Basic Catholic Question

[puppychow]

Can you still truly be considered a catholic and be against the papacy?

I am struggling in my faith for many reasons besides this, however, as a catholic, I see the papacy as an institution that I do not believe in. IMO it was set up as an institution to control land and money. It can also be considered blasphemous (the pope having special powers etc.) I feel no allegience toward the papacy, and actually have some disdain for it.

Thats all I got. Hope to hear from my repressed catholic bretheren :)

[AntioK]

I dunno, the pope is a big part of being catholic, but i don't really think your disdain for him makes you non catholic

[red baron]

I'm catholic. He's just another dude. He just represents us. To me it's no more no less. Another man seeking God.

Don't worry. He's doesn't expect fan mail or anything.

[leg]

I was rised a catholic, but I see no reason why I should align myself with a group of people. We are all "God's people" aren't we?

[Ignatz]

I argued this one incessantly with my Catholic ex-wife.

The head of the Catholic Church is the pope. If you're Catholic, the pope is your leader. Doesn't necessarily mean you agree with everything he has to say, but the fact is, he's the leader.

If you're a Catholic but you don't believe the pope is your leader, then basically you're a Protestant.

[AntioK]

There are quite a few more differences between catholics and prodestants than the papacy. Overall its the same idea, but the details and such, there are more things than just the papacy.

Catholic clergy can't marry, catholic cannabalism(believe the eucharist is the literal flesh and blood of JC, this is something i've been struggling with for good reason all my life), Saints, differences in the mass', etc.

[Zogo]

Can you still truly be considered a catholic and be against the papacy?

as a mainstream catholic..no they wouldn't like you..but you'd still be classified as a "catholic" by definition. there are a few breakoffs in history..one in the early 60's and there was another one later. there is some other pope but he's considered a fake.

I was rised a catholic, but I see no reason why I should align myself with a group of people. We are all "God's people" aren't we?

I think the bible says some are children of satan.

[leg]

I think the bible says some are children of satan.
Heh, I've never heard a Catholic say that.

[Zogo]

Heh, I've never heard a Catholic say that.

~ john 8:42

[[ELB]Azrael-]

Nope - you can't. If you do not follow all the Catholic tradition/guidelines, you are not Catholic, you're Christian. I had an argument with a priest in senior year of my Catholic High School. I said the papal infallibility thing was horseshit, even though the pope only used it once. He asked me if I was Catholic, I said yes; then he called me a heretic. Then, after bashing me a bit he explained it. So technically, you have to follow 100% otherwise you are not Catholic, but it doesn't mean you are a bad person =]

This is according to a few priests/brothers from the community that ran my school, Marianists, others might disagree, or would disagree to inflate the numbers of their religion/church goers. Somewhat of a sticky situation. If you want to strengthen your faith, the best thing to do is question it.
-edit: kind of funny since Catholic means "universal"

[Rand]

You sound a bit like Martin Luther.


:)

[dys]

I think it depends on how much green you drop in the basket every sunday.

[Breaker]

Can you still truly be considered a catholic and be against the papacy?

I am struggling in my faith for many reasons besides this, however, as a catholic, I see the papacy as an institution that I do not believe in. IMO it was set up as an institution to control land and money. It can also be considered blasphemous (the pope having special powers etc.) I feel no allegience toward the papacy, and actually have some disdain for it.

Thats all I got. Hope to hear from my repressed catholic bretheren :)

Why would catholics even worry about the papacy? Catholics should trust in God and Jesus. Its what their religion is about. Don't let any church of any sort get in the way of your relationship with God and Christ. You don't even need a church to sit in on Sundays, you just need real faith - Balls.

[Breaker]

I argued this one incessantly with my Catholic ex-wife.

The head of the Catholic Church is the pope. If you're Catholic, the pope is your leader. Doesn't necessarily mean you agree with everything he has to say, but the fact is, he's the leader.

If you're a Catholic but you don't believe the pope is your leader, then basically you're a Protestant.


Oh emm gee. The leader of catholics is an 80 year old italian man wtf? Shouldn't it be Christ? pwnt.

[xero]

Why would catholics even worry about the papacy? Catholics should trust in God and Jesus. Its what their religion is about. Don't let any church of any sort get in the way of your relationship with God and Christ. You don't even need a church to sit in on Sundays, you just need real faith - Balls.
Oh emm gee. The leader of catholics is an 80 year old italian man wtf? Shouldn't it be Christ? pwnt.Why are you posting here? Why did you bump this? Seriously.

The current pope is German, not Italian. He just happens to reside in the Vatican. He was also a Hitler Youth.

And coming from an extremely Roman Catholic family and upbringing, I can assure you that the Pope is the sole leader of the Catholic Chuch. He has the one and only direct line to God. He's about as close to Christ as a Catholic can get. That's just the Catholic tradition.

[Breaker]

sux 2 b catholic

[Zogo]

Why would catholics even worry about the papacy? Catholics should trust in God and Jesus. Its what their religion is about. Don't let any church of any sort get in the way of your relationship with God and Christ. You don't even need a church to sit in on Sundays, you just need real faith - Balls.

I don't know what I'd do if I was a catholic..I mean the guy looks more like darth sidious. and he's a former nazi which only adds to the mystique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CAFVV8foq8

[dook]

If you're out of line with the pope, you're not catholic. Period.