February 2012
121 posts
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Is it okay for homosexuals to have romantic relationships as long as they aren't sexual? As in, chaste dating relationships rather than married relationships?
5 tags
uvgt2bkdnme asked: Is there a difference between heresy and schism, and if so, what is it?
6 tags
A response to the issue of Equality and Gay...
I got an ask pertaining to gay marriage and the subject of equality, so I figured I’d share a relevant excerpt of I wrote with The Papists, too.
Sex has two aspects: the unitive aspect and procreative aspect. Arguably, the most “important” of these aspects, biologically, is the procreative aspect: that is, the part of sex where a man and woman possibly create a new human life. And...
10 tags
janekrahe asked: Hello, I have sort of a random question. I saw a hipstery pic of someone who was wearing a rosary around their neck and it had been reblogged by several Catholics dating that was bad. So I was wondering, is that a thing? Are you not supposed to wear it like that?
I'm out!
I thought I would have much time to answer questions and be so baller for the Catholic Church but it turns out I’m way too busy.
Much love to all the others who dedicate time to make this blog so great!
It’s been fun watching all the great work.
See ya over at my regular blog!
-Christy
10 tags
reelaroundthesun asked: Another question- I'll admit that homosexuality is advised against in the Bible, but it's in the book of Leviticus, along with other Jewish laws that we no longer follow (eg Kosher, regulations surrounding hair cutting, menstruation, childbirth, etc.) Out of the 600-odd mitzvoth contained in the Pentateuch, why is the one forbidding homosexual acts the ONLY one that the Catholic Church...
5 tags
straightawaydangerous asked: hey cool people! so something I've been trying to figure out how to do is how to explain theological, Catholic things to my friends without sounding all holier-than-thou. Like today at lunch, I didn't eat more than a few crackers because I'm fasting, and my friends were confused, and I was having a hard time explaining to them what I was doing without sounding like I was condemning...
Anonymous asked: Would I go to heaven if I repented at the last minute? My friend was asking why we should live according to God's will if it would only take repentance to save you. Or maybe I'm mistaken about the repentance thing, but anyway, I guess it would be hard to repent if a person's intentions are selfish. I have no idea how to answer her.
4 tags
leanunachriost asked: For our Ash Wednesday fast, what are we supposed to do exactly? I know we should eat only one full meal, and 2 smaller meals that don't add up to a full meal, but what about drink? Can I have a soda or something as an afternoon pick-me-up? Can I drink a beer at the end of the day? Or do I have to drink just water? This is my first Lent since my conversion and confirmation, so I'm still...
7 tags
Mary as Theotokos, mother of God.
I spent four months living in Washington, D.C. this past fall as part of an internship program in which I was the only Roman Catholic student attending. It was the first time many of the Protestant students in the program had ever come in contact with a Catholic, so it was only natural that they had many questions for me to field.
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I got asked why...
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Why do we need to attend Ash Wednesday mass? why is it so important?
7 tags
gaychristian asked: The Catholic Church has admitted it's fault before on certain stances (evolution, geocentric orbit, etc), is it impossible that Rome could change it's doctrine to fully accept homosexuals and their relationships (as they do with heterosexuals)? And if Rome changed it's policy tomorrow (just bear with me), how would you each react on a personal level? On an entirely different topic,...
11 tags
A Call to Arms in the War on Christianity →
To say that Christianity is fighting for its life is not merely an understatement, it is THE understatement. The tenets of the Church are unwavering, virtuous and justly so, but Christianity is in a fight for its life nonetheless. The fight has been taken to the people, to those who believe and disbelieve, and it is they who are the battleground; riddled in corruption and mired in pestilence, they...
Anonymous asked: I try to reconcile my homosexuality with my faith every day. I follow every other aspect of my faith and have no intention of having sex with a girl outside of marriage (or some equivalent). But I often have trouble believing that the way I, and many others, feel is "disordered." Many heterosexual couples are unable marry inside in the church, and there are some that are unable to...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: isn't if Catholics that are gay, live a chaste life they are in good standing with the church? like as long as they don't act on anything they are ok?
5 tags
RE: Catholic and Gay
As long as they obey the teachings of the Catholic Church I think they’re awesome. Gay Catholics, because they have a double cross, (1. Their sexuality, and 2. Society’s pressure on homosexuality to conform to the promiscuous homosexual stereotype. I hate that stereotype, and I greatly dislike society for forcing that stereotype on homosexuals,) are actually awesome examples...
Anonymous asked: What do you think of Catholics who are openly gay?
14 tags
spiralboundmastermind asked: I had a question about your response to the angels question. I was under the impression that angels did NOT have free will, hence the creation of humans who could choose to love God (which was more pleasing than simply being forced to love God). I suppose this does start getting confusing when you remember that Lucifer was an angel though, so I guess I'm still confused. Think you could offer...
9 tags
Anonymous asked: Did Mary have complete, free will, despite being sinless?
Anonymous asked: Im Catholic and i love it, but i was wondering about angels. If God is omnipotent, omnipresent and all that other good omnistuff, why do we have guardian angels, and angels in general? what other purposes do they serve?
6 tags
reelaroundthesun asked: Hey! Just curious- obviously, the Catholic Church has evolved A LOT since the 16th century, and is really nothing like the church that Martin Luther rebelled against anymore. However, I once had a religion teacher that told our class he believes that Luther is in Hell for "destroying the sanctity of our Church." Bearing in mind that many of our beliefs a lot like Luther's were at...
6 tags
doubleplusgoodful asked: The Church's norm for reciving Holy Communion is kneeling & on the tongue. Some dioceses (like mine) have applied to Rome for an exception. In those places, it is up to - primarily - the Bishop's discression and - secondarily - the individual's. That is, if the Bishop says it's okay, it's the individual's choice.
5 tags
reelaroundthesun asked: So, I have another question. Jesus was supposed to be the most accepting, forgiving guy ever, right? I mean, he hung out with adulterers, lepers, the poor, the sick, etc., and he laid his hands on such people many times. Why, then, do some people feel that their "sinful" hands are not worthy to hold him when receiving the Eucharist? I don't really think Jesus cares...
7 tags
2 tags
Anonymous asked: Hey guys! So I was recently set up by my friends with this amazing Catholic guy whom I really like and we seem to be on the track to dating (both of us agree we want a Christ-centered relationship). In my last relationship, we started dating pretty much right after we met, and that relationship ended badly. I don't want this relationship to be the same. Any advice on how to extend the...
8 tags
"life begins at conception" is inaccurate.
intheendtheydied:
definitions of “life” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
1. a : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
2. a : the period from birth to death
8. a vital or living being;
Fetuses cannot survive outside the womb during the time they are eligible to be aborted
So while as a pile of cells a fetus may technically be alive, life does...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: Why don't Catholics eat fish on Fridays during Lent?
First Virginia, now Oklahoma!!! Guys, we are... →
1 tag
Prayer Request!
Today, Genocide Awareness Program came onto campus to raise awareness of the truth of abortion and they’ll be coming back tomorrow. I’ve been volunteering with them to talk to people and see what they think of abortion. So if you could pray for the organization, for the people volunteering, and for those whom we will be speaking with that’d be swell.
May the Peace of the Lord be...
Anonymous asked: Should women wear a head covering while praying or attending Mass?
15 tags
Anonymous asked: How much can our will to free if we only have it God's purpose? That's like saying choose A or B, but know that A is bad and will result in eternal punishment and B is good and will result in eternal glory. There doesn't seem to be much of a choice really.
7 tags
Re: anon - Why the Devil Tempts Us
In one of our Rosary meditations for my household, there’s a line that says, “your struggles come from one who knows all you are meant to be, and fears you.”
This line is very applicable to temptation as well, because temptation is meant to lead us astray from the path the Lord has set.
Kayla was very correct - the devil hates us, and he hates us because we have power.
Satan...
3 tags
Anonymous asked: For what purpose does the devil tempt us?
Anonymous asked: This isn't really a question, I just wanted to thank everyone who runs this blog. I'm new to the Catholic faith, which can be exciting but also a little overwhelming. This has been a great place to come to when I, or a non-Catholic friend, has questions. And I'm sure you've helped many others as well! So thank you all so much! God Bless
6 tags
1: I think all religions should be abolished.
2: Why?
1: Because religions are bigoted and so many crimes against humanity are done in religion's/God's name.
2: But religions generally preach love. People just pervert the teachings, usually out of ignorance, to fit their personal prejudices.
1: But if they had no religion, there would be nothing to pervert.
2: Well, if they're naturally cruel, I'm sure they could've found another reason. People could just as well persecute others for not believing in evolution.
1: But there is no proof for religion. They're doing evil for some imaginary god they blindly believe in without actually thinking about it.
2: What makes you think that all theists haven't thought about their beliefs?
1: Because they still believe in the absurdity!
2: Can you prove that you are in possession of the absolute truth then? Just because it doesn't make sense to you does not mean it is not true, and just because you cannot fathom the possibility does not mean that it does not exist. This may come as a surprise to you but some people come to the conclusion of the existence of God through rational means. Tell me, have you ever been in love?
1: What does that have to do with it?
2: Do you believe in love?
1: Yes.
2: Do you believe love, in its purest, is inherently good? And that it's not the fault of love per se when people do stupid things in its name?
1: Yes, of course.
2: Love is not tangible, cannot be tested empirically, and yet people do many things for the sake of love - things that are both good and bad. Many kill for love, but many also die for love. Just like religion. And so, if we follow your logic, then because many do evil for love's sake, albeit this is a minority vis-a-vis those who do good for love's sake, then we should believe that love is evil and strive to abolish love.
1: No, that's different...
2: How so?
1: ...
2: Regardless of whether you're an atheist or not, it's naive to deny the fact that religion serves a lot of purposes. There are, of course, the cultural reasons - such as the many scientific and philosophical discoveries attributed to the religious - as well as the social reasons - it forms the foundation of many relationships after all. Furthermore, as an existentialist, you believe that life and its meaning are what we make of it, right? So I don't see why you think you must deny others their choice to subscribe to a religion and their choice to make a deity the center of their lives. Please, enlighten me if you have any better arguments for the abolishing of religion because from the looks of it, your reasons - intolerance, restriction of people's choice, superiority complex with regard to the truth - can be thrown right back at you.
8 tags
@Anon who asked about women veiling at mass
I hope someone passionate about the practice of veiling will answer the question itself, since mostly what I have to offer are a lot of highly subjective feelings on the subject, but this thought is of a higher caliber and should be thrown out there:
The best defense of veiling I ever heard (and I’ve heard some pretty bad ones) made it clear that this is not a sign of respect to men, but to...
6 tags
Anonymous asked: What is the Catholic view on men and women roles in the church and in society? Is woman always supposed to be submissive to man and never a leader?
crusadermaximus asked: You also forgot "proper authority" in your answer on Just War. So a Declaration of War by the Congress would be necessary in order for the Commander in Chief to wage war. The President can not wage war without direct authorization from the Congress, as he does not have that power delegated to him under the Constitution.
5 tags
Anonymous asked: What does just war theory say about humanitarian intervention in places like Syria? Is it ever justified and if so what are the circumstances that need to occur to justify it?
8 tags
Is it idolatry to say that Mary saves us? →
12 tags
A Valentine's Day interpretation
In the midst of all the flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals and commercialism, I’ve done some serious thinking.
I’ve hated Valentine’s Day for as long as I can remember - half out of bitterness of being alone, and half out of the superficiality of it all. Even last year, the first Valentine’s Day where I was in a relationship, I found myself resenting the...
5 tags
veritasinlumine asked: I was a Catholic for fifteen years, then I became an atheist and am thinking about performing an Act of Defection next time I visit my native country. Do you know how long it may take for the Church to strike my baptismal record and not count me amongst its members?
5 tags
RE: Only Bread for Communion
Actually, they’re the ones who have it right!
Although Christ instituted this venerable sacrament after a meal and ministered it to his apostles under the forms of both bread and wine, nevertheless and notwithstanding this, the praiseworthy authority of the sacred canons and the approved custom of the church have and do retain that this sacrament ought not to be celebrated after a meal nor...
2 tags
Anonymous asked: During Communion, why do some people recieve the Sacred Host but choose not to drink the Precious Blood? Do they recieve as much grace as someone who does both?
6 tags
Anonymous asked: I'm Catholic. I'm so stressed out by my friends and how no one agrees with my political views (I'm very conservative) and how sinful our world is. Sometimes it feels like we're falling apart as a society. Especially with the health care mandate. Any insight?
7 tags
Anonymous asked: I'm Catholic. I don't believe people of the same sex should be married. But I've heard that it's okay to support same-sex civil unions because who are we to take away the economic benefits that come with being married in this country. What is the Church's teaching on this?
pseudooo asked: 666 also equates to many other names. I forget the lesson from my Bible class, but using the fact that Nero=666 isn't a strong enough argument. Are you also saying that since Revelation was written to protest the Roman rule that the book doesn't have any kind of prophetic legitimacy?
3 tags
Anonymous asked: If the world is supposed to fall into disarray before Christ comes in his second coming (as it is predicted in Revelations) why does the Church have to fight against it? Why not just wait patiently for Him like a monastery?
5 tags
God and Woman at Harvard →
Q: You wanted to go to graduate school but discerned that God wanted something else. Why would you give up your free will like that? MARKS: Part of the answer is that when Love asks you to be His spouse, you don’t quibble about the when and where. The other part is that anything worthwhile in life requires an ongoing, freely willed surrender of one’s freedom.
Mary Anne Marks, summa cum...
4 tags
never-relenting asked: I was reading on another Christian blog and it said that Catholics pray to saints to ask for their intercession. Well this is true, it also said it was idolatry and a sin because Christ is the only one that intercedes for us. I was very confused about the whole statement, but is it true?