Scott1 said:
Hehe.... sounds like my wife! What brought about the change... last time we spoke, it seemed you were heading away from the Church>>>????
The thing was I was reading lies. After further investigation, I found they had taken the entire document in question out of context, and I was very upset and sickened by that - but not surprised. Like for example, in some cases the Catholic churches dealings were specified for places where there WERE no laws, so how can you turn someone in when there is no law against it? The closer I get to the church the more anti-Catholic bias I see.
Besides, it's obvious this is the church Christ founded. I've looked at that Bible verse tons of times, and I've heard people say that Christ meant himself and not Peter, but that overlooks the fact that Peter comes from "petros" which means the little rock. And besides, I wouldn't say, "you are peter, and..." right before talking about myself, so why would Jesus?
My church doesn't have communion regularly (in fact I have never seen them do it) and they don't confess. For people who claim to go by the Bible they have left a lot of things out. They advocate birth control -which everyone knows I'm disgusted about! They can't agree on things, because the Bible is thier only authority and everyone interprets it different, and somehow I got away with wasting 4 crazy years of my life being a pro-choice Christian in that church and no one ever set me straight. I don't think that's right.
Plus I've been reading the catechism and I LOVE it. And I totally agree about not being magically saved forever just because you say the Jesus prayer once. I agree with them on marriage, too. I know a lot of people are still divorcing in the CC but it's not like being Protestant where your 3rd marriage is just no biggie and your pastor is more likely to help you find your new spouse than discourage it. I believe in doing good deeds because that's WHY God called you. I love the parish nearby too, they are always out there doing SO MUCH good deeds, bless thier hearts, I can't wait to join. I have always rememberd that verse "you will know them by thier fruits' and just judging on that alone would be enough. Plus the pastor is one who isn't concieted one bit. He outright tells everyone that he is just as much in need of forgiveness as we are, and when I talked to him he said "It's not ME that can bring you into the church, it's God." (At first I was a little mad about them not kicking people out enough, but the priest explained that it is out of mercy and not to condone what they are doing.)
I know I have more reading to do, and still a few questions but I am heading this way for now, and unless something huge stops me I will continue to. I've been praying for a LONG time about it, and right now all signs are go.
Okay enough for now! Although just one more thing, and this one is a biggie, my husband supports my decision now!!! I don't know how but it's a miracle - I've been praying that if God really wants me in the Catholic church that he would not let it come between my husband and me, and so all of a sudden my husband's like "I'll watch the baby so you can go to church." About knocked me flat, he is a pastor's son. He is still not overjoyed about it, but he isn't telling me to go read Martin Luther anymore either! The only thing that really makes me sad is that he says our kids can't be raised Catholic, but I feel they will be watching me for an example and as a SAHM that is a lot of power to wield, and they can still come with me to church if they want, he wouldn't stop them if they wanted to, so in the end it will be thier decision anyway.
Whew, this is WAY too long. Need to know more just ask!
Scott1 said:
Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press
Great, I'll look it up!
