Questions for any Catholics

thirty-two · January 26th, 2004, 10:54 PM

I didn't know the answer so I'm hoping someone can help me out.

----

Are there any special procedures that must be followed if a former practicing Catholic decides to come back to the church after a long absence (and not attending mass regularly, following "rules" regarding lent, etc)?

I asked my roommate and she said it's best if that person goes to reconciliation and only then can attend mass and receive the Eucharist. I disagree with her though. I would think it would be ok for that person to just start attending mass because by receiving the Eucharist, you are techincally being absolved of your sins, correct?

Forget anything with marraige and annulments etc - just one day decided to leave the church and one day, decided to come back.

Thanks.

mattyboy · January 26th, 2004, 11:03 PM

its more of a personal thing to receive the eaucharist, i think reconciliation would be good but it really more depends on your relationship with God i would think. i am not a representative of the catholic church and i do not really know for sure but if you feel the need to go to mass i would think that you should go to mass.

swd1974 · January 27th, 2004, 06:46 AM

"I was Catholic until I reached the age of reason"
- George Carlin

lol. Just kidding but I actually lived through that statement. I was raised Catholic.

SirStefan32 · January 27th, 2004, 08:37 AM

To the best of my knowledge you don't have to do anything to "come back" but I do believe you'd have to have a confession soon thereafter.

However, to any Catholics who left the church, I'd recomend a nice evangelican Church instead.

Stefan

thirty-two · January 27th, 2004, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SirStefan32
To the best of my knowledge you don't have to do anything to "come back" but I do believe you'd have to have a confession soon thereafter.

However, to any Catholics who left the church, I'd recomend a nice evangelican Church instead.

Stefan

That's what I was thinking - go attend church but try to get to confession soon thereafter. Thanks.

What are the core ideals of an Evangelican Church?

Brian in Mesa · January 27th, 2004, 11:01 AM

From what I remember anyone can attend mass, but receiving the Eucharist is "reserved" for those in "good standing" in the faith. That being said, nobody can stop you from going and taking communion.

Personally, I decided against continuing in the Catholic Church because of their silly rules and non-biblical practices. My entire family on my Mom's side is Catholic...mostly "lapsed Catholics." Except for my grandparents, everyone goes twice a year - Christmas and Easter.

My wife and I go to a Nazarene Church. Just your basic bible-based, born-again, Christian Church.

What matters most is your belief in God and what's in your heart. Not which church you attend.

My advice: Don't go to the Catholic Church, or "return" to the Catholic Church...unless it is what you want to do. Don't do it for family or for a friend. Just think/pray on it and even visit some local Christian Churches. See which one you think is best for you. Find one that you think you'd like to attend and go for it. Maybe it will be the Catholic Church, maybe it'll be a Baptist Church, a Lutheran Church, a non-denominational one, etc. Just make sure it's YOU making the choice. I've seen way too many people unhappy because they are going to a certain church for all the wrong reasons.

schutd · January 27th, 2004, 11:20 AM

BIMs right. To take communion, you need to be free of your sins. Of course the church would never turn you away, but on the rare occassion that I let my parent rope me into going to church with them after I had left it behind, I never took communion. WHile IM not catholic, I still have issues with being hypocritical in their house.

Have your friend go see a priest. IM sure confesion would be the first thing he'd have them do.

thirty-two · January 27th, 2004, 11:26 AM

Thanks for your reply, BIM.

I attended Catholic school since 3rd grade, and ever since sophomore year in high school, my faith in the Catholic Church and my want to be apart of the church just kind of faded away. Perhaps due to growing older and getting my own beliefs, or maybe just certain life issues that happened (my parents divorce, etc) that had an impact on it. Either way, I'm just feeling sort of lost and I want that kind of connection back.

I think half my problem is I don't know what other denominations believe and so I'm faced with either being Catholic or ________ ? It's just scary leaving something that's been a huge part of my life. Hell, I'm even attending a Catholic college right now.

But I guess you're right - what matters most is your belief in God, not which church you attend.

Brian in Mesa · January 27th, 2004, 11:34 AM

Kate - You might try looking up area churches online. These days many churches have sites that would at least give you an inclination of what they are about. Just an idea.

swd1974 · January 27th, 2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thirty-two

But I guess you're right - what matters most is your belief in God, not which church you attend.

Kate,

I wish you the best in finding that connection again. I wish everyone was able to have it. Sometimes I get quite jealous of the religeous people, that they have something to hold onto.

But..

I grew up catholic and went to catholic schools and there was a joke I was told that was quite funny and all in jest ...so as not to offend anyone.

Joke below:

3 quakers die and go to heaven. St. Peter meets them at the gates and says "Allow me to give you the tour if I may"

They start walking and St. Peter says "There is a fluffy cloud there," as he points in several directions, "and one there and there and there."

They come up to a HUGE mansion and Peter says "You must tip toe and not speak until I say so!"

They tiptoe past the huge mansion until they are once again out of sight. One of the quakers turns to St. Peter and says "Was that the house of God St. Peter?"

St. Peter shakes his head laughs, "No son that is where the catholics live, they think they are the only ones up here!"

SUTTILL · January 27th, 2004, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thirty-two
That's what I was thinking - go attend church but try to get to confession soon thereafter. Thanks.

What are the core ideals of an Evangelican Church?

32, good for you!. You do have other options in addition to the Catholic Church. I attended a Catholic Church when I was younger, but have attended non-denominational now for many years. In a nutshell, the basic beliefs would be similar, communion is served every sunday, etc., but there is much less "pomp and circumstance." Also, you are accountable personally to God in a relationship with Him as opposed to going to confession with a priest. So there are differences too. I think Stef was referring to "evangelical" churches, which simply means they believe in and practice an outreach of the Gospel towards non-believers.

When I lived in the Valley, I found that Central Christian Church in the East Valley was a vibrant and growing non-denominational church, made up of a lot of ex-Catholics, ex-mormons, ex-a lot of other denominations. I visited there over the holidays and was very impressed with it still. Here is their website link if you are interested http://www.cccmesa.com/ but there may be other opportunities as well. The site will also have info. on "beliefs". I've found that you usually have to visit a few different churches before you find one that you can call "home", but if you live in the Valley, Central is definitely one to put on your list.

thirty-two · January 27th, 2004, 02:24 PM

Thanks, SUTTILL, I'll look into that. Unfortunately I'm in Milwaukee right now, but maybe during the summer when I'm home I will take a closer look.

maddogkf · January 27th, 2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa

My wife and I go to a Nazarene Church. Just your basic bible-based, born-again, Christian Church.

Wow - I thought you were LDS/Mormon!

I didn't know you were raised as a mackeral smacker like myself!

Ryanwb · January 27th, 2004, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maddogkf
Wow - I thought you were LDS/Mormon!

BIM once gutted a man for saying that....

(anticipating BIM's patented, "Just becaues I live in Mesa and don't drink...." speech)

Brian in Mesa · January 27th, 2004, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ryanwb
BIM once gutted a man for saying that....

(anticipating BIM's patented, "Just becaues I live in Mesa and don't drink...." speech)

The short response: Mesa was founded by Mormon settlers but is currently only 10-12% LDS, which makes it 88-90% Non-Mormon. The largest denomination in the city is Catholicism.

Also - my non-drinking is not related to my faith, it's about my own observation of other's having much of their lives ruined by alcohol addiction or alcohol-related accidents, etc. Same goes with cigarettes and other drugs. Bleh.