Posted on 07/09/2010 7:56:07 AM PDT by NYer
Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat. I was a young adult at the time of VCII and still recall watching the news one night when the news broadcaster announced the council had made a change in order to allow Catholics to eat meat on Fridays. That information was poorly communicated. In fact, for 40 years, I thought the ban had been lifted. It wasn't until several years ago, right here on FR, that I learned the real facts. Since then, like you, I have returned to abstaining from meat on Fridays.
The point of fast and abstinence, is to recall Christ's sacrifice on Good Friday. It draws us into a closer relationship with Him when we make a personal sacrifice.
You be the one to set the example! God bless you, Juidith Anne!
I agree with NYer. Even active Catholics often think women priests are an option, that IVF is just fine, and other errors. And when you explain to them, they often still *won’t* “get it.”
In additional to learning, people have to be willing to accept both logical explanation and the authority of the church.
No ... it's not just here. Consider this in Belgium or this in Austria. The problem is worldwide, not just in the US.
And herein lies the biggest problem. Many Catholics resent being told what to do. In fact, the beauty of church authority is the protection it provides. For example, the Catholic Church never approved artificial birth control. Now, 50 years later, science is beginning to see the impact of hormonal medicines on the body and the environment.
Science would have seen much more quickly if "science" were not an ideology of which values-free unlimited sterile sex is a major element.
But that's off topic, so I'll quit here and go to Walmart.
thanks. I did not know that. I just had a Big Mac.
Nothing wrong with that! Nothing at all. There was a time when the majority of the world's population was illiterate. The only way to drive home a message was from the pulpit and enacting regulations that kept them aligned with their faith. Today, the majority of the world's population is literate. So much so, they consider themselves 'literati' and philosophers who can decipher scripture without a magisterium.
You must decide this for yourself. That is what VCII said. And what you choose to do, you do out of personal love for Christ, not because it was imposed on you. Do you see the difference in thought, here? No problem eating a Big Mac and making some other personal sacrifice out of love and respect. What has happened over these past decades is that everyone remembered it was now okay to eat meat on Fridays but forgot about choosing to make a personal sacrifice. It's all about choice. Only you can make that and must do so in your heart; not in a public forum.
God's blessings on you, Johngrace. (PS - one of my best friends in HS had Grace as a last name).
You are so right. Imagine my surprise when my daughter, who had had 12 years of Catholic school education, told me she thought sex before marriage was a venial sin.
She cried a bucket of tears when she finally heard the truth. And I cried a bucket of tears that I had passed on the faith so poorly. My assumption that they had been drilling that into the kids was incorrect. They certainly did when I was in Catholic high school!
I do not believe that there are ex-Catholics, but I do believe that there are many failed Catholics; those that failed to understand and embrace the Catechism and the entire revealed Word.
I wonder how many who call themselves “Catholic” really know these?
Thank you for that comment. Like you, I drew assumptions while sending my daughter to catholic school. It wasn't until the day of her Confirmation that I realized how poorly educated she was. Initially she had chosen "Lucy" as her patron saint but suddenly, she was reluctant to discuss that name. When her grandmother quietly revealed it to me, I realized that my daughter thought she was pulling a fast one. Internally, however, I smiled and thanked God. Thinking she was being defiant, she chose the name of a movie character that was quite popular that year. After the Confirmation ceremony, I wrapped my arms around her and congratulated her on the choice and asked if she understood the significance of that name. She chose the name "Trinity". Her defiant smile turned into chagrin when I explained that she would be forever protected by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On that occasion, God had the last laugh! Thank you, Lord, for having a sense of humor.
Ah, yes, The Matrix. LOL Thank you for posting this. It helps me to know there are other parents out there who are dealing with the same challenges in passing on the faith.
My youngest daughter originally chose Scholastica as her Confirmation name and I was thrilled. Then she became a feminist and decided Joan was more her style. I didn’t complain because Joan is also a good saint, but I pray to St. Scholastica for my daughter. She would have been the perfect choice because my daughter is strong-willed, opinionated, and a traditionalist. Since then, my daughter has become a very liberal “Catholic” and it is hard to watch. But I have faith in St. Scholastica, and my daughter, and have not given up yet!
As a side note, approximately 1200 years after this decision was made, Martin Luther and the Protestant reformers removed 7 books from the Old Testament. As a result, most Protestant Bibles are still missing these 7 books.
Objection!
The guidelines set forth on the RM homepage clearly state that The “caucus” article and posts must not compare beliefs or speak in behalf of a belief outside the caucus.
Because the above article clearly compares beliefs it should not be granted "Caucus" status. At best it should be changed to an Ecumenical thread.
I will now withdraw and await the RM's ruling.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
**I wonder how many who call themselves “Catholic” really know these?**
I’m copying it off and will pass them out at my parish — coffee and donuts, to individuals I know, to groups I lead, you get the idea!
We can be facilitators in this learning process.
Because this is a fact, stated as a fact, it can stand as a Catholic Caucus.
Are you a Mod signing in as Salvation?
“I will now withdraw and await the RM’s ruling.”
Except, of course, you did not.
Because the above article clearly compares beliefs it should not be granted "Caucus" status.The reality? The article states a FACT. Nothing about BELIEF among other faith traditions is challenged, simply the objective FACT regarding how more than one Canon of Scripture came about.
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