How Catholic are You?

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Posted on February 18, 2012 by Father Joe

We can test to see how badly infected our people are with doubt and faithlessness. Here are some sample questions:

1. Do you believe that deliberately missing Sunday Mass is a mortal sin, as detailed in the precepts of the Church?

2. Do you believe that premarital sex and/or cohabitation is a mortal sin?

3. Do you believe that a Catholic can get married validly outside the Church and how can this be if it is a sacrament?

4. Are you for or against the legal choice for abortion even though the Church calls it the murder of ensouled human beings?

5. Do you believe that the marital act must always be that type of act that is open to mutual self-giving and the generation of new human life or do you favor the use of artificial contraception?

6. The Church teaches that same-sex attraction is a disorder and that its pursuit is a violation of the natural law and is seriously sinful. Do you believe this?

7. Is the Eucharist a symbolic presence using bread and wine, a nostalgic remembrance or the actual Risen Christ (divinity and humanity, body and blood)?

8. Do you ever go to Confession? Do you believe that the priest has the power to forgive sins? Do we really need the priest for this at all?

9. Is the Mass a real sacrifice just as the death and oblation of Jesus on the Cross?

10. Does it really matter what one believes as long as he or she is a good person? Is one Church pretty much as good as another? Is it intolerant to insist that the Catholic Church is the one true Church established directly by Christ?

11. Do you believe that the Pope as Vicar of Christ has universal jurisdiction and is given the gift of infallibility in teaching about faith and morals?

12. Do you pray daily and if so how do you pray? Do you really think someone is listening? Do you remember the various types of prayer?

Filed under: Anti-Catholicism, Catholic, Church, Commandments, Contraception, Discipleship, Magisterium, Mass, Morality, Pope, Pro-Life, Questions, Sexuality, Sin |

2 Responses

Barb Stein Waldorf, on March 9, 2012 at 1:16 am said:

#3 – A Catholic can validly get married outside of the Church if he receives the proper dispensations from the Bishop prior to the marriage.

FATHER JOE: Just a quick qualification, if a person has a dispensation from canonical form, then the marriage in a Protestant church or in a neutral space with a rabbi (for Jews), is NOT a marriage outside the Church. “Church” here with a capital “C” means recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, not a church or parish building. All the regular preparation and PreCana is required. The marriage records are generally kept at the local parish church which has jurisdiction.
dee, on March 4, 2012 at 2:48 pm said:

My answers…

1. YES

2. YES

3. NO

4. I am pro-life and anti-abortion.

5. I believe contraception is equal to abortion.

7. The Eucharist is the actual risen Christ.

8. I recently came to realise the beauty of sacrament of confession. Jesus gives special authority to priests through their ordination to absolve sins.

9. The Mass is a real sacrifice.

10. It is not intolerant to state a fact.

11. I believe the Pope is the Vicar of Christ.

12. I miss out on daily prayer sometimes. I truly believe Jesus listens to me when I pray.

Hmmm, types of prayer: personal prayer, thanksgiving, intercessiory, community prayer, etc., that’s all i can remember. What do think Father?

FATHER JOE:

Pretty good answers!

Contraception is sometimes also abortifacient and it can give rise to a contraceptive or anti-life mentality. It is a serious sin but is usually regarded as less grave than abortion.

Your answers about prayer are good. Here is the list I usually share:

1. Praise

2. Thanksgiving

3. Contrition

4. Supplication

Although sometimes listed separately, all true prayer is an expression of LOVE.