Ask A Catholic

[Red Door]

Do you believe in total depravity?

Yes.

Do you believe that man has free will in regards to whether to accept Christ, or does God choose who accepts Christ, and who doesn't?

I believe that man has the free will to accept Christ.

What's with the whole "masturbation is wrong" thing?

This is an interpretation. Some people believe it's a phase, I'm gonna go with this one. Others believe you're doing an unnatural act, these tend to be the more traditional Catholics.

Where in the Bible does it say that a priest has the ability to forgive sins? Isn't God the only one who can forgive sins? Or do the priests just tell you that you are forgiven, but not actually do it?

Nowhere, but we don't get all our things from the Bible. We don't take the Bible completely literally. God is the only one who can forgive sins truly, the priest's function is to remind you that you are forgiven, and it's good to get it off your chest, as my priest last year said. Only God can truly forgive you, and only then if you are truly sorry for what you have done.

 

[Trajan12]

Everyone knows Black Protestant church services are the most exciting.

Do you guys really keep track of all the Popes and Whatnot?

 

[Red Door]

Everyone knows Black Protestant churches are the most exciting.

Do you guys really keep track of all the Popes and Whatnot?

A list of the Popes can be found in the beginning of the New American Bible. Most normal Catholics have no idea who the pope was in 1392, for example. Maybe a Catholic history scholar or deeply religious would know the order of the Popes.

BTW, my parish is actually a former predominant African-American Catholic parish, and that is the reason for our more Liberal tendancies to the mass.

 

[GenMarshall]

Don't be scared, you don't have to have the Priest face you, and that helps out a lot.

So more like a Pre-Vatican II style confession? Though honestly I do like some guidence from the priest, especialy when one is making a first confession.

Do you believe in total depravity?

I dont believe in total depravity, plus that theology is found more in the Protestant branch of Christianity such as Lutheranism, Anglicanism/Episcopal and Methodism, Arminianism, and Calvinism.

Do you believe that man has free will in regards to whether to accept Christ, or does God choose who accepts Christ, and who doesn't?

I believe that God has granted us free will to allow people to eather accept or deny Christ.

What's with the whole "masturbation is wrong" thing?

Catholicism teaches that masturbation is a sin. Any sexual action that does not lead to an opportunity of creation of a human life and is outside the union of marriage is considered a sin.

Where in the Bible does it say that a priest has the ability to forgive sins? Isn't God the only one who can forgive sins? Or do the priests just tell you that you are forgiven, but not actually do it?

Minister of the Sacrament
Catholics believe that no priest, as an individual man, however pious or learned, has power to forgive sins. This power belongs to God alone; however, God can and does exercise it through the Catholic priesthood. Catholics believe God exercises the power of forgiveness by means of the sacrament of penance, which can be administered validly by every validly ordained priest or bishop (in persona Christi).

The scriptural support for a priest (or bishop) that has the ability to forgive sins is found in John 20:22-23 as the primary proof of the doctrine conserning the sacriment of Reconciliation (Council of Trent, Session Fourteen, Chapter 1) . Some Catholics consider Matthew 9:2-8 and First Corinthians 11:27 as scriptual bases for the sacrement of reconciliation.

 

[Trajan12]

John Paul II or Benedicto?

 

[GenMarshall]

A list of the Popes can be found in the beginning of the New American Bible. Most normal Catholics have no idea who the pope was in 1392, for example. Maybe a Catholic history scholar or deeply religious would know the order of the Popes.

I must be a Modern Catholic since I only know St. Peter as the First Pope and Popes from the 1860s to now off the top of my head .

I know wikipedia has a Listings of popes from St. Peter to now

 

[Red Door]

John Paul II or Benedicto?

John Paul II, any day.

 

[Adamb0mb]

What about women priests? Does to trouble you that the church refuses to ordinate women?

How about men who find man men's best friend (gays)? What is the current stance of the church on 'man's biggest fan' and how do you feel about that?

 

[Truronian]

What makes you believe the Pope is able to make infallible statements?

Do you derive your beliefs from the church or do your beliefs coincide with the church?

Is there anything that would cause you to leave the church?

 

[nonconformist]

1. Do you find Benedict to be a uber-hardliner?

2.What do you think of the (fair) amount of harm that the Cathloc church causes on occasion?

3.Isn't praying for God to help you during, say, an exam cheating, as you're getting outside help?

 

[Mirc]

John Paul II or Benedicto?

I am not a Catholic myself (being an Orthodox), but could I also answer this question? I believe John Paul II was a great pope, and I saw him as a spiritual leader not only for Catholics. Benedict is too intolerant, and I really see him as a step backwards. A big step backwards actually.



Now I'd like to ask a question too: Do you (Catholics) see Orthodoxes as "heretics" or "nonbelievers"?

 

[classical_hero]

Yes, Catholics are required, IIRC, to go to confession once a year. I usually go every 3 months, we have it during lunch at school, and it's quick. The priests role can differ from priest to priest. I have had priests give me 2 Hail Marys and an Our Father for the same thing I've gotten 10 of each before. I think it ultimately depends on the mood of the priest. I think penance is good, it shows that you're truly sorry for what you have done and it really makes you look into your soul.

Talk about a lot of rules. The Bible is so much simpler as we have direct access to God whenever we need to confess our sins. All I need to do is ask forgiveness and God will forgive. It is that simple, not having to do all this penace.

I think infant baptism is wrong, but it's tradition, and it's not something the Catholic Church is about to change. In my mind, a person should choose whether they want to be baptized or not. I believe I chose to be a Catholic when I got confirmed. If you're an adult, baptism frees you from Original Sin.
Infant souls, however, are not corrupt yet. Once they begin to be able to do stuff on their own (3 or 4), then their souls can begin to corrupt.

While we agree with Infants should not be baptised, I disagree with the meaning of Baptism. Baptism does not save, but is a symbolic showing of salvation.

So now I have some questions.
What is the method of baptising a person?
What exactly is Original sin?

I knew this one was coming. Anyways, the Catholic Church believes that Jesus invested his power in his apostles and especially St. Peter, who he called "his rock". St. Peter went on to found the Catholic Church in Rome and was the first pope technically. That's where we believe the Pope derives his authority from.

Well then I have a question over this. Where are the gates of hell and where are the keys to the Kingdom? You mus have an answer to this since the passage that you are referring to mentioned these

 

[Cuchullain]

I knew this one was coming. Anyways, the Catholic Church believes that Jesus invested his power in his apostles and especially St. Peter, who he called "his rock". St. Peter went on to found the Catholic Church in Rome and was the first pope technically. That's where we believe the Pope derives his authority from.

There is no evidence that Peter founded any churches at all, especially the one in Rome. Initially, Peter was against preaching the gospel to the gentiles --- which led to some heated debates with Paul. What little evidence exists, seems to indicate that once Peter left Jerusalem, wherever he preached, he was preceded by Paul. By the time either one got to Rome, a church already existed, albeit a disorganized one. Paul is said to have organized that church before Peter ever arrived. I am a Catholic, and believe in Rome's authority, but Rome's claims come from Peter's martyrdom, not from the church's founding, as papal historians would have us believe.

 

[Rossiya]

Al Costa, what does "Al" stand for, and what is your confirmation name?

 

[Mirc]

What has this to do with Catholicism?

 

[Rossiya]

Everything. Al is obviously short for a longer name, which may be Italian, because he is Italo-American, and Italians are Catholic, and his confirmation name is totally to do with Catholicism.

 

[skadistic]

My confirmation name is Patrick. I use it when people ask me for my full name and if they aren't catholic they get a bewildered look on their face.

 

[Rossiya]

My confirmation name is Patrick. I use it when people ask me for my full name and if they aren't catholic they get a bewildered look on their face.

Irish-American?

 

[El_Machinae]

How do we know when the Pope is making an 'infallible statement'? What was the last one?

Who did Peter give the next 'popehood' too (after him), and how do we know that he had the authority to do so?

Or do the priests just tell you that you are forgiven, but not actually do it?

The priest merely tells you; in addition, his training allows him to be (allegedly) objective regarding assigning penance.

 

[skadistic]

Irish-American?

Father = Irish Catholic
mother = Italian Catholic

Me = militant Atheist