From: mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Family Dilemma, RC/Prot diffs
Date: 13 Dec 92 05:08:03 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept, QMW, University of London, UK.

In article <Dec.11.01.41.37.1992.12601@athos.rutgers.edu> farrell@boilerbob.corp.mot.com (tod farrell) writes:
>While we don't deny their prerogative to attend mass, we feel that we
>shouldn't have to.  For years we went along to preserve the family
>peace but last Christmas finally said "enough is enough."  We don't
>have a problem with going to mass, per se.  It's just that the
>particular parish they attend has a less-than-joyful service.
>
Of course, parishes vary, and there are Catholic masses which
are full of singing, rhythmic music, guitars, hand-clapping
etc, if you find that sort of thing edifying. Personally, I
don't, I prefer a quieter more thoughtful form of worship,
although this seems to be out of fashion these days.

However, I think you should be careful about jumping to the
conclusion that Christian services must always be full of
jollity. The danger with this approach is that we end up with a
Christianity which doesn't cover all aspects of human life. There
seems to have been a pattern in recent years in that
Christianity first pushes out all things which are solemn and
talk of suffering and sorrow. It is then accused of having
nothing to say of the bad things in life.
>
>I am trying to learn and understand the Catholic faith and would also
>appreciate comments on the following:
>
>1) How can my daughter be born with sin?

Well, do you believe that your daughter will be capable of
sinning when she becomes older? Do you believe that there is
something fundamentally wrong with the world in that people
left to their own resources will do terrible things to each
other? That is what the doctrine of "original sin", to which I
think you are referring, is all about.
>
>2) If one believes that Christ died for all sins -- past, present, and
>   future -- why is original sin excluded?  Is there a biblical
>   reference to this?

In what way is original sin excluded?
>
>3) Why do I need someone to approach God on my behalf?  I like to think
>   that God hears even a small child's prayer without the benefit of an
>   intermediary.

Why do you believe that Catholics do not encourage private
prayer? It would be a very poor Catholic who did not approach
God directly in prayer. However, I am sure you will also
believe that coming together to pray in a community is also
important. Perhaps you will also agree that asking someone else
to pray for you is valuable, particularly someone who has
given their life to the service and study of God. Would you
not also accept that if you do not share your faith with the community,
and accept the wisdom of others, not just those living, but
those who have gone before us, there is a very grave sanger of
straying from the true path?
>
>4) Is the Bible perfect in that it's God's word?  Or is it God's
>   perfect word as told by imperfect man?
>
I am not sure what this has to do with Catholicism.

>5) Should women be pastors?
Yes. But not priests. (Sorry, there may be something lost on
the translation from American to British English - it appears
that in the USA the term "pastor" is far more widely used than
it is in Britain).

>6) Should clergy be allowed to marry?
The Catholic Church does not totally rule out married priests.
It does however insist that the normal practice is that its
clergy should not be married. I think this may be seen as a
renunciation of worldy things and the taking up of a sacrifice.
I think there is a lot to be said for balancing the undoubted
privilege which a priest has in Catholicism with the acceptance
of this sacrifice.
>
>7) Could a loving God deny an infant entry into heaven b/c he isn't
>   baptized?  What if the child is stillborn?  Is baptism retroactive
>   in this case?  What of aborted babies?
>
I think you will find that Catholic teaching does not say that
the unbaptised are rejected from salvation.

>8) When do you distinguish between a rite and a ritual?
I am not sure I understand the question or its relevance to
Catholicism.

>9) I think I understand the rationale of fasting, but why are dietary
>   restrictions necessary?
Since Jesus talks about the need for fasting, if you rejected
it, you would be rejecting Him. But what is fasting but a
"dietary restriction"? The fact that the Church lays down laws
about this (which are much less strict than they used to be) is
for the same reason that if a group of any people decided to
get togetehr as a community and do something as a sign of their
comon belief, they will generally agree to do something
together, they will not each do something separately of their
own devising. This applies to any of the Church's rulings which
might seem to be a bit legal and pernickety.

>10) Should communion be open to all who believe in Christ, regardless
>of denomination?
Doesn't that depend on what you believe that communion to be?
If your belief in what communion stands for is fundamentally
different from what the Catholic belief is, is it not very
insulting to ask, nevertheless, that you should be allowed to
share in Catholic communion? It is a bit like asking to be
accepted as a guest in a house, but refusing to abide by the
house rules.

Matthew Huntbach