Ten Facts Most Catholics Don’t Know (But Should!) (Catholic Caucus)

Catholic Exchange ^ | July 9, 2010 | Gary Zimak

[NYer]

Gary Zimak is the founder of Following The Truth Ministries, a lay apostolate created to assist Catholics in learning more about their Faith. He is a frequent guest on EWTN's "Son Rise Morning Show" and has appeared on Sirius Radio's "Seize The Day" with Gus Lloyd as well as several local Catholic radio shows. In addition to writing for Catholic Exchange, Mr. Zimak speaks at various parishes, updates The Catholic Truth website and posts frequently on his blog, Facebook and Twitter. He is a member of Catholics United For The Faith, an officer in the Knights of Columbus and resides in New Jersey with his wife Eileen and twin daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. They are actively involved in Sacred Heart Parish in Riverton, NJ.

[NYer]

Catholic Caucus ping!

[MarkLevinFan]

Catholic Families for America Announces Major Initiative for Christine O’Donnell for Senate
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2549435/posts

[NYer]

Thank you for posting that link!

[Salvation]

**While the above list only scratches the surface of the robust Catholic Faith, it provides a glimpse into the depth of Catholic teaching.**

Good list — The cafeteria is closed, folks.

[pgyanke]

Shouldn’t this be about “ex” Catholics? Most of us that have stayed have learned about our faith.

[MarkLevinFan]

Thank you for posting that link!

You're welcome!

[Graing]

Danke!

Ping

[mlizzy]

Please note: This is a Catholic Caucus thread.

[aimee5291]

Thanks for posting this list..

[Cronos]

thank you. While I do keep Fridays as meat-less (though in all honesty, it’s not that much of a sacrifice as I’m not much of a carnivore, I ought to do more), I didn’t know it was still mandatory

[COBOL2Java]

Please note: This is a Catholic Caucus thread.

Reference here. The relevant citation:

Caucus threads are closed to any poster who is not a member of the caucus.

For instance, if it says “Catholic Caucus” and you are not Catholic, do not post to the thread. However, if the poster of the caucus invites you, I will not boot you from the thread.

The “caucus” article and posts must not compare beliefs or speak in behalf of a belief outside the caucus.

[Desdemona]

It’s the wider Catholic world where the teaching has been horrid that don’t know this stuff. And I don’t know anyone who has fallen away due to any of these points. It’s mostly been temporal, humanistic things and generally involves sex.

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for posting. For some reason, in my area, there are a lot of Catholics who think that meat on Friday is now okay. I’ve stayed out of the controversy, and simply eaten fish or 15 bean soup, grilled cheese, meatless spaghetti, meatless pizza, whatever. Better safe than sorry, right?

[COBOL2Java]

Catechesis, especially in the United States, has been particularly horrid these last 30 years or so. The sad fact is that many self-designated “ex-Catholics” had been poorly taught about their faith.

[BenKenobi]

It’s especially hard for us converts to get into the no meat on Fridays.

[NYer]

Most of us that have stayed have learned about our faith.

No ... the author is correct in addressing this to Catholics. I never cease to be amazed at the level of ignorance exhibited by active Catholics. Only recently, someone said: "I think the Catholic Church should allow for women priests." I took a deep breath, gave a brief explanation as to why this cannot be and brought him the more detailed written explanation the following Sunday. He was grateful.

This was only one person. Multiply his ignorance by the masses and you can see why this topic is timely.

[NYer]

While I do keep Fridays as meat-less (though in all honesty, it’s not that much of a sacrifice as I’m not much of a carnivore, I ought to do more), I didn’t know it was still mandatory

Mandatory? No.

This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:

Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!

Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.

Makes me wonder, though, how vegetarians abstain ;-)