I was raised Catholic, was baptized, and had First Communion, but now there are certain beliefs I have trouble understanding how they could come from God. I don't understand why Catholics believe that Jesus wants all men to belong to the Catholic church. This seems like a Pharisee rule. Again, I was raised Catholic, but I practice an Evangelical Christian belief: one is saved by confessing to Jesus that one is a sinner, accepting Jesus in your heart as your personal Lord and Saviour, and that through His Grace alone we are saved, not by anything we do; although Jesus strenghthens are faith as we learn through His Word and enables us to love and obey him. It is Christ's body that we should belong to as stated in his word, not specifically the C. Church. (Galatians 3:26-29) Catholicism seems to be more a manmade religion focusing on manmade rules, not on Jesus Christ! I know many who believe as long as they are "Catholic", they are saved! In fact, one friend told me, "I'm not a Christian, I'm Catholic--I despise "born-again" Christians". Also, I don't believe in praying to saints, or having the mother of Jesus' figures all over the home and church. Isn't this a form of idolatry? Didn't Jesus/God specifically forbid praying to anything in the form of an object? Jesus is supposed to be in our hearts. And why pray to the Saints? Does The Church believe that God is too busy to hear our prayers, or that He doesn't want us to pray directly to Him? Would a parent want his child to use his teacher as a type of "middle-man" when the child wants to speak with his father? Isn't praying to anyone other than Jesus Christ a form of idolatry also? And where does it say in the Bible that transubstantiation is literal? I believe, as many times as Jesus talks about coming into your heart in spirit, that his reference to his body and blood was just that--his spirit entering your heart and the blood washing away your sins--symbolic of Christ's plan for Salvation. I consider myself a born-again Christian belonging to Christ's church, and I am engaged to a Catholic. I go with him to his church at times, yet each time I go, these questions arise in my mind. If you would be so kind to respond so that my confusion may be alleviated, I would very much appreciate it. In Jesus, Jennifer

-- Jennifer McClenthen (mrao01@cox.net), July 30, 2003

Answers

Dear Jennifer,

"I don't understand why Catholics believe that Jesus wants all men to belong to the Catholic church"

A: (1) Because after Jesus founded the Catholic Church, He commanded it to "go forth and make disciples of ALL people". (Matt 28:19) That means He intended ALL people to belong to the Church He personally founded, which is the Catholic Church. (2) Because Jesus said the truth would set us free. (John 8:32) Obviously a system of thousands of conflicting manmade denominations cannot represent truth. Truth cannot be in conflict with truth. Therefore, God wants all people to belong to one Church because that is the only way all people can have access to the fullness of truth. (3) Because Jesus told the Church He founded, and no other, that the Holy Spirit would guiide it to all truth (John 16:13), that it had the authority to teach in His name (Luke 10:16), and that its teaching would always be true (Matt 16:19).

"through His Grace alone we are saved, not by anything we do"

A: We are not saved BY anything we do, and we are not saved BY our faith. We are saved BY our Savior Who died upon the cross to set us free from sin. However, each person must make a personal acceptance of the gift of salvation; and the Bible, repeatedly, states that both faith and works are necessary means of accepting salvation. Works without faith will not result in salvation. (Matt 7:22-23). And faith without works will not result in salvation either. (James 2:20; Matt 25:45-46). Therefore it is meaningless to say that one is more important or more necessary then the other.

"Catholicism seems to be more a manmade religion focusing on manmade rules, not on Jesus Christ!"

A: What a silly thing to say. Catholicism is the ONLY faith that can trace its roots historically directly back to the Apostles and Jesus Himself. ALL Protestant churches trace their origins back to hundreds of HUMAN founders, within the past few hundred years. Therefore these churches are clearly "manmade", while the Catholic Church is divinely made.

"I know many who believe as long as they are "Catholic", they are saved!"

A: If you do know such people, please tell them to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, because what they believe contradicts what their Church teaches. Being Catholic is no guarantee of salvation.

"Also, I don't believe in praying to saints, or having the mother of Jesus' figures all over the home and church. Isn't this a form of idolatry?"

A: Well of course you don't believe in it. Your manmade sect preaches against it, and you have no firm foundation of truth from which you can recognize the folly of such a position. How could asking another Christian to pray for you constitute idolatry??? The saints are other Christians you know, and they are in a far better place to offer prayers for us than earthly sinners are. Yet, you do ask earthly sinners to pray for you, do you not? Do you expect that these people who pray for you now will STOP praying for you once they get to heaven? Not likely! And plase don't say the saints are dead, because the Bible clearly says they are alive. (John 11:26)

"Didn't Jesus/God specifically forbid praying to anything in the form of an object?"

A: Catholics are not foolish enough to pray TO inanimate objects. But we do use images to remind us of the real living people we are praying to. Just like using pictures of your family to call them to mind when you are temporarily separated from them. Why would this be a problem?

"Does The Church believe that God is too busy to hear our prayers, or that He doesn't want us to pray directly to Him?"

A: Of course not. We can and do pray directly to Him. But we also ask others to pray for us. Why do you ask your friends and family to pray for you? Is it because God doesn't want you to pray directly to Him??

"Isn't praying to anyone other than Jesus Christ a form of idolatry also?"

A: No, it is not. Prayer is simply communication. Talking to someone other than God is not idolatry. WORSHIPPING someone other than God is idolatry, and is absolutely forbidden by Catholic teaching.

"And where does it say in the Bible that transubstantiation is literal?"

A: John 6:55

"I consider myself a born-again Christian belonging to Christ's church"

A: Can Christ's Church include hundreds of conflicting and contradicting doctrinal beliefs? That is what is found in Protestantism. Jesus said His Church would be ONE, even as He and His Father are ONE. That kind of unity of belief can be found in only one place - in the Church Jesus personally founded for all people - the Holy Catholic Church.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 30, 2003.

Welcome Jennifer, to this forum, and to the Catholic Church. You indeed are blessed! Being a Catholic Christian truly is the full life in Jesus Christ! It is here He provides us with EVERYTHING we need to live our lives for Him, grow in intimacy with Him, and fullfill our destiny in Him.

I suggest you be patient, as there certainly are plenty of 'less then perfect' people in the Church, and this includes priests. But in no way does this reflect the beauty of what Jesus left us with. Keep disciplined in your mind about your prayer life and bible reading. Ask the Lord to bring you to a holy Catholic spiritual director that will guide you in what to do to get re-acquainted with your parish. Read the new catechism of the Catholic Church, it's the best commentary on the scriptures, and the best explanation of Church teaching- they go hand in hand.

Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion is going to mean so much more to you now that you have developed your love for Him. Frequent going to confession {the sacrament of reconciliation} will keep your soul so pure for Him and you'll enjoy a deeper ralationship with Him than you've ever experienced.

In Jesus, Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), July 30, 2003.

Jennifer, I'm Catholic but I am pretty well versed in protestant teachings.

Some of the confusion between churches is semantics.

Being born again, or baptised in the spirit is similar to the Catholic teaching of conversion. Having a personal relationship with Christ is the center of the Catholic faith as well as any other Christian church.

When people ask me if I have that relationship I always say yes. When did I accept him? At baptism.

An infant who is baptised is accepted into the body of Christ through his parents and godparents who vow to raise the child as a Christian, teaching them along through life journey.

Conversion may come at any time in one's life. If someone drifts (backslides), the Holy Spirit may come into their lives in some manner to "regenerate" their faith. That is conversion. Similar in practice to what you are calling being born again. Some people may be born again several times in their lives. Although I don't agree with him totally, Billy Graham wrote a wonderful book, "The Holy Spirit", that helps reconcile the semantics in the idea of being born again.

All humans must rely on the grace of God, but what we do with that gift is what matters. Would Jesus want us to do good works? Of course. You can't truly have one without the other.

I always ask this when we start discussing "praying to idols": Have you ever knelt at the foot of the cross? Do you pray to the cross or what it represents? Have you ever gone to the cemetary and talked with a loved one who has passed away? No difference. Asking someone who has passed on to pray with you is perfectly logical. Hopefully, they are in closer proximity to God than we.

God bless,

-- john placette (jplacette@catholic.org), July 31, 2003.

I'm often left wondering why people find it easy to put a christmas tree up in their living rooms, but not a crucifix. They don't worship a tree so they wouldn't worship an image of Christ on the cross. If anything, the tree has less connection to Christianity than the crucifix. It seems so ironic to me.

I suppose that Precious Moments little angels are ok; they are so cute.

Sorry, if I sound a bit rough.

Rodrigo..

.

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), July 31, 2003.

Hello Jennifer, I am too a Catholic Christian. The questions you have asked are good questions and nothing to be ashamed of. Some people might give you a rough time because you are using the word of the bible to challange age old traditions. Remember Jen, as Christians we must define where our loyalty's lie first. Is it in God or our religious docterns? I think you already know the answer like I do. Any how I think maybe some of us are missing the point when it comes to interpreting scripture. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are trying to find the answer to your questions. 1) The Church in which Jesus spoke of is not the institution but the body of Christ, his people.

3) Two disiples can form a Church can they not?

2) As Christians we do work by living out a Christian life and "use words when neccessary" to justify our means.

3) You don't have to be a Catholic to be blessed with the Holy Spirit. Remember the day of Pentecost.

4) Lastly remember the Greatest Commandent Matthew 22:36-38.

God Bless Jennifer

-- Eric H. (desmas17@hotmail.com), August 02, 2003.

Eric, you said that you are a "Catholic Christian," but your comments don't seem to be Catholic. If you really are a Catholic (in union with the pope), I can't help but wonder that you are being misled by a misguided pastor or by some literature you are reading.

The Church in which Jesus spoke of is not the institution but the body of Christ, his people.

You are mistaken. They are one and the same. The "people" in union with the hierachy comprise "the institution" that is the Church. Jesus was referring to both. People who say that the "Church is the people" usually want to disobey the pope and bishops, or they want to make up (or get rid of) doctrines as they go along. You really need to avoid people like that.

Two disciples can form a Church can they not?

No, they cannot. In extreme circumstances (e.g., where the Catholic Church is persecuted), two could perhaps form a sort of mission parish in need of a priest, but they could not "form a Church."

As Christians we do work by living out a Christian life and "use words when neccessary" to justify our means. It depends on what you mean by "living out a Christian life" and "using words."

Doing good "works" includes many things, some of which are essential, others optional. Essential good works are not just the corporal works of mercy. (Which "works" did you intend to include? Exclude?)

And we "use words" for many things -- e.g., praying, confessing sins, teaching the faith to each other and non-Catholics. (Which use of words did you intend to include? Exclude?) I don't know what you mean when you say "to justify our means." Never heard that phrase before.

3) You don't have to be a Catholic to be blessed with the Holy Spirit. Remember the day of Pentecost.

Partly true. For the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, one must be a Christian (baptized).

Lastly remember the Greatest Commandent Matthew 22:36-38.

That passage says, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment."

And Jesus elsewhere said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." So, we love God with our "all" (heart, soul, mind) by following his will, and he has revealed his will that all followers of Jesus "may be one" -- one within the Catholic Church, the only Church that he founded.

A.

-- Art (ars@gratia.artis), August 02, 2003.

Fixing the italics in the last part ..........

Lastly remember the Greatest Commandent Matthew 22:36-38.

That passage says, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment."

And Jesus elsewhere said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." So, we love God with our "all" (heart, soul, mind) by following his will, and he has revealed his will that all followers of Jesus "may be one" -- one within the Catholic Church, the only Church that he founded.

-- Art (ars@gratia.artis), August 02, 2003.

Do Catholics believe that baptism is neccessary for salvation?

-- Kris (kris_maryjane@juno.com), November 01, 2003.

Yes, Catholics believe everything the Bible teaches us - especially the words of God Himself ... "Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5), a teaching that Peter remembered when he wrote "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you - not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21)

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), November 01, 2003.

However, Kris, Baptism by water is the ordinary way by which the sacrament is administered.

We also believe in the possibility of salvation by "Baptism of blood" and "Baptism of desire."

The first is exemplified in the case of a woman martyred for the faith before she can be baptized in water. The second may occur in more than one way -- for example, the case of a woman who prepares to enter the Church and then dies unbaptized by water, but while repenting of her sins out of love for God.

-- Art (Ars@Gratia.Artis), November 02, 2003.