[Kanakabaraka]

I don't know if I qualify as a Catholic Caucus member or not. I'm baptized Catholic, try to pray the rosary daily, and attend Mass but have some steps to take before returning to communion. If I shouldn't be here, please let me know and I'll ask to have my post removed.

I would like to say, while I don't envy the ire directed toward the Catholics who participate in the Religion Forum, and I know I'm certainly not equipped to defend the faith myself, it was as a lurker here that I became convinced that either the Catholics or the Orthodox have it right. If someone here hadn't been answering what was being said, I might not have necessarily believed the things that were being presented, but would probably have continued operating on the assumption that the dogmas of most churches on the subjects we see debated here is mostly a reflection of each group's personal or preferred understanding of things that maybe can't actually be known. It was the demonstration here of the Church's historical continuity and internal consistency through the last 2000 years that has convinced me that it (along with the Orthodox) is the true Church.

(I will admit, it was the contentiousness that kept me reading long enough to learn this; some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating.)

[Judith Anne]

You are welcome.

[Judith Anne]

“Gruesomely fascinating” — ROFLLMTO!!!!

So well said...

[Mad Dawg]

One memorare going out for you to get yo'se'f as far of the way back into communion as possible. It is SUCH a gift!

And your testimony is important and I think it makes an argument that while a fast which the entire Caucus or most of it agreed to would be wonderful, withdrawing forever would be to neglect a work of mercy and an important apostolate.

(And I don't think I could do it. I'm FULL of good reasons for stuff I want to do.)

[sitetest]

“...some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating.”

ROTFLMAO!! Great post!

[wagglebee]

I don't know if I qualify as a Catholic Caucus member or not. I'm baptized Catholic, try to pray the rosary daily, and attend Mass but have some steps to take before returning to communion. If I shouldn't be here, please let me know and I'll ask to have my post removed.

I would like to say, while I don't envy the ire directed toward the Catholics who participate in the Religion Forum, and I know I'm certainly not equipped to defend the faith myself, it was as a lurker here that I became convinced that either the Catholics or the Orthodox have it right. If someone here hadn't been answering what was being said, I might not have necessarily believed the things that were being presented, but would probably have continued operating on the assumption that the dogmas of most churches on the subjects we see debated here is mostly a reflection of each group's personal or preferred understanding of things that maybe can't actually be known. It was the demonstration here of the Church's historical continuity and internal consistency through the last 2000 years that has convinced me that it (along with the Orthodox) is the true Church.

(I will admit, it was the contentiousness that kept me reading long enough to learn this; some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating.)

Thank you for your post, it was fantastic and made a lot of other threads seem "worth it"!

By all means you belong here!

[Tax-chick]

some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating

Excellent observation!

I don't participate in threads if I'm emotional, and I don't respond to attacks. However, I do like to commend my more combative FRiends on their vigorous verbiage and outrageous puns.

[Cronos]

some of the threads here can be gruesomely fascinating

I know -- some of the godfatherly and other gangster / nazi analogies or even the early bits about Vicky and Lucy (the Vicar of Christ and Lucifer -- I refer to Havoc threads from 2002-2003) have descended to the surreal very quickly.

We used to have massive arguments with the Orthodox (yes arguments) circa 2004 - 2007, but those were different: I believe that both parties learnt more about each other and what we need to do to be more in communion. Since then, both Orthodox and Catholics have actually gotten closer

We are able to have such debates with less rancour with Lutherans and Anglicans too.

If you look at the general theology of the general anti-Church posters, you'll find they tend to be in "way-out-there" groups, groups with themes on UFO-logy, small groups of a couple of thousand that may call themselves orthodox or presbyterian or baptist or others (there is a overflow of acronyms) and who, I suspect, don't even agree with each other on basic theology but agree that they like to attack The Church.

But, I am glad that the debates have struck a chord with you -- they did with me too and have led me to explore my faith more. Dare I say it, they've made me more convinced in the truth that is The Church.


Bashem Hashem Trashem
(an inside joke)