catholic beliefs

I am dating this guy who doesn't really practice being catholic but I know that his family does very much. My question is this, what are some catholic beliefs that kind of sets them apart from other religions? I heard that they do not believe in taking birth control, can someone tell me more about this belief and if it is true? Thank you very much!
If you hadn't figured it out I'm not Catholic and that is why I'm asking. Thank you very much!

I assume that you want to know what the differences are between Catholic beliefs and non-Catholic Christian beliefs. First, it should be noted that there is a lot more common ground than some might be willing to admit. That being said, there are some significant differences.
When speaking of Catholic beliefs, you have to realize that they can fall into a variety of categories.
The first category is the dogmatic teaching of the Church. These are non-negotiable beliefs that one must hold to be legitimately called a Catholic Christian. Many people call themselves Catholic but choose to ignore (or even deny) these teachings - they are heretics. I know that sounds rude but it's true and sugarcoating it won't change the fact. This doesn't mean you can't have doubts or questions or that you must fully understand these things at all times - it means that you must acknowledge them as revealed truths and give your intellectual assent.
Another category of beliefs are perhaps better described as theological suppositions. Theologians ponder weighty issues and try to draw conclusions based on what we know and believe. Many of these have been around for a long time and they sometimes go in or out of favor. These are not dogma and one is not bound to believe them.
A prime example of the difference between these two is purgatory and limbo. Purgatory is where people are cleansed of any remaining penalty of sin before entering into the presence and glory of God. It is a dogmatic article of faith. Our notions of what exactly it is like might change over time, but not our belief in it's existence. Limbo, on the other hand, is a final resting place of perfect and complete natural happiness for unbaptized infants. Noone with sin can enter into heaven. Babies who are unbaptized still have original sin but it is through no fault of their own and God is merciful. So the concept of limbo reconciles this. It is not a mandatory belief.
The third category is more properly called discipline or practice rather than belief. These are the things which are usually the most visible differences. Disciplines would be things like Friday penances (it used to specifically include not eating meat) and the various days of fasting, etc. Practices would include things like making the sign of the cross or praying the rosary.
Others have already provided links to good resources and I would especially recomend perusing the catechism.

As to your specific question about birth control - yes it's true. The Catholic Church does teach that birth control is a sin. Most Protestant denominations also used to teach this. However, most studies that I have seen show that people describing themselves as Catholic are only slightly less likely to use birth control (or even to be sterilized) than the general population. Part of this is people who claim to be Catholic but make no effort to live as such, and part of it is bad, or non-existant, teaching. Unfortunately, to find out much of what the Church teaches many Catholics have to go out of their way to find the information.
When you say that the guy you are dating doesn't really practice being Catholic, what do you mean? Does he have nothing to do with the Church except maybe going to mass once or twice a year to appease his parents? Does he attend mass fairly regularly and more or less believe what the Church teaches but lacks zeal and doesn't make his faith a regular part of his daily life? Since you are asking about birth control, I assume you are either having sex or considering the possibility that you might one day get married. If so, you need to find out where he stands because these are questions best answered earlier rather than later. And if you are having sex, don't assume that his current indulgence in sin will preclude him from a conversion or reversion to the faith - many of the greatest saints were once great sinners.

+Pax Tecum+

2007-07-18 19:34:37 by jennqt341

The purpose of this video is to help Protestant Christians and others develop a better understanding of the Roman Catholic Church, its history and ...

And what beliefs are fallible and subject to change, if necessary? Is there any list that shows the different categories, or are all catholic beliefs infallible, or unchangeable? Just curious, still it would be very interesting to know.

In the 150 years or so since Infalibilty was formalized, the Pope has made only only one ex cathedra proclamation. That was the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, born without original sin.

2009-02-02 14:08:50 by simpleman

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I recently watched a devote Free Will Baptist say nothing when his daughter started attending a Southern Baptist Church. He would have had a stroke if she had gone to a Catholic Church. SB believe in "once saved always saved", which is the opposite of freewill beliefs. There are some huge differences between the 350 + Protestant religions, yet they all focus on the Catholics as the anti-Christ.
Ben I was in a SB service when Catholics were called followers of Satan.

You can actually change that number to 36,000 + Protestant religions. That's how many different Protestant religions there are.

And why? Well, hate does not come from God, it comes from Satan. If a group of people call themselves Christians and yet hate Catholics, who are Christians, then they aren't following God...at least not completely.

All the Protestant religions have said "We deny the Truth given to the Catholic Church and reject the Church Christ founded." Whether they said this outright or not, it is what they did.

Thus they are inviting hate to come into their congregation. For many of these religions, Catholicism is the worst thing possible because their hearts have been hardened to reject Christ's call.

For many Protestants, it's just a denomination. All churches are the same except for a few differences in opinion and Scripture translation. For Catholics, that's not the case. We know that even if we go to a Protestant church, we still have to go to Mass because it is only the Mass that can fulfill our Sunday obligation. And I believe that even though Protestants don't know very much about Catholicism, they know in their hearts that the Church is different, separate from their own, but they don't know why.

They know there's something about the Church that is not worldly like their own and so they hate it.

Any reason not to join the Catholic Church works, it doesn't matter if it's an out right lie or just a misunderstanding.

2009-04-29 08:58:08 by Shogun

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I know many Catholics (mostly Roman Catholic), but I don't know any of the characteristic aspects of their religion. What are some things that set apart Catholicism from other branches of Christianity? (religious customs/attitudes, beliefs...)

Customs & Traditions: Some of the many standard customs and traditions from my own views are: Attend and participate in the Holy Mass celebrated by a priest or bishop, or in the absence of a clergy by an installed Lay Ministers to celebrate Eucharistic Service not a mass. Partake in the Communion with the body/blood of Jesus Christ as spiritual food of our minds and souls. Pray for one another specially for the healing of all and other needs. Pray the Rosary. Live through the values of the 10 commandmends of God as possible as we can. Reconcilliation to the Lord through Confession and repentance, Anointing the sick by priest and bishops. Others are: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Matrimony, Anointing the Sick, Holy Order, (check the internet) etc...

Beliefs: Some of the many Catholics beliefs on the above customs and traditions are: We believe in the 3 DIVINITY OF GOD: 1. God the Father as Creator. 2.His Word made flesh-Jesus Christ, 3.His Love and the Love of Jesus, the Holy Spirit. The Celebration of the Holy Mass is our unending commemoration of the crucifixion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ in Calvary, offered for the salvation of mankind and during consecration of the bread and wine, there is transformation that is always happening and God turns the bread into the body of Christ and the wine into the blood of Christ - this great evidence is in the Miracle of Lanciano (check internet) proves the customs of the Catholics and serve as earthly evidence for the unbelievers. Praying the Rosary in honor of Mary ( 18 miracles/apparitions of Lourdes) - the mother of Jesus, helps us all in our needs (Intercessory graces of the Mother of Jesus is powerful). Praying and healing the sick, the dying and the lowly (commands of our Lord Jesus) are gifts we received from our baptism that God had shared us His saving works by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name to be used to help the ailing children of God in our communities, disregard of any denominations of faith they may belong and and we are experiencing this graces in the EUCHARISTIC PILGRIM HELEARS OF MARY (EPHOM) PRAYER AND HEALING MINISTRY we are sharing so that many will be saved to enter the Kingdom of God in Heaven, and love & peace may reign in all our hearts forever In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit and for the greater and honor of God the Father. Amen.

What are said above are some differences in the main religions of Judaism, Islam and Roman Catholics and other Catholics. Even among Christians differ among our traditions. Protestants may have similar traditions because they originated from Jesus, Peter and others till they seperated lead by Martin Luther - Father of Protestantism, in 18 February 1546. I just mentioned the prime customs, traditions and beliefs because there is so much according to the teaching of Jesus Christ himself and down to the teaching of the Catholic Church.

The only communality among Christians are the three divine persons. the rest, they all differ. Sometimes, many among us christians used this religion for power, popularity, politics, greed, business and other evil acts which are contrary to the teachings of the Jesus Christ and Catholic Church. So I advice you to seek the divine providence of God and lead you to know what you are searching for. Remember. His Love will teach you everything you want to know about Him. Amen.




And finally, We Catholics believe that our souls came from God and from God our souls shall return.

This serves only as your starter, check your internet everything is there. I hope you will discover you have been longing for to know. Thanks.

Ka der
Founder - EPHOM PRAYER AND HEALING MINISTRY

2009-02-07 18:22:22 by greenisgoodbitch

Im catholic and today i went to church with my christian friend at her church. My nan got angry and didn't want me to go again. She said there are many differences between our to religions. When i asked my mum she didn't know any of the differences so that is why im asking this question.

Catholics venerate saints and the Virgin Mary, have seven sacraments, a hierarchy of priests, monsignors, bishops, cardinals, and the pope, have all male clergy that can't marry, and make the sign of the cross. They also believe in transubstantiation, that is, a miracle happened and Jesus' body and blood physically transformed to bread and wine.

2008-10-18 22:05:27 by Me