Posted on 07/07/2005 7:58:28 AM PDT by NYer
The Vatican on Thursday said too many Roman Catholics were not taking their religion seriously and that those faithful who receive communion and still support abortion rights were behaving scandalously.
In an 88-page working document for a synod of bishops to be held in October, the Vatican also decried dwindling attendance at Sunday Mass and reaffirmed a rule that Catholics who divorce and remarry outside the Church cannot take communion.
The document on the theme of the Eucharist said many Catholics had lost the sense of the sacred surrounding communion, which the Church teaches becomes the body and blood of Christ during the Mass.
One part of the document returned to an issue that remains particularly hot in the United States -- whether Catholics who support abortion rights can receive communion.
"Some receive communion while denying the teachings of the Church or publicly supporting immoral choices in life, such as abortion, without thinking that they are committing an act of grave personal dishonesty and causing scandal," it said.
"Some Catholics do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favor of abortion or other serious acts against life, justice and peace," it said.
The U.S. Catholic community was divided last year over whether they should support presidential candidate John Kerry, himself an Catholic who supported abortion rights.
Some Catholics say they personally would not have an abortion but, in pluralistic societies such as the United States, feel obliged to support a woman's right to choose.
But the Church, which teaches that life begins at the moment of conception and that abortion is murder, says Catholics cannot have it both ways.
The document lamented what it called "a crisis in the meaning of belonging to the Church" and an inadequate understanding of the Catholic teaching that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is real and not symbolic.
It said an increasingly secularized society had weakened the sense of mystery in the sacrament of communion. Too few Catholics were approaching communion with the "fear and trembling" that the true presence of God warranted.
It also listed a series of other "deficiencies and shadows" related to communion, lamenting that too many Catholics were taking the sacrament while they were in a state of sin because they had not gone to confession first.
"The faithful frequently receive Holy Communion without even thinking that they might be in state of mortal sin," it said.
The taking of communion by divorced Catholics who remarry outside the Church had become "a common occurrence in various countries" even though it is officially forbidden.
The Catholic Church forbids divorce.
The document lamented that in some developed countries participation at Sunday Mass was as low at 5 percent and again urged the faithful to keep Sunday holy.
Good gravy...
Was she told that by a Deacon/Priest, or by an office employee?
And the Episcopal Church is a haven for former Catholics.
Especially divorced ones.
Lack of true faith the problem here. We could write a book on who is to blame, but let's just say the Bishops have been out to lunch for quite some time as far as tending to their sheep.
The more I hear about this guy, the more I like him.........and I'm a Baptist!.......
The communion line should be very much shortened this Sunday, right?
I'm very offended by your reply. Keep your bigotry to yourself.
Thanks for the ping.
"Who could believe such a teaching?" Gee, how about millions of practicing Catholics throughout the world, along with millions of other people since Christianity's inception to the present times...if it strikes you that the concept of Holy Eucharist is laughable, peace be with you and your beliefs, but please try and get it through your peawit brain that others may see things differently, shocking as I know that must be to you...
I believe you are correct.
>> Who could believe such a teaching? No wonder the people don't take the Church seriously. <<
Precisely.
"Many of his disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a hard teaching? Who can hear it?"... From that day forward, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:60, 6:66)
The thought that sustains Catholics through such times of scandal: "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:68b)
It is unfortunate that the homosexuals have invaded the church, but condemning the entire church for the actions of a few perverts doesn't stand the test. If this were the case, all organizations, would be condemned for the actions of the perverted 1-2%.
An office employee, but it was exactly what she wanted to hear so for her it is as good as God's Word.
I told her that I would not leave my immortal soul to the word of anyone under Pilla.
Who could believe such a teaching? Try the early Christians as a start.
Catholics cannot have it both ways.Benedict!
Jesus said "This is my body" and "This is my blood." As he has the only two documented cases of human resurrection, I have to take what he says quite a bit more seriously than, say, what the head of Athiests International says.
Real translation: There is a sign in front of the salad bar that says you really ought to try the soup.
>> Take your Catholic-hating tripe and stuff it. <<
"Put down your sword, Peter." -- Jesus
"Your anger betrays you." -- Darth Vader. From back when Star Wars was still cool. ;^)
The communion line should be very much shortened this Sunday, right?
I understand your sentiment but for me to say "I hope that is the case" in reply would be very uncharitable of me. I hope and pray the line for Holy Communion this Sunday is endless...
No one is asking you for your approval. For your information, this is a basic belief for Catholics and is founded in Jesus' teachings in the Bible. We don't make fun of your beliefs, whatever they are, please give us the same courtesy.
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