r/Catholicism

Good day all. With the help of God (and plenty of intercession from Saint Joseph of Cupertino) I made it through law school. I'm in six-figures of debt with two young kids, but I finally did it - I'm out, and studying for the Bar while working as a clerk at a pretty good firm. I've recently been asked by a non-denominational friend who works in "campus ministry" for donations, and I'm really struggling with it, for a few reasons.

The first is that in outlining for her finances, she is trying to raise more money per month to be a "campus outreach activist" than i make in a month, even at a law firm. She's not married yet, though engaged, and has no children. I wonder to myself two things: A) what the heck she needs the money for, and B) why she should get that money without having struggled as I have struggled. I know this isn't a good view to have, but I'm really upset by it.

I tithe regularly at Church, I volunteer my time on a monthly basis, I am a super active member of my Church community and single-handedly do all the family events for our parish for free, because I'm too poor to really give much to the Church, so I give my time.

This woman on the otherhand is essentially asking for people to pay a salary's worth of wage through what seems to me to be a pyramid scheme for the same work I do for my parish for free, while balancing working at a law firm and raising two kids.

Even the more chauvinistic side of me is gnawing at me. Why the heck isn't her fiance helping her or supporting her? I support my wife (a brilliant woman with a great education) who homeschools our children. We're a family on one meager income already, what right does this single woman have to ask of my charity?

But then I remember Christ's command: give to all who ask of you, and my heart starts to break. Am I breaking Christ's commandment in giving her a charitable "sorry, but I cannot do that right now" answer?

I also feel incredibly unwell about giving to outright protestant varsity ministries. That makes me uncomfortable - I feel as though I'd be supporting heresy.

How do I move forward with this? Any help is appreciated.

There has been conversation lately in certain evangelical circles that empathy is woke. There’s a book by a prominent evangelical that is about how empathy is toxic. The title alone is scandalous and misleading; creating a false dichotomy where Christian compassion is opposed to the secular understanding empathy. It’s now become a hot topic for discussion among secular groups and they are conflating what the author says in her book with all of traditional Christianity. But, I’m also noticing that certain groups within the Catholic church also seem to take an unfavorable view of empathy and compassion and reduce mercy down to the sacrament of reconciliation. Maybe it was just the circle I was in, but they would laugh at praise and worship songs because they were “too sentimental” or “too emotional”. This seems to say that emotions are bad, which concerns me, since God made us with our emotions in order to help us love God and others better.

But, from my own understanding, compassion, mercy and empathy are not contradictory to Catholicism. Only fundamentalist believe in penal substitutionary atonement (which I’m assuming is strongly influencing the theology of the author of that book and evangelism in general). Catholics (and presumably Orthodox and other non-fundamentalists) reject the transactional and legalistic approach of this doctrine. In Catholic theology, justice is about putting things back into right relationship. Because of this, empathy is not a threat to justice; it is a necessity to understand that what is broken so it can be healed. Truth is not opposed to mercy. They are equally reliant on each other for love (charity)

And, looking at the gospels, I’ve noticed that Jesus didn’t gate keep his love or mercy. There are many healings where Jesus did not have any commentary on the state of someone’s soul. He simply healed them because his love is not transactional, it’s restorative.

While the secular view may completely discount objective truth, evangelicalism goes the opposite extreme and discounts mercy. How can we ever say empathy is toxic when every person is made in the image of God? C.S. Lewis wrote “Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses”.

So, am I missing something, or is this idea that “empathy is bad” simply a product of evangelical theology?

What the title says

Basically the title, I’m not religious at all but I was talking with a Portuguese coworker about what Portugal is like and the conversation came to religion, and she was very adamant Portugal is catholic and not Christian, this is confusing to me because I thought Catholicism was like a branch of Christianity like Protestantism or orthodoxy etc? Can someone please explain this.

In early Christianity, why didn't St. Peter became the bishop of Jerusalem, but instead he became the bishop of Rome? It makes sense, right? I assume the leader of the Catholic Church would be seated in a city that was built since the Old Testament.

I have noticed a Hollywood trend where, major media franchises often have a stand-in character for the devil, or an outright devil character ... yet most shows refrain from overt references to God.

I always hate it when movies portray the "devil" as a joke character not to be taken seriously, or even worse "Just a guy doing his job" etc.

I always think those shows/ movies are even more dangerous than the ones that make no mention of religion at all; because they do something even worse: they portray the devil as harmless or even "cool"

the greatest lie the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he doesn't exist/is harmless.

The most recent example of that I saw was in the show "Invincible"

I enjoy the superhero genre. I enjoy "Invincible."

SPOILERS AHEAD.

The entire encounter with the devil is treated as an inconsequential "filler episode" and is filled with many tongue in cheek jokes. Essentially the episode consists of the main superhero being dragged to hell by a demon "friend" to help with some side quest for the devil, and the devil, is portrayed as just some harmless surfer-type dude.

There is so much blasphemy in that episode. For starters, the episode shows an explicit devil character, and has "the devil" explain how the world was formed and that God (according to the show's narrative) is just a made-up character by humans.

The episode also makes light of the "eternal torture" of hell as if its just some joke/party.

I much rather when shows don't mention God or the devil at all, rather than going out of their way to be blasphemous like this.

A lot of people don’t want to go to confession or struggle with this isn’t anything new. The following reasons in some form seem especially common:

1. One feels there sins are too great, so how can God forgive them?
2. It’s been too long, how can they go back
3. They are ashamed to share the bad sins they have committed

However, none of these reasons resonate with me. I do feel shame for my sins, but not in the way I don’t think I can share them with a priest, as I know he is there in the person of Christ to forgive.

It’s been 4 months since I last went to confession, and I have tried to arrange confession to go again probably 5+ times, but have failed to follow through. I don’t believe to be in any form of mortal sin, and I know the Church requirement is once a year— but that doesn’t change that God has been tugging on my heart to go for my spiritual benefit. I am going through some health issues, so I have justified not going sometimes to “feeling bad”—- but I don’t know if this is always true. If I really cared to go to confession and gave my 100% effort, I probably could manage to figure out a way to go? It almost feels like it could be out of some mix of laziness, lukewarmness, and distain for getting out of my comfort zone, but I still can’t really pin point it. I just don’t like going to confession. I don’t want this to be true, I don’t want pity, I have prayed to God to help me go to confession. So I just don’t understand why it is so difficult to bring myself to go. I feel like I am failing my husband, especially since he has been encouraging me and trying his best help me as well.

Does anyone have advice for trying to get to confession? I understand the beauty of it on paper, and know that it is an incredible gift from God, but I don’t know if I know this in the interior of my soul and believe it.

I’m currently a Pentecostal, and I don’t know how to feel about tongues. Is it biblical? Absolutely. Do we Pentecostals over-do them? Most likely yes

I’ve been talking to a guy at church about it. He says that speaking in tongues is for everyone, but I bring up 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, which talks about how speaking in tongues isn’t for everyone, and he said that was only talking about speaking with interpreters. He pointed out how in 1 Corinthians 14:2 that we speak in unknown languages to God, but that was possibly a rebuke to the church in Corinth.

What do y’all think? Growing up Evangelical, I don’t see how it’s loving to have everything you need in God, but still feel like you need to chase after a spiritual gift. But I wanna hear your thoughts

The title is self explanatory. I got baptized into the church today! I'm 17, I guess that's considered young for a convert. I grew up a Jehovah's Witness and became atheistic to agnostic at around 12. Became a Christian last year on November and started my journey to Catholicism on February of this year because of the Rosary!

I'm so happy. I thank God every day for giving me friends who love God and want to follow him, because through them, I was led back to him and eventually the one true holy apostolic church! I know this won't start a big conversation, but I just wanted to share today's joy I have with others.

(I am not a native English speaker. Since I write with the help of a translator and a dictionary, I hope you understand the context even if there are some strange parts.)

In Korea, I am currently on Day 39 of reading the Bible following The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) plan, using the Korean Catholic Bible (성경 2005). The Korean Catholic Bible has been used for liturgy in the Korean Catholic Church since 2005, and the vast majority of Korean Catholic faithful use this version.

Father Mike uses the RSV-2CE, and some of the chapter and verse numerations in this Bible differ from those in the Korean Catholic Bible. It seems that the numbering system in the Korean Catholic Bible is identical to the NAB. As I follow along, I note down the corresponding passage ranges that Father Mike actually reads in my own Bible, along with the day of the reading plan.

Since I am not fluent in reading, writing, or speaking English, I rarely listen to Father Mike’s commentaries after the scripture readings, which is a bit disappointing. Instead, I read supplementary materials published by the Korean Catholic Church.

While there are people in the Korean Catholic Church who attempt to read the entire Bible and the Church provides various forms of support, Jeff Cavins' The Bible in a Year (BIAY) approach is virtually unknown here.

Before discovering this method, I was interested in the Chronological Bible Reading Plan used by some Protestants, but as soon as I saw BIAY, I realized it was the Catholic application of that concept. However, to ensure that readers can make it through to the end of the Bible, BIAY does not rigidly stick to chronological order as its sole criterion; rather, it is cleverly designed with practical compromises.

is very unique to see Proverbs divided into verse-level sections to be read over nearly 200 days, and the Gospels interspersed throughout the Old Testament reading schedule. I have never seen this kind of arrangement before in Korea, even when including Protestant.

Following the BIAY schedule, reading through tedious parts like Leviticus is much more manageable than I initially thought because it is broken down into small portions. Opening my Bible today, I hope that I will be able to read it through to the very end using this method.

Hi! I'm really blessed to attend a general audience (the one held on Wednesdays) with the Pope soon. My question is about whether i should wear white. I've read some articles saying that only 7 women are allowed to wear it, but as i understood it's rather for official audiences. I'm planning to wear dark blue dress but I'm considering wearing a white veil (either a small one or infinity veil). Could that be considered inappropriate? Thanks for answers in advance ❤️

After a few posts here, multiple conversations with priests, and weeks of reflection and prayer, I have finally decided to convert from Anglo-Catholicism to Catholicism. The Anglican Church is simply too theological liberal for my liking, be it abortion, ordination, or sodomy. Even when I ask other Anglicans, especially Episcopalians, about theological questions, they dismiss them and say the religion is more about tolerance and accepting others than about being “fussy with the rules”. I simply find myself unable to agree with this.

I would like to thank everyone here who has brought my soul closer to the Lord. I would like to specially thank u/KenoReplay, whose question of how I could be in communion with a church that goes against my beliefs, such as female ordination and pro-choice, made me seriously think about converting. Newman‘s “Apologia Pro Vita Sua” also helped make my decision.

While I am nervous of the impact my conversion might have on other aspects of my life (I’m afraid I will not be welcome in many places I am now), God and true faith is far more important than any earthly pleasure. If the disciples and saints could endure death for their faith, I can certainly endure a few shuns. Thank you and may God bless you for guiding me. Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia,

I am a 21 year old wife and mother of a 1 1/2 year old. We live in a 2 bedroom apartment and cannot afford anymore children right now. I am a new convert (just baptized on easter) and my husband is a non catholic. I have had an IUD since I was 13 to regulate my cycles and then after I had my daughter because I was told it was high risk to get pregnant before the 18 month mark in my condition. I understand rules are rules but I am struggling to figure out how to navigate this situation I have seen so many women online saying to be abstinent and take out the IUD but I am terrified. I trust in God I truly do. However I am terrified of being pregnant again my pregnancy was awful and my labor ended in a life risking emergency… on the other hand i have also heard others speak about how intercourse is good and holy I shouldn’t deny my husband of it and it is supposed to strengthen my marriage… I just feel incredibly lost. I feel so guilty and selfish having my birth control even after my baptism. I am genuinely afraid of the consequences of removing it both because of my awful cycles and my fear of pregnancy. Am I the only catholic woman who is battling this? I am so embarrassed even asking this question so I apologize in advance…

New to this-

How does it work? I saw my local church is open mon-fri 8am-6pm. So does that mean it's open to just... walk in and sit down? I know it's not service, but is there still like a dress code? I'm a 19 year old girl but I dress like a 12 year old boy. I don't want to get all fancy to just walk in and meditate. Seems kinda counterproductive. What more can you do in a church? Am I gonna get bombarded by people asking who I am and why I'm there? Help?