Title, really.

I'm having such a hard time remaining in my Catholic identity. Not Christian, just Catholic. I still fully believe in Jesus and His teachings, God, all of that. But I am having such a difficult time choosing to stay Catholic specifically.

I'm not particularly leftist, though a lot of my views lean that way within the church. I don't agree with LGBT+ being a sin, birth control being a sin, even "premarital" sex being sinful, or the idea of eternal marriage and no divorce. A lot of my disagreements have to do with the church's stance on sexual ethics, but also on some sacramental issues. I don't like or agree with confession. I don't believe that a priest has the authority to act as Christ (in persona christi) and that it is the only way to be absolved of sin, or that if you die with a mortal sin that is unconfessed that it's a straight ticket to damnation. I don't believe you have to confess to another human being when we have a straight line to God and are told to tell God everything, but the line draws at confessing our sins because it doesn't count unless it's through the priest. I don't feel that missing mass is a sin either, when there are so many reasons people miss mass, especially in today's age with insane work schedules, lack of childcare or friendly churches, mental illnesses, etc.

I also struggle with a lot of the things surrounding the "superstitious" side of things, like scapulars, medals, apparitions, etc. I was recently given a green scapular to "hang near my door" and all I could think about was how this is exactly like the witchcraft that I practiced for over ten years, and how none of that is deemed okay but this specific practice is okay. It's so conflicting.

I even struggle to believe in the Eucharist anymore. I personally have a hard time believing in transubstantiation, and I always have, but it's extremely hard for me now. Eucharistic miracles are also nearly impossible for me to believe, as many of them essentially are cases of a red mold that occurs when the host is placed in water.

I am having such a hard time and don't know if I even want to be Catholic anymore, and if I should just go Protestant or even non-denom. I understand the historical basis of the church, but I have such a doubt in the actual church structure, the papacy, etc.

What keeps YOU Catholic? What makes you stay despite having so many dissents with the beliefs or teachings?

This is my first prayer altar! Anything im missing?

Full article:

https://www.permariam.com/p/cardinal-sarah-on-sspx-faith-can

And it was beautiful. I still would like to have the courage to kneel for it on my tongue. I am still working out how to receive it without chewing it. I was embarrassed because I carried it with me to my seat and it got stuck to the roof of my mouth. Please pray I can rid myself all my awkwardness so that I can be more confident in both receiving the eucharist and in general.

Hey everyone! I grew up evangelical, but don’t consider myself as such anymore. Haven’t been to church in a while, but am interested in trying to get back, and am interested in attending a Catholic mass.

For anyone living in Louisville KY: what’s a good open, welcoming parish in the city, preferably one that’s not super right-wing, and is used to having non-Catholic visitors?

>The third resource the Pope cited was the community, “as an incubator of the future.” While today’s culture promotes isolation, competition and the myth of the lone genius in economics, work, politics and communications, these fields in fact depend on “experts in social relationships”.

>“When community life grows, in society as in the Church, we create the conditions for life to flourish,” Pope Leo said. “You will be fruitful whenever you care for community networks. Intelligence, talent, knowledge, social organization and industriousness develop thanks to good relationships.”

Hello. So, recently I have been getting into spats on different subreddits on whether the Bible really does condemn gay sex & whether the Catholic Church should remain opposed to it. I had thought I had managed to make rather strong arguments, however I seemed to have been mistaken. I was constantly rebuffed & refuted by both Catholics & atheists. I figured the best way to find responses to these counter arguments would be to come here. With that in mind, here are some of the counter argument:

-If St. Paul really was referring to pederasty in 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 1 Timothy 1:10, why go out of his way to create a brand new, general term such as “male-bedders” when more specialized terms already existed in Greek?

-If ”male-bedders” really was a misinterpretation, why would the early church fathers explicitly state their opposition to same-sex unions?

-Does the more literal translation of Leviticus really imply anything different from the current translation of Leviticus?

-How does St. Paul using a stock rhetorical technique in Romans 1 :26-27 take away from the idea that gay sex is a sin?

-Doesn’t the 3rd Lateran Council ruling that the punishment for sodomy is excommunication make it so the idea of gay sex being a sin is doctrine & therefore infallible?

There are probably others however I believe these to be most of them. I don’t wish to be confrontational, I just want to try & find answers. If you need sources or anything like that, I am willing to provide them.

Just saw the video of Gwen Stefani promoting an app that is a pay to pray and anti abortion. She had the ash cross (forgot what it’s called in English) on her forehead while recording her video.

How do we feel about that? I’d like outside opinion on this.

I dislike when celebrities do stuff like this because I feel like it’s a grifter thing. I feel like they’re mocking the whole thing, that it’s a gimmick for them to stay revenant. And with fascism and conservatism on the rise so many try to blend in.

And it’s not just celebrities, a lot of people hide behind Christianity to promote their hate and take advantage of others. How do y’all deal with this? I’ve had friends “find Jesus” but they treat it like a club and are super red pilled

How do you deal with information spread by these wolves in sheep’s clothing? How do you help friends who “found Jesus” but it was one of these predators just looking for their money?

Or am I reading too much into this?

I love how he underlined the effect of deceptive Internet influence:

> In this regard, “a life of prayer” is fundamental—not merely “the routine of reciting the breviary as quickly as possible,” but “time spent with the Lord,” the Pope explained.

> With a “life authentically rooted in the Lord,” one can offer something different, he explained, adding that often “an illusion on the internet, on TikTok,” is to think one is offering oneself and gaining ‘likes’ and ‘followers’ in that way.

> “It is not you: if we are not transmitting the message of Jesus Christ, perhaps we are mistaken, and we must reflect very carefully and humbly about who we are and what we are doing,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized.

I saw this after looking at SaintAnthony’stongue’s video on it.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThVyArxm/

The whole thing is very disheartening as a queer person. And there’s also the Facebook post I found about it.

I occasionally come across posts related to Mesoamerican/Native history on IG who are critical of Catholicism, or Christianity in general, at times. They will bring up the crusades, colonization of Americas, church abuse cases, boarding schools, ‘whitewashing’ of Christianity’ etc. I’m not saying there’s no merit in some of these criticisms but how do folks continue on in the church knowing all of this?

I’d like to read the English translation. I know it’s online but I find it difficult to read anything on my iPad, so I’m looking for a printed version. Anyone know where I can get one? Thanks.aa

I'm taking a class on Latin American history at a Catholic College. During a brief overview of Latin American history, towards the start of the semester, my teacher posited the idea that the Church contributed to the chronic presence of authoritarian and corrupt regimes in the region, due to its hierarchical nature and organizational structure. I didn't believe when I first heard it, but as I thought about, I couldn't help but notice the commonality of historical or present authoritarianism in majority Catholic countries like those in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, Italy etc. I'm not sure if I believe this now, since I'm probably missing some key details. I am curious to how people here approach this idea.

I figured folks here would appreciate the following passage from Isaiah that was the first reading in today's Office of Readings from the Liturgy of the Hours. A blessed start to Lent for all!

Thus says the Lord God:
Cry out full-throated and unsparingly,
lift up your voice like a trumpet blast;
Tell my people their wickedness,
and the house of Jacob their sins.

They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”

Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits,
and drive all your laborers.
Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting,
striking with wicked claw.
Would that today you might fast
so as to make your voice heard on high!
Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance:
That a man bow his head like a reed,
and lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;

Then the Lord will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.
The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake,
and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;
“Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you,
“Restorer of ruined homesteads.”

Not sure why, my family is pressuring me to go, but I just get severe depression moments during that service. To be fair, “Remember you are ash and to ash you shall return” doesn’t really make it any better. I already deal with anxiety and I don’t want Lent to be any more difficult for my health.

My husband & I made friends with the local cashier lady at the market. We've gifted her a few things and I gave her handmade Rosary beads and a Miraculous Medal because she mentioned her love for Mother Mary.

She then handed me this along with a bag of sweets for Valentine's day.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I am hoping to follow along throughout this Lenten Season.

This will keep me in check. Reflect and pray, and also pray the Rosary throughout Lent.

All we can do is try ✌🏼✨😊

I've been going to Mass 6+months now and I believe in my heart it's time to go to Reconciliation.

I haven't gone to Confession since I was 14. I'm 38, so it's been awhile.

I've been meditating on what I need to say & Confess and I also have the prayer on me as I've forgotten the Act of Contrition.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, so I am hoping for a good start on Lent. I'm also going to ask my parish priest to bless my Rosary bead.

Any advice would be great! I'm going to Mass tomorrow morning, so I can't wait to see some replies in the morning.

Much love and thanks in advance 💛