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You know, Dave, I don't think Catholics my age and younger know enough about the Faith to teach it. Everything has been so dismantled, a lot of people know "Don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent" but not why. Everyone goes to Mass on Ash Wednesday and the number that actually think it's really a Holy Day is astounding. The concept and real reason for Reconciliation (sp?) has been so distorted as to make it unrecognizable.

I'm tell you guys, I'm learning a lot here.

You know, Dave, I don't think Catholics my age and younger know enough about the Faith to teach it. Everything has been so dismantled, a lot of people know "Don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent" but not why. Everyone goes to Mass on Ash Wednesday and the number that actually think it's really a Holy Day is astounding. The concept and real reason for Reconciliation (sp?) has been so distorted as to make it unrecognizable. I'm tell you guys, I'm learning a lot here.

My family always went on Ash Wednesday, it wasn't until I looked at a calendar a few years back that it struck me that it wasn't "required." I don't know your age, but I am a mere 33. I have learned tremendously in just the past few years.

SD

I really enjoyed this read and found it very disturbing because you have put a lot of truth to evangelical behavior in your defense of Catholocism.
I have always had close Catholic friends and I respect many on these threads, but some serious issues, that I feel are in the mind of a serious protestant believer were not addressed. Maybe someone can help me.

My Reasons For Not Being Catholic

1. My conscience would never allow me to pray to anyone but the Father.
2. I disagree with the whole idea of confession and it's instructions on what to do to be forgiven. (pennance?) There is not, and never will be anything I can do to be forgiven. Christ did it for me.
3. I do not believe in sacraments because of my eschatology and also I believe all sacraments were copies of what Christ has now accomplished spiritually and therefore are not necessary.
4. I do not believe in an organizations authority but in Christ's authority. An organization, that in it's past has commited horrible attrocities against mankind, led by Popes, need to reevaluate it's "faith and morals" line of reasoning. The same goes for any protestant organization. They are clearly falible.

The issue of praying to "saints" and bowing before statues (as the pope himself does with the Peter statue in the Vatican) are the biggest reasons. Ritualization is the other.

I am not so sure it is not the Catholic who chooses that belief out of a sense of security and community rather than the Protestant. They tend to be more insecure to go out on their own and test what we say. They must always rely on the counsel of fallible men rather than the plain writing in the word of God.

I am just as critical with protestants . I think it is sad that divorce excuses are a major reason for leaving Catholocism. They are leaving more than a religios organization when that is their reason.

"In latter times some shall depart from the faith , giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons , speaking lies in hypocrisy , forbidding marriage aand abstaining from meats which God gave to be giveen wwith thaaankss to them that believe . " - from the New Testament ,1 Timothy 4:1-5 7/31/02