I bet "Orthodox Catholic" is kind of like Mormonism. Maybe there was a guy named Mr. Orthodox who found some fake plates and pretended to translate them, and maybe there were over two million pretend people who died somewhere in the US. I bet they wear garments and get sealed, too, and go through mysterious initiation ceremonies while naked under a poncho.

The problem the Catholic church has is that the authority figures know that if they were to force their members to accept every single one of their viewpoints, they would probably have less than 100,000 members left worldwide. Most of the church's leaders know that, as a whole, Catholics are not following all of the church's teachings, but they trade that in for sheer numbers.

I'm still waiting to hear what an Orthodox Catholic is.
I just have caught up on the thread & am sad to realize that I have been "demoted" from being Catholic to catholic b/c I don't agree with all the tenements of the faith.

Also, valkyrie, there are many who do not agree with what the Mormon church believes but I don't think we should poke fun at their doctrine. I happen to be marrying a Mormon & while I would agree with you on the whole sealing, sacred garments stuff, I would never insult them by mocking the values & traditions they believe. I may not believe anything they believe but I do try to have some respect for them.

See, and my LCMS Lutheran ass believes that you only need three things to be a complete Christian: Grace alone, faith alone, scripture alone.

All the rest you mention (the other 5 sacraments, the assistance of Mary, the saints, etc...) are just pretty wrapping paper. Nice to look at, but they have absolutely nothing to do with the gift that's inside. My boy Martin Luther felt the same way, which is why he left the Catholic church.

I admire your conviction and knowledge of your beliefs, but you're like that annoying kid in the back of the class who has her hand up every question and has to show off just exactly how much she knows while the rest of the class just groans and rolls their eyes at her.

Last night myself and three of my Catholic friends (the three of them had all been raised fairly strict Catholic, went to Catholic school as kids, etc.) were discussing the Catholic church. And all of us are contemplating going Lutheran. There's just nothing in the Catholic church for us anymore. To us, it seems that Lutheran is pretty much the same thing, but without all the BS

Yes, especially if the large number of members are actively tithing.

I googled "Orthodox Catholic"

That's what I got.

I went through the RCIA process and I've openly spoke my stances on certain issues. There are people that share similar beliefs and those that differ. I would think... and hope... that the friends (including my priest) I made in my parish would tell me that my beliefs were unacceptable and I wouldn't be confirmed Catholic. But I was... I went through my education, talked with my fellow parishioners MANY times, including my boyfriend/sponsor about if this was right for me, and each time they gave me a reason to keep going with it. So I did and here I am.

To add to "Orthodox" anything discussion... there is a Russian Orthodox and Jewish Orthodox parish/temple/[insert appropriate name here] here in Sacramento, respectively.

I'm sorry if I've offended you or anyone else. That's not my intent at all, but I have a question. Would you respect the beliefs of someone who was brainwashed and is in a cult?

Look Up "Catholic". Check The Dictionary. Then Post What it says.

Now, that does Bring up an interesting Problem.

There is a difference betwen Roman, Greek, or English.?

Now, when We (U) get into Jueidisam then that throws a different point of view.;)

Sorry, but what each of us beleive in our religiouis Beleifes is unto Our Selfs and No Others.

Tithing, why dont You explain explain what that Means?

"Tithging". Is Giving to the Church of Your Beleif. True.?

Then all it is is giving Money To The Church You beleive in.:rolleyes:

Then do it!:)

It pretty much is. A lot of tradition, none of the guilt.

I'd check out an ELCA church. They're the "hippy liberal" Lutherans -- open communion, women pastors, that sort of thing. ;)

maybe there is not a shortage of priests in the world, but according to a news story I just saw there certainly is a shortage in the U.S.

I am just curious what is the church's stance on promoting safe sex in Africa where AIDS is killing people left and right?

Karen

PS I am not catholic just curious

As to the priest shortage -- the numbers here seem pretty accurate:

http://www.futurechurch.org/fpm/statistics.htm

http://www.futurechurch.org/fpm/corpus/fact-sheet.htm

Granted, they have an agenda to push. But where are you getting your numbers that you claim there isn't one?

it would be intresting to know what REALLY went on when the cardinals were talking...

What is it exactly that you are all fighting about?

Are there actually any points that beryana is wrong on and you have facts that state otherwise? Because I don't see them.

And in terms of justifying the Church's stance on all sorts of issues, what is it you expect from beryana?

I don't know beryana and never have spoken to her on or off GC.

I think you're all just fighting over nothing anyway. Do what makes you happy. Live good lives. Be good people.

-Rudey
--That is all