i.e. In the last few decades, new rules have emerged that broaden the options for burials, including where Catholics can be buried and when it's acceptable to be cremated. Love your neighbor. The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued new guidelines for cremation for Catholics. Oftentimes, people want to know, “What does the Church say about this?” or “Does the Church forbid me to do that?”—and are disappointed that there is no “official document” allowing or proscribing certain actions, only general guidelines that they must use their best judgment to apply to the action in question. Much the same can be said of priests and other teachers of the Faith, up to and including the pope. Because Catholics believe that God created human beings in his own image and likeness and that he found everything he created to be "very good", the Church teaches that the human body and sex must likewise be good. Another example is found in Exodus, when God leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Pius XII was pope and the Catholic Church provided the moral compass for what seemed to be the whole world. And since man is called to be in relationship with God and neighbor, one important way man learns the shape and application of rules is through personal relationship with teachers. In principle he decides everything. Recognizing that many of its beliefs and practices are utterly foreign to Scripture, the Catholic Church is forced to deny the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Rules provide guidelines, the same as boundaries do in sports. The sacraments make Christ present in our midst. What is the role of the Pope in relation to the Bishops (and previous Popes)? If you happen to be a Catholic, you might be surprised that even you don't know all the traditions and rules of the church. Even becoming a nun doesn’t get you the boon of the sacrament of Holy Orders — only men can be ordained. Are my arguments for atheism so unconvincing that they increase your faith? The Roman Catholic Church is a BIG HOAX because it teaches the TRADITIONS of men instead of the commandments of God. “If you love me, you would let me live my life my way!” Heard that before? Its moral prescriptions are summed up in the Ten Commandments. Or a football game where there was no out of bounds. The difference is that, in most civilized societies, the abortion is legal but the killing of the fetus against the will of the mother, including by killing the mother, is illegal. All I will say is neither will happen!). When I was teaching at previous high school, I would often run into this issue about rules (especially when it came to moral theology). in Theology from Catholic Distance University (Thank you, St. Joseph of Cupertino). Imagine a baseball game where no foul balls or strikes were ever called. We must "sanctify… Woodstock. Why is prostitution illegal in 49 states if a woman has a right to choose what is done with her body? 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