Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think some Catholics don't understand their own faith

741 replies

zombiegames · 29/04/2012 10:07

Okay I admit a thread about a couple of other threads.

I was brought up Catholic, but am not one now - but I do understand how the way you are brought up as a Catholic gets under your skin. But it does make me angry that other people here who say they are catholics, appear to have so little understanding of their own faith.

The pope is not just someone whose opinion you can dismiss if you are a catholic. He is christs representative on earth and he is infallible - that means he can't be wrong. This is an absolute key part of the one true faith. It is not a side belief that can be conveniently ignored.

So when the pope says for example that gay marriage or using condoms is wrong, that is a belief of the catholic faith and can't just be dismissed. If you say this is wrong, you are saying that the pope is not infallible and thus you are questioning an absolute key part of catholicism.

Why does this anger me? Because a lot of people who are not and have never been catholics don't really understand catholicism as can be seen on here when non catholic parents who send dcs to catholic schools froth on here about what their dcs are being taught. Posters who post about being catholic and non homophobic, are misrepresenting catholicism to those who don't understand it. If the pope says something, then that is part of the catholic faith and is what catholics should believe.

And sorry I probably ABU as I know this is a bit of a rant, even though it is true.

OP posts:
Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:35

Dione I am well aware there are gay catholics and catholics who are not homophobic. I am not saying for 1 minute that all catholics are homophobic. What I am saying is that to be non homophobic and catholic or gay and cattholic is contradictory imo to the faith.

OP posts:
Northey · 29/04/2012 23:36

All of those things too. You want Catholics to fit with your preconception of what they must be and can't cope with people telling you that they are Catholic and different.

Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:37

To even it up:

Why are people CofE?

Wasn't it just changed for the benefit of people getting divorced? ignorant on cofe

Northey · 29/04/2012 23:38

Contradictory in your opinion, zombie. But not in their own opinion. As to whether they are right about that, well, that's between them and God, really. And I can't see that anyone else need concern themselves about it at all.

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:39

No I am saying that catholicism has doctrines and that imo there are some beliefs that individual catholics may have that contradict what the catholic church says catholics should believe. But i don't think we are going to agree are we?

OP posts:
ApocalypseThen · 29/04/2012 23:39

What I am saying is that to be non homophobic and catholic or gay and cattholic is contradictory imo to the faith.

Which is a problem, since it's not true as many people have said at least forty times. It may be your opinion, but frankly, it's wrong both in doctrine and in practice.

DioneTheDiabolist · 29/04/2012 23:40

Kanayo, I can understand and do respect your decision to leave the church, what I don't understand is your strength of feeling regarding those who stay and dissent.

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:40

Kayano - In terms of CofE I think that too - but I genuinely don't know enough or if that is just a myth I have picked up. So I would never post something like that as it may just be total ignorance on my part.

OP posts:
Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:41

I'm going by how I was raised and taught. Actively gay people are going to hell. I was taught That in the uk funnily enough and that is the teachings of the Church.

No matter how much uk Catholics campaign for change they are still going against the teachings of their church...

It's the picking and choosing that's annoying. Identify yourself as Christian IMO

Northey · 29/04/2012 23:42

But why does it annoy you? What does it have to do with you?

Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:43

Once you start changing a faith or campaigning to change a faith, would that faith not lose credibility?

I mean how can you change the word of god without a new messiah?

boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:43

In your OP you say you are pissed off with people who don't understand their faith and therfore are not worthy of being catholics? I dont think it is written anywhere that you have to have a PhD in theology to be a catholic. I know people with PhDs in theology that struggle to undertand their faith - i imagine the more you know, the more confusing it becomes. But me, im just your very avergage, lapsed catholic who is proud to still call myuself a catholic and educate my DD in the catholic faith - if you don;t like that, tough shit

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:44

Apocalypse - People have stated it, but they haven't really said why they think its not contradictory beyond their personal views and what a few random church people have said. If someone could tell me how doctrine or the pope has said stuff to show that this view isn't contradictory, I would change my mind.

OP posts:
Northey · 29/04/2012 23:44

I don't think God ever said anything about gayness, did he?

Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:44

My god I am allowed to participate in a discussion NOrthey... I am learning about other peoples opinions too and sharing mine...

Why are determined o get me off the thread? I could say what does anyone's posts on this forum have to do with me fgs. Or you

hiddenhome · 29/04/2012 23:45

History of Protestantism

Henry VIII, contrary to popular opinion, did not set up the CofE.

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:45

boringnickname - I did say later that my original post was badly framed as I was angry at the time.

OP posts:
boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:45

oh and homosexuality was never mentioned at my school either apart from when the female PE teacher got the sack for having an affair with one of the nuns

boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:46

I just cannot understand for the life of me why you would be angry about it.

Northey · 29/04/2012 23:46

I'm trying to understand your point of view, kayano. Honestly - what is it about this that annoys you?

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:47

Kayano - saying any criticism about catholicism is catholic bashing you see. This is why I don't get involved in discussions about religion and catholicism in particular very often.

OP posts:
Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:47

Well it was at my school!

OP posts:
boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:50

Then why start a thread zombie? It seems you were just trying to stir the shit to be honest. I think kayano does however explain her stance quite well. I think maybe she has had quite a strict upbringing within the catholic church and has been turned against it, maybe wanting other people to feel the same is her way of justifying her own stance? Apologies if im wrong.

I do think we are all entitled to our opinions, but i repeat, i will NOT be told, by ANYONE (and i include my priest in this) that i am not a catholic because i am not a perfect one!

Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:50

Are you actually
By reading my
Posts?

How can you not know what annoys me about it. It's not the faith. It's the people who claim to be from the faith but don't believe in loads of things it teaches or stands for.

It's just saying 'I'm a catholic'
It's not practicing Catholicism

I could say
'I'm a oompalumpa' and not support willy wonka. Doesn't make me an oompaloompa

DioneTheDiabolist · 29/04/2012 23:51

Kanayo, religion is always changing, although the pace is slow and the bigger the religion, the longer it takes to change. The catholic church is not the same as it was 1000 or even 50 years ago.