ribit,
re: "he goes to the Holy Church of Warm and Fuzzy Touchy Feely..."
I doubt that. You'll note that on the occasions when I've asked OCU if he's discussed his many disagreements about church doctrine, papal pronouncements and how a Catholic is to live his life, with a priest, he suddenly became quiet.
Let me explain something about Catholicism that Protestants and others usually don't know.
Catholics are NOT permitted to disagree with church doctrine. Catholics are NOT permitted to interpret the Bible and what it means for themselves. It is the Church's job to do that. Catholics are required to listen, believe, and adhere.
The Church interprets the Bible and God's will for its flock, and the flock is not free to disagree to any significant extent (though they can disagree with a priest or even a bishop or cardinal. THEY are fallible.) That's what 'Papal Infallibility' means. When it comes to matters of the Church, the pope is NOT wrong.
Protestants disagree - both with the Pope and with their own leaders. They believe they are permitted to do so. This is the chief difference between Catholicism and Protestantism.
Protestants believe that the Bible must be read, discussed and interpreted, and that anyone can do it. When a different interpretation surfaces... hey - they get a new Church!
And that's why there is ONE Roman Catholic church, but literally thousands (more than 38,000, believe it or not) of Protestant sects. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations
OCU is in an awkward position. He does not believe in the pope's infallibility. He doesn't believe a LOT of the Catholic pronouncements. He doesn't condemn abortion. He votes for the politicians who fund it. He supports gay marriage, gays in the military, gay rights, the gay lifestyle. He mocks Christmas. He mocks those who are outspoken about their Christian beliefs (Tim Tebow, midwesterners, etc.) while not recognizing that he does a bit of that himself, to a lesser extent and FAR less sincerity, here on the internet.
In fact, except for opposing the death penalty (and actually helping me to establish a position against it too), I don't know of ANYTHING OCU has expressed that is compatible with the more significant Catholic-and-not-Protestant views.
It appears to me that OldCADUser is a closet-Protestant, not a Catholic. If Catholic teachings are correct, that's going to be a MONUMENTAL problem for him one day. See, Catholics believe that God will forgive you for your sins - right up to the moment of your death, if you repent and receive absolution. But the repentence must be SINCERE, and I just don't think that's going to happen for him.
To Catholics, abortion is a mortal sin. While OCU has (obviously) never had an abortion, or performed an abortion, he just as obviously supports it. Unless he drops that support and sincerely repents, whatever deathbed confession he might give will be invalid or incomplete.
If he doesn't receive full absolution, he dies with the burden of a mortal sin. That's a tough break. On that basis, he will be judged.
So, he's got a bit of a quandary. Since he's not going to change his position, he's best off HOPING that his chosen Church is wrong. That might mean he's not a sinner, but it WILL mean that he's a Bad Catholic.
And if the Church is not wrong, he will surely burn for what he's done while upon this mortal coil.
Well, that's all I've got. Have a great day!
| 
