So, I'm Catholic - born and raised, and continue to be a practicing, active, Catholic.
My mother was born, raised Catholic, and raised her children Catholic. But when she moved out to Pennsylvania, she decided she needed something else and converted to Born Again.
My sister was Catholic and taught CCD (religion classes for kids that went to public school).
We are all VERY strong in our faith, live our lives as christians, and believe that Jesus is our Savior.
In addition to Catholic and Born Again, there are a bigillion OTHER religions: Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist to name a few...but does one religion guarantee your place in heaven?
I can not count the number of times people have cringed when I told them I am Catholic. How often I have heard, "Don't you want to be saved?" So, what - because I'm Catholic, I'm damned?
I am sick of everyone bashing the Catholic religion because they don't understand why it's an obligation to go to church every Sunday, confession, rosary, or they think it's bad that we pray to saints in addition to God. In the broad spectrum of things, does it really matter? Is it hurting anyone else that we do these things? And aren't you 'judging' me just because I'm Catholic?
Isn't the bottom line to believe in God; believe that He sent his Son, Jesus, here to save us; to spread His word; and to live our lives as good christians? Does it really matter what 'religion' you are? Is God really up there saying, "Gee, Karen is a good person; she follows the rules of God...oh well, too bad she's Catholic and not ______!"
My sister was handicapped. She had medical problems her entire life. At one point it got bad enough that she had to be let go from her job because she was missing so much work -- a job she loved and her bosses loved her. Instead of letting that get her down, she turned to volunteer work. She volunteered at NYU hospital in the pediatric ward, she taught CCD in 3 churches, along with the children's choir, and gave what little money she had to charities all over the place. Can people honestly sit there and say she went to hell because she was a Catholic?
You can insult me, and laugh or cringe when you hear I am Catholic....but you know what? I'm a Catholic AND PROUD OF IT!
The perpetual dilema
14 years ago
Growing up in a part of the country that is mostly Catholic, I understand to an extent what you're saying. I think that as long as the bottom line of your beliefs is that Jesus died to save you/us from our sin, nothing else matters. That's the bottom line for every other denomination I've had experience with, they just worship differently. Whatever works for you, to get you closest with God is right for you. Don't worry about what other people think. If they think Catholics aren't "saved", they're the ones not fully informed in their own beliefs because believing Jesus died for you IS being saved...saved from hell.
ReplyDeleteI'm not Catholic, but you know I totally agree with you on all that. How is it my job to judge? Is it your job to judge me? And, I'm pretty sure, as Christian's, we're all 'obligated' to go to Church every Sunday. It's kinda part of the deal.
ReplyDeleteNick. Driving. Yeah . . . ramp up this whole Catholic thing, Kay?? And I'll ramp up the whole Protestant thing and we should be good, right? :)