Future of Catholicism

[Kazimiera]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m already a Church Militant fan, but I haven’t seen these particular videos. Patrick Coffin on youtube is another guy who talks about this.

I think the litmus test for a good Catholic commentator is whether they talk about the influence of the Lavender Mafia. If they don’t, they’re missing one of the biggest issues in Church today, and it’s impossible to understand the abuse scandal without understanding how homosexuality works within the priesthood.

Thankfully, the percentage of gay priests has been dropping, as have incidents of abuse, which are no where near where they were in the 60s, 70s and 80s. But the media will probably keep putting forward their deceptive narrative on the scandal, for as long as people will buy it and not look deeper into who was really doing the abuse.

Absolutely!

In the second video I posted, they mentioned that the rates are going up again.

When you are a Catholic criticising the Catholic Church, people automatically think that you are anti-Catholic. It's quite the opposite. There needs to be introspection and investigation to identify problem areas and address them before they explode. One is critical of the Institution simply because one loves the faith and doesn't want to see it hijacked by filth dragged through the mud as is happening today. Church Militant does just that. They've got some hard-hitting stuff on their site.

I've watched one or two Patrick Coffin videos but Michael Voris captured me and led me astray! (And Sensus Fidelium.) I must go back to Patrick again some time.

[Loki]

The Catholic Church also has an 'evangelical' wing these days with healings, speaking in tongues, and all the other bells and whistles. It appears that it is trying to morph into something more popular.

Catholicism is fighting a battle. Since Vatican II they are trying to make it more 'relevant', or 'modern' and trying to keep up with the times.

Whether this is right or wrong is up for debate - and is being furiously debated with proponents on either side.

Yes, also in the Catholic church there are people experiencing the presence of God. This is no gimmick, but a reality that transcends denominational borders.

[Loki]

It's unfortunate but true... can you imagine Latino communities without even the guiding principles of The Church!?!?

Christians ARE the church

[JosephK]

Christians ARE the church

You mean 'the church," I mean "The Church"...

[KMack]

Church is a community activity. Belonging to a good church and getting involved is good for friendships and building long term bonds.
The relationship with the Blessed Trinity is personal. A good guide is a 16 page publication, that you can print off for free on paste it
a word document and then print it. I encourage all Christians or those on the fence to print this and follow the instructions.

http://aoths.org/listening-to-the-holy-spirit.aspx

[Kazimiera]

Church is a community activity. Belonging to a good church and getting involved is good for friendships and building long term bonds.
The relationship with the Blessed Trinity is personal. A good guide is a 16 page publication, that you can print off for free on paste it
a word document and then print it. I encourage all Christians or those on the fence to print this and follow the instructions.

http://aoths.org/listening-to-the-holy-spirit.aspx

Thank you for this. **bookmarked**

Last week Friday I went to a Contemplative Prayer seminar given by a Benedictine Monk, Laurence Freeman. He was talking about exactly what is mentioned in the booklet you posted, about "going into the other room" and just listening. What was nice about that seminar is that, although it was advertised by the Archdiocese, the majority of the people who attended were not Catholic. Meditation and contemplation isn't denominational and relevant to everyone.

[KMack]

Thank you for this. **bookmarked**

Last week Friday I went to a Contemplative Prayer seminar given by a Benedictine Monk, Laurence Freeman. He was talking about exactly what is mentioned in the booklet you posted, about "going into the other room" and just listening. What was nice about that seminar is that, although it was advertised by the Archdiocese, the majority of the people who attended were not Catholic. Meditation and contemplation isn't denominational and relevant to everyone.

Welcome Kaz. And you are right. I also have Unity Daily word mailed to me every month. So every morning I read thought and prayer of the day. This is a great organization.
https://www.unity.org/

[Loki]

Welcome Kaz. And you are right. I also have Unity Daily word mailed to me every month. So every morning I read thought and prayer of the day. This is a great organization.
https://www.unity.org/

I'm sorry, but it's not a real church It's fake, and more like a "Christian Science" kind of organisation, which works on "mind over matter" and principles like that. Nothing about eternal salvation, nothing about repentance from sin, forgiveness and living the Christian life. They are even cool with LGBTQ, which is always a convenient pointer to any organization's fakeness:

https://www.unity.org/resources/lgbtq

I don't mean to offend, but I just want to help. This is not a proper Christian church, and you won't find out what you need to about Jesus there, how to be saved and so forth....

[Kazimiera]

I'm sorry, but it's not a real church It's fake, and more like a "Christian Science" kind of organisation, which works on "mind over matter" and principles like that. Nothing about eternal salvation, nothing about repentance from sin, forgiveness and living the Christian life. They are even cool with LGBTQ, which is always a convenient pointer to any organization's fakeness:

https://www.unity.org/resources/lgbtq

I don't mean to offend, but I just want to help. This is not a proper Christian church, and you won't find out what you need to about Jesus there, how to be saved and so forth....

It isn't a church, it is a retreat center from what I can see. It doesn't matter what church you belong to, you can go to a retreat center and practice your own denomination.

For example, the lecture I went to on Friday night was at a Christian retreat center. You'll have different Christian groups that come there for seminars, or retreats a few days long, led by their own spiritual leader. The retreat center is just a place where you can have these events.

The retreat center I was at on Friday has a large prayer garden, in the shape of a cross. As you walk along the garden and explore its niches, there are markers which spell out the lines of the Lord's Prayer. At the top of the garden was an area with three life-size crosses and a grassy area for you to sit and read or meditate or do whatever it is you want to do.

The retreat center just provides a space which groups can use for conferences, seminars or spiritual retreats (with or without a prayer or church leader).

[Loki]

I agree, if you want a traditional religion with beautiful rites and rich symbolism in the West you need to be Catholic. Protestantism is really really sterile and the legacy they will left in the world are disgusting Pentecostal cults in Latin America and Africa.

Look how their churches look:

This cannot be superior to this:

God likely has a good aesthetic taste.

I am always astounded how shallow people can be.... Do you really think God looks at how pretty our buildings are... NO!! If you have any basic knowledge of what Jesus preached when he walked the earth, then you would understand that what matters to God is what your HEART looks like...