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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:
Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:52

Boring you are right in why I feel that way.

I was also annoyed when our local deacon tried to baptise my neice in the kitchen sink on Christmas day. My cofe neice. He was drunk and rude and nasty. But so strict about Catholicism it was unreal.

Northey · 29/04/2012 23:52

I am reading your posts, but you haven't explained why it annoys you tha people say they are Catholics but don't support every pronouncement of the Church. Why does that annoy you? It doesn't annoy me, so I need you to explain.

Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:55

............ Hmm

For real? Have you never been annoyed by anyone saying

'I'm not being racist BUT...'

I feel the same way about people who say 'I'm catholic but...'

As soon as I hear that but I'm like 'right whatever I can't take you seriously'
I've said it's the cherry picking that annoys me. I don't
Know how to make it clearer for you? I really don't

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:56

What annoyed me was that I felt on some other threads catholics were portraying the faith imo quite inaccurately to non catholics.

And no I am not shit stirring. I can see now why people say they don't post in AIBU. I didn't realise that posting there was "not allowed" unless it met certain conditions.

OP posts:
boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:57

I am a catholic

I am an unmarried mother

I use contraception

I have no issues with homosexuality and i think that the catholic church's stance on it is wrong.

I don't go to church because the priest is too boring

I am a catholic and i don't care who this annoys

Does supporting willy wonka make you any more or any less an oompaloompa? Just being short and overdoing the spray tan does not make you an oompaloompa! You have to have been BORN an oompaloompa - a bit like being baptised a catholic

Have you not heard the saying "once a catholic.........." I think its very true

hiddenhome · 29/04/2012 23:57

The question is, should the faith reflect the current beliefs of the society in which it operates, or should it adhere to its own beliefs and remain faithful to those.

My grandmother was a staunch Catholic, but a pretty lousy Christian. Jesus criticised those who stuck rigidly to the law whilst totally missing the point.

Original poster
zombiegames · 29/04/2012 23:58

And I agree with you Kayano. But what really annoys me is catholics representing this stance to non catholics as not an issue. It gives the impression that catholics can believe what they want and this is fine with the church and that the pope can be ignored if as a catholic you don't agree with his teachings. This is simply not true and paints a much more tolerant picture of the faith to non catholics than the reality.

OP posts:
Kayano · 29/04/2012 23:58

'once a catholic...'?

nope. But aren't I going to heaven anyway because I was baptised?

boringnickname · 29/04/2012 23:58

It is NOT the same as saying "im not being racist but" i dont understand that - i am a catholic because i was baptised as a catholic - it doesn't actually matter what i believe

Northey · 30/04/2012 00:00

kayano, I'm sorry for asking again, but why does the cherry picking bother you. I understand that you don't like what you see as cherry picking, but I don't understand why.

boringnickname · 30/04/2012 00:00

I'm surprised kayano - it is used alot by catholics and lapsed catholics to describe how deep seated the faith is and how even if you don't choose to follow it, when it comes to the chase, you're still a catholic (and still feel guilty for everything all the time but thats another thread)

Kayano · 30/04/2012 00:00

So you could believe that Jesus was a woman who stood on her head and made up a load of shit?

How can it not matter what you believe? You've just blown my mind

hiddenhome · 30/04/2012 00:01

It is true that once you're baptised a Catholic, you remain a Catholic for life (in the eyes of the Catholic Church), but this is different from being a Christian and having a living relationship with Christ and serving God.

boringnickname · 30/04/2012 00:01

Kayano - yes, i believe you will, if you have lived a good and caring life and are at peace with yourself, yes i do believe you will go to heaven

Northey · 30/04/2012 00:03

You believe what you say in the Creed. That's the core of it. That's what it matters that you believe.

Kayano · 30/04/2012 00:03

northey headdesk

Honestly don't know what you want from me.... I can't actually make myself any clearer to you. I can't. You're like my little cousin who is in a 'why, why, why?' stage and I have run out of responses for you short of 'because it's annoying an not following the faith!'

Kayano · 30/04/2012 00:04

I am a good person regardless of my disillusionment of the church so I guess I'm sorted.

goes back to ironing

boringnickname · 30/04/2012 00:04

becaues its not the teachings of the catholic church that i believe, i believe in God and Jesus, solidly and concretely, i dont know about anything else, it is intellectually beyond me. But i dont think that precludes me from the faith.

Hidden i think that you are probably right in that comment. I would probably be being disingenuious (i cant spell) to call myself a christian as id ont practice my faith. I am however a catholic and i do believe and am thankful that not being particularly very good at it doesn't mean that i am not welcome in my faith.

DioneTheDiabolist · 30/04/2012 00:05

I get that it is your opinion Zombie.

And it is the view that many non Catholics have of Catholicism. Catholics here have given their opinion and shared their experiences. Their opinion is as valid as yours. Also they are speaking from past and current experience.

boringnickname · 30/04/2012 00:05

I would say so Kayano. Happy ironing (WHAT are you doing ironing at this time of night? )

hiddenhome · 30/04/2012 00:06

I don't think it's up to us to judge one another about how well, or badly, we practise our faith Wink

Kayano · 30/04/2012 00:06

Well I am a lapsed ironer and would have been done much earlier if not for this thread. Plus the baby is asleep and I'm taking advantage Grin

Northey · 30/04/2012 00:08

Fine. One last go (because I am really interested).

What is it ^about* the cherry picking that annoys you?

Original poster
zombiegames · 30/04/2012 00:08

Dione - My point was that I don't think anyone here has actually given an argument of why they think my opinion is wrong aside from I am a catholic and I am not homophobic. This is not a logical argument to say I am wrong. But I guess I should have learned long ago that catholicism and logic rarely meet.

OP posts:
Kayano · 30/04/2012 00:08

Ah lightbulb

Just because I am a lapsed ironer....

Does not mean I am NOT an ironer.

Got it. Ah the church of domestic chores