Update

[poptart]

THerapy is coming along and so far i'm not so much of a risk to myself anymore.  I still talk to a few people from the ward, but I feel out of place there, a lot of people are quite well off and always atribute the church being true as a reason for their success.  I still talk to a few people, one has an Asian spouse and reccomended I try one of the Asian wards he and his wife go to mainly, they're a lot kinder there he says.

I I did start going to mass.  A lot of my moms family is Catholic and I'm quite happy.  The mass is all in latin, the priest regularly bashes the rampant materialism, selfishness and misplaced values of contemporary america, and the focus is on Christ, personal piety and saintly behavior.  THe LDS focus on family is great and all but I never had a good family life and for me Christianity should have the focus on living a pious, saintly life in service to God all mighty.  To me seeing a priest with the equivalent of a PhD as well as Nuns taking the vows they do and doing nothing but serving God and their fellow man is such a good ideal.  I don't have any interest at all in joining an order, but its good for me to get as close to that ideal as possible.  I'm better off there, the mental hospital is kind of a scary place anyway. 

 

Did I miss something?  Is family life really the end all be all for the LDS faith?

[Calm]

Given that all mankind are the family of God, what else would there be?

[readstoomuch]

I would extend the family role to your ward family and church family.  Not all of us fit neatly into a nuclear family at all periods of our life.  I know I didn`t for a few years.  We can and always should be part of a ward family the family of God through the Church.  If you like the Catholic Church liturgy, you would probably like the temple ceremonies.  

[Storm Rider]

I think we as humans often hear and see what we want to hear and see.  I do think the Church teaches and focuses on righteousness, purity, and holiness as we develop as disciples of Jesus Christ.  However, if you presently find a more comforting home within Catholicism then feel good about going; the focus is becoming more like Christ.  As you grow in your relationship with Christ don't forget the teachings of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It will make your experience and growth even greater.  Peace,

Edited March 31, 2015 by Storm Rider

[Garden Girl]

Hello poptart...

I'm glad you're doing better...

I can relate to some of the way you feel... it is not easy to be a single (widowed) sister, no children, in such a family oriented Church... but I am and I have to try and find things in talks, conferences, etc., that have meaning for me in my singleness while everyone else is talking about their children and families...

Sometimes I feel like I'm standing outside the bakery with my nose pressed against the window.  Like the opening Women's Session of Gen Conf.  I chose to embrace the messages and sought to find something in each that I could take hold of...  I could really feel alone if I let myself, but I choose not to... I choose to hold on to my ward family, and look forward to the day when, because of my temple covenants, I can join my husband as his eternal companion...

Families in the LDS Church are to be Christ-centered.  Our homes are to be Christ-centered... We are to be Christ-like in our service to others... 

the family is central to God's plan for his children, and is the backbone of society and always has been...  and as Calmoriah said, we are all part of God's family...

So while it can be difficult at times, I'm at peace and know I'm where I'm supposed to be... and I hope you will find peace also... 

 

GG

[Dgal]

Praying for you, Poptart. Glad that you are doing better. Stick with your therapy since it is helping. Hope you continue to heal. Yes, the focus on family within the Church can be very brutal if your own family does not fit the typical norm within the Church. I like your idea of either going to an Asian ward, or the Catholic service if you find it more helpful and more healing. God wants us to be healed.

[Robert F. Smith]

THerapy is coming along and so far i'm not so much of a risk to myself anymore.  I still talk to a few people from the ward, but I feel out of place there, a lot of people are quite well off and always atribute the church being true as a reason for their success.  I still talk to a few people, one has an Asian spouse and reccomended I try one of the Asian wards he and his wife go to mainly, they're a lot kinder there he says.

I I did start going to mass.  A lot of my moms family is Catholic and I'm quite happy.  The mass is all in latin, the priest regularly bashes the rampant materialism, selfishness and misplaced values of contemporary america, and the focus is on Christ, personal piety and saintly behavior.  THe LDS focus on family is great and all but I never had a good family life and for me Christianity should have the focus on living a pious, saintly life in service to God all mighty.  To me seeing a priest with the equivalent of a PhD as well as Nuns taking the vows they do and doing nothing but serving God and their fellow man is such a good ideal.  I don't have any interest at all in joining an order, but its good for me to get as close to that ideal as possible.  I'm better off there, the mental hospital is kind of a scary place anyway. 

......................................................................   

I am very glad to hear of your progress, and that you find the Roman Catholic experience comforting.  Bear in mind that you can join a holy order without becoming a monk or nun.  Ordinary Catholics do it all the time as secular members of orders.  I know one woman, for example, who is a Franciscan, but who married and has a wonderful daughter.  The Franciscan order gives greater meaning to her life and her selfless religious devotions.  Ask a priest about it.

 

Also, I have always found the homilies of the parish priests to be wonderfully down to earth and meaningful.  If that is where you feel most at home, make the parish your family.

[Ham Clam]

Glad to hear you are doing better Poptart! Best wishes on your spiritual journey.

[Ham Clam]

THerapy is coming along and so far i'm not so much of a risk to myself anymore.  I still talk to a few people from the ward, but I feel out of place there, a lot of people are quite well off and always atribute the church being true as a reason for their success.  I still talk to a few people, one has an Asian spouse and reccomended I try one of the Asian wards he and his wife go to mainly, they're a lot kinder there he says.

I would definitely check out the Asian ward. I'm sure there is a different "ward culture" there. And that "the Church is true and that makes me successful in Business, ect" is a load of baloney! I hope you will not find that attitude elsewhere. 

[ChristKnight]

THerapy is coming along and so far i'm not so much of a risk to myself anymore.  I still talk to a few people from the ward, but I feel out of place there, a lot of people are quite well off and always atribute the church being true as a reason for their success.  I still talk to a few people, one has an Asian spouse and reccomended I try one of the Asian wards he and his wife go to mainly, they're a lot kinder there he says.

I I did start going to mass.  A lot of my moms family is Catholic and I'm quite happy.  The mass is all in latin, the priest regularly bashes the rampant materialism, selfishness and misplaced values of contemporary america, and the focus is on Christ, personal piety and saintly behavior.  THe LDS focus on family is great and all but I never had a good family life and for me Christianity should have the focus on living a pious, saintly life in service to God all mighty.  To me seeing a priest with the equivalent of a PhD as well as Nuns taking the vows they do and doing nothing but serving God and their fellow man is such a good ideal.  I don't have any interest at all in joining an order, but its good for me to get as close to that ideal as possible.  I'm better off there, the mental hospital is kind of a scary place anyway. 

 

Did I miss something?  Is family life really the end all be all for the LDS faith?

 

I'm glad that you are happy attending Mass (note that you can also find Masses in English, which is the norm in the USA and other English speaking countries).  Just an FYI, as Catholics, we also value family life and the importance of the family (holy matrimony of course being one of our sacramental mysteries).  Your local parish is also a family, with the priest as pastor of the flock and also a spiritual "father" (hence why we often refer to our priests with the title "father", reminds me of father Abraham).  And of course we believe that through baptism we become a part of Jesus Christ's family, belonging to Him.    

 

I hope that you find peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[UtahTexan]

I never had the feeling that family life was the end all of the LDS Faith.  It has great importance.  That great importance comes from God, Himself.

 

I was Catholic.  I never had a great feeling that a Priest knew anything about marriage and children.  How could a Priest truly counsel me?  My marriage dissolved as a Catholic, and the priest had no clue how to help.  

 

I think that, no matter where you attend, your expectations will be met.  As a Catholic, I only attended the Latin Mass.  I loved the richness and tradition of the Latin mass.  But, in a symbolic way, the Priest, in the Latin Mass, faces AWAY from the people.  It is because they do not truly connect.

 

I could go into great detail about the issues I ended up having up with the Catholic Church.  Revelation is just one issue.  There are many.  The politics involved in electing a successor to the Pope is another.  The list is long.  

 

I never felt the priest was my "Father" because he was so out of tune with life.  I can talk to my LDS Bishop and he KNOWS what is is like to have marital issues,....child-raising issues......work issues.....money issues.....

 

The center of it all is God.  Not self.

[poptart]

Given that all mankind are the family of God, what else would there be?

How they act I guess?

 

I would extend the family role to your ward family and church family.  Not all of us fit neatly into a nuclear family at all periods of our life.  I know I didn`t for a few years.  We can and always should be part of a ward family the family of God through the Church.  If you like the Catholic Church liturgy, you would probably like the temple ceremonies.  

Weren't a lot of temple rituals borrowed from freemasonry?

 

I think we as humans often hear and see what we want to hear and see.  I do think the Church teaches and focuses on righteousness, purity, and holiness as we develop as disciples of Jesus Christ.  However, if you presently find a more comforting home within Catholicism then feel good about going; the focus is becoming more like Christ.  As you grow in your relationship with Christ don't forget the teachings of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It will make your experience and growth even greater.  Peace,

It's the piety, silence, reverence and gratitude towards Christ as the high priest and the sacrifice he made that I love.  Different strokes for different folks.  Think the other thing is after all I've been through my ideal enviroment is peace and quiet.  Too much racket can drive me up the wall.  Sure, if it was at a job no problem, but something spiritual like that I just like the somber, quiet enviroments most.

 

Hello poptart...

I'm glad you're doing better...

I can relate to some of the way you feel... it is not easy to be a single (widowed) sister, no children, in such a family oriented Church... but I am and I have to try and find things in talks, conferences, etc., that have meaning for me in my singleness while everyone else is talking about their children and families...

Sometimes I feel like I'm standing outside the bakery with my nose pressed against the window.  Like the opening Women's Session of Gen Conf.  I chose to embrace the messages and sought to find something in each that I could take hold of...  I could really feel alone if I let myself, but I choose not to... I choose to hold on to my ward family, and look forward to the day when, because of my temple covenants, I can join my husband as his eternal companion...

Families in the LDS Church are to be Christ-centered.  Our homes are to be Christ-centered... We are to be Christ-like in our service to others... 

the family is central to God's plan for his children, and is the backbone of society and always has been...  and as Calmoriah said, we are all part of God's family...

So while it can be difficult at times, I'm at peace and know I'm where I'm supposed to be... and I hope you will find peace also... 

 

GG

For me it's about accepting things for what they are.  One LDS faithful i've kept in touch with said a lot of me is damaged and well, will probably always remain so.  No one was there for me when I was vulnerable, no one cared when I was used as an exploitable resource, and no one will care, I have to pick up the pieces and fight on, no one else will so it's quite easy for me to toss things like "family" aside since I never really had a good one nor have the patience for one.  Racket and a lot of things that go with family life would drive me absolutly insane.  Sure, I could work on it in therapy but for the the incentive is just not there.  It would take someone with the patience of Holy Mary to make me think twice and as a rule people are not that patient. 

Sooo, the next best thing, quiet gratitude towards, Christ, Holy Mary, the saints and the Church.  The priest, nuns and parishoners have been awesome.  The nuns especially go out of their way for people, I have never met anyone from the USA that considerate.  Hate to sound so mean about this but after how I had to grow up and had so many people turn their backs on me it's just disgusting how the poor are treated in the USA.

 

Praying for you, Poptart. Glad that you are doing better. Stick with your therapy since it is helping. Hope you continue to heal. Yes, the focus on family within the Church can be very brutal if your own family does not fit the typical norm within the Church. I like your idea of either going to an Asian ward, or the Catholic service if you find it more helpful and more healing. God wants us to be healed.

thats the plan

 

I am very glad to hear of your progress, and that you find the Roman Catholic experience comforting.  Bear in mind that you can join a holy order without becoming a monk or nun.  Ordinary Catholics do it all the time as secular members of orders.  I know one woman, for example, who is a Franciscan, but who married and has a wonderful daughter.  The Franciscan order gives greater meaning to her life and her selfless religious devotions.  Ask a priest about it.

 

Also, I have always found the homilies of the parish priests to be wonderfully down to earth and meaningful.  If that is where you feel most at home, make the parish your family.

I'm considering just that, a holy order would be good for me.  Looking into something education based.

 

I would definitely check out the Asian ward. I'm sure there is a different "ward culture" there. And that "the Church is true and that makes me successful in Business, ect" is a load of baloney! I hope you will not find that attitude elsewhere. 

I'm incredibly sensitive to behavior like that.  Christmas time at the ward was horrible, seeing these kids say they were grateful for all the stuff they were getting then during the testamony part of the service seeing wealthy housewives with this glassed over look to their face saying they knew the church was true because they were so well off.  Also considering my mental state that was the last thing I needed to hear, especially since this was my first Christmas away from my mom.  This past holiday season was pure hell.

 

I'm glad that you are happy attending Mass (note that you can also find Masses in English, which is the norm in the USA and other English speaking countries).  Just an FYI, as Catholics, we also value family life and the importance of the family (holy matrimony of course being one of our sacramental mysteries).  Your local parish is also a family, with the priest as pastor of the flock and also a spiritual "father" (hence why we often refer to our priests with the title "father", reminds me of father Abraham).  And of course we believe that through baptism we become a part of Jesus Christ's family, belonging to Him.    

 

I hope that you find peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yeah, Pope Benedict wanted all priests to be able to do the mass in Latin and their own language.  I prefer Latin and the overall way the old mass is done.  So far they have been wonderful to me as have the priests and nuns.  They will end up doing another baptism for me as the church that baptised me as an infant won't respond back to me.

 

I never had the feeling that family life was the end all of the LDS Faith.  It has great importance.  That great importance comes from God, Himself.

 

I was Catholic.  I never had a great feeling that a Priest knew anything about marriage and children.  How could a Priest truly counsel me?  My marriage dissolved as a Catholic, and the priest had no clue how to help.  

 

I think that, no matter where you attend, your expectations will be met.  As a Catholic, I only attended the Latin Mass.  I loved the richness and tradition of the Latin mass.  But, in a symbolic way, the Priest, in the Latin Mass, faces AWAY from the people.  It is because they do not truly connect.

 

I could go into great detail about the issues I ended up having up with the Catholic Church.  Revelation is just one issue.  There are many.  The politics involved in electing a successor to the Pope is another.  The list is long.  

 

I never felt the priest was my "Father" because he was so out of tune with life.  I can talk to my LDS Bishop and he KNOWS what is is like to have marital issues,....child-raising issues......work issues.....money issues.....

 

The center of it all is God.  Not self.

I think for me that is the whole point of the mass, you are there to thank Christ for the holy sacrifice of the mass, for the graces he gives us and also the family of the church.  I've always been a fan of a paid clergy, they're dedicated to their tasks, are highly educated, and since they don't have family ties don't have to worry too much about saying the wrong thing when it comes to contemporary values.  I went to Christmas eve mass when I was feeling almost suicidal and after praising Christ he bashed american materialism for like 20+ minutes.  The gripe I had about the Bishop, he could never relate to me.  What about me?  My own father almost killed my mother, always hated my guts, I had pretty much everyone I knew turn their back on me.  So far the priest and nuns have gone out of their way to care.  I have no desire to start a family after the hell I had to go through so that really is a non-issue for me. 

[UtahTexan]

I am happy you have found home.  

 

I simply disagree.  I cannot count how many masses have TWO collection plates then a sermon after church about a new Bishop's challenge for more money.

 

I met with one of my Priests once when I was having marital problems in my first marriage....I explained the situation.  He said, "I understand what you are going through".  I asked him, "how?  you have never had a wife".  He said that he had read about it........really?  He knew because he read about it?

 

And I can list hundreds of men who will tell you today how the Catholic Church made THEM feel suicidal....and how Bishops spread the problem around....and how on Pope even took one of the worst offending Bishops to Rome to avoid the law.  Guess it is all a matter of perspective.

 

Anyway, best of luck to you.

[poptart]

I am happy you have found home.  

 

I simply disagree.  I cannot count how many masses have TWO collection plates then a sermon after church about a new Bishop's challenge for more money.

 

I met with one of my Priests once when I was having marital problems in my first marriage....I explained the situation.  He said, "I understand what you are going through".  I asked him, "how?  you have never had a wife".  He said that he had read about it........really?  He knew because he read about it?

 

And I can list hundreds of men who will tell you today how the Catholic Church made THEM feel suicidal....and how Bishops spread the problem around....and how on Pope even took one of the worst offending Bishops to Rome to avoid the law.  Guess it is all a matter of perspective.

 

Anyway, best of luck to you.

Sure, plenty of corrupt churches both protestant and Catholic, but I;ve just had better luck.  Yeah they pass 2 collection plates, but not everyone donates. 

Also, sorry about your marital problems, but that is one reason why I shy away from the institution of marraige.  As it is in the USA it's a joke, one I gladly wash my hands of.  People my age for the most part tend to be poor marraige prospects from what i've seen, and considering my mental state there is no way I could tolorate the nonsence involved in American hetrosexual marraige.  I would opt for a cute guy long before a lot of the women i've met so far.  Sorry to be mean, but the rampant divorce, children used as pawns in and out of court, the paternity fraud on both parts and the toxic family patterns that are the norm in the USA just are of no interest to me.  I say let it burn.

 

Also read up on how Pope Francis fired the bling bishop not too long ago, priceless stuff.

[Dgal]

Regardless of religious faith,Poptart, the most important thing is that you heal. No church has the corner market on it's ability to help heal.

[readstoomuch]

As far as Masonry and Mormonism there is some similarity. Listen to Mormon Mason Greg Kearney. He does a great job of explaining what is some really cool stuff. It will help you understand the temple and get past the question you were asking.

[ChristKnight]

I'm considering just that, a holy order would be good for me.  Looking into something education based.

 

Perhaps you would be interested in the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.  They are very well known for being involved in education and research.  I attended Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution.

 

 

 

Yeah, Pope Benedict wanted all priests to be able to do the mass in Latin and their own language.  I prefer Latin and the overall way the old mass is done.  So far they have been wonderful to me as have the priests and nuns.  They will end up doing another baptism for me as the church that baptised me as an infant won't respond back to me.

 

That's wonderful.  And yes, I also enjoy the Tridentine Mass, though I personally also enjoy the Mass of Paul VI (the "ordinary" form of the Mass today, the one you'd see in practically any Catholic church these days) when it is offered with incense, chant, etc.  I love reading about the ancient Jewish/temple roots of the Eucharistic liturgies, as well as Catholicism in general.

 

 

Yeah they pass 2 collection plates, but not everyone donates.

 

Indeed.  You do not have to donate if you don't want to, and no one really cares what others are doing (at least in my experience at many different parishes around the country and even in other countries).  The act of the donation is very familiar to LDS, and I believe both Catholics and LDS would view donations as sacrificial (and of course the Mass is viewed as a sacrifice, so the presence of this offering within the Mass makes sense, at least to me).  For Catholics, the collection of alms is part of the "offertory" (or "preparation of the gifts") of the Mass, where we offer our own gifts, which are joined with the gifts of the bread and wine that will be offered as part of the Eucharistic sacrifice of the priests.  Our gifts are joined with Christ's gifts, quite literally.  If you aren't able to donate, that is okay.  Offer a prayer for the parish. 

 

Good luck on your journey, and take care of yourself, spiritually, physically, and mentally.

Edited April 1, 2015 by ChristKnight

[saemo]

THerapy is coming along and so far i'm not so much of a risk to myself anymore. I still talk to a few people from the ward, but I feel out of place there, a lot of people are quite well off and always atribute the church being true as a reason for their success. I still talk to a few people, one has an Asian spouse and reccomended I try one of the Asian wards he and his wife go to mainly, they're a lot kinder there he says.

I I did start going to mass. A lot of my moms family is Catholic and I'm quite happy. The mass is all in latin, the priest regularly bashes the rampant materialism, selfishness and misplaced values of contemporary america, and the focus is on Christ, personal piety and saintly behavior. THe LDS focus on family is great and all but I never had a good family life and for me Christianity should have the focus on living a pious, saintly life in service to God all mighty. To me seeing a priest with the equivalent of a PhD as well as Nuns taking the vows they do and doing nothing but serving God and their fellow man is such a good ideal. I don't have any interest at all in joining an order, but its good for me to get as close to that ideal as possible. I'm better off there, the mental hospital is kind of a scary place anyway.

Did I miss something? Is family life really the end all be all for the LDS faith?

Check at your parish, for the various "going ons". Often there is a young adult ministry, comprised of singles and married, that focuses on living a Christian life, with the friendship of the group.

BTW, I've been married nearly 30 years. Most marriages and families don't reflect your own experience, is my experience. I do think a level of dysfunction exists in all relationships, including between clergy or nuns, but making dysfunction the focus of a relationship is the beast swallowing it's own tail, so to speak. Jesus calls us to walk in the light.

I shared this prayer with someone else today, so sharing it twice.

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,

by the Divine Power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits

who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

God bless you, especially during this Holy Week.

Edited April 1, 2015 by saemo

[poptart]

Check at your parish, for the various "going ons". Often there is a young adult ministry, comprised of singles and married, that focuses on living a Christian life, with the friendship of the group.

BTW, I've been married nearly 30 years. Most marriages and families don't reflect your own experience, is my experience. I do think a level of dysfunction exists in all relationships, including between clergy or nuns, but making dysfunction the focus of a relationship is the beast swallowing it's own tail, so to speak. Jesus calls us to walk in the light.

I shared this prayer with someone else today, so sharing it twice.

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,

by the Divine Power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits

who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

God bless you, especially during this Holy Week.

I'm technically bi so I could go either way, I just have no interest in children and it seems like past your mid to late 20's most women in the USA have either their 1st or 2nd kid and no way could I handle that.  I've heard the nonsense line before that it's a character chalange, lets see what happens when I just absolutly snap and the cops get called.  I opted out of that stuff for a reason, I just can't handle the nonsense that goes with it, is what it is. 

Now if someone else was to come along and be insainly patient and had a supportive family maybe.  Till then, men are just easier.

[Ham Clam]

I'm technically bi so I could go either way, I just have no interest in children and it seems like past your mid to late 20's most women in the USA have either their 1st or 2nd kid and no way could I handle that.  I've heard the nonsense line before that it's a character chalange, lets see what happens when I just absolutly snap and the cops get called.  I opted out of that stuff for a reason, I just can't handle the nonsense that goes with it, is what it is. 

Now if someone else was to come along and be insainly patient and had a supportive family maybe.  Till then, men are just easier.

I hope you can find some supportive Catholics where you are going and that being Bi won't bar you from anything. That would be your biggest challenge with the Catholic Church.

[Kenngo1969]

You seem to be allowing previous negative experiences in other contexts to color your current perceptions of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Often, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we say that the Church isn't the people: but because we have a lay ministry, and because whatever else gets done in the Church on the local level, a local member, by and large, is the one who does it, in that sense, the Church is the people.  It can be challenging, to say the least, for one to pay adequate attention to Church responsibilities with all of the other stuff going on in one's life.  It's a wonder we don't all show up even more often with crazy looks.     That's one thing I love most about my time as a full-time missionary, is the opportunity to devote most all of my energy to His service (though, alas, even then, I had plenty of other "stuff" going on).

 

All of this having been said, I know God doesn't give me fruit, bread, and fish when I ask for them while giving people of different faiths (or of no faith) thorns, thistles, stones and serpents when they ask for fruit, bread, and fish.  While I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I believe that's where the most bounteous harvest of good fruit can be found, I also know that the church doesn't have a corner on good fruit.  Perhaps you're where you should be at this time, spiritually speaking.  In any event, I wish you well.

Edited April 1, 2015 by Kenngo1969

[Ham Clam]

The Utah Valley University is having it's annual Mormon Studies Conference this year over Mormon-Catholic interfaith relations. I hope it recorded, and if it is, I hope you check it out as well.

Mormons and Catholics

From Margins to the Mainstream

"In nineteenth-century America, Catholics and Mormons were beleaguered and besieged minorities. Both were attacked as enemies of morality, culture, and democracy. Fueled by sensationalistic publications, both suffered prejudice, cruelty, and violence. Since this time, both traditions have gained influence and respectability in American public life. During the 2012 presidential election, Mormon Mitt Romney chose Catholic Paul Ryan as his running mate. This was the first time in American history that a major party ticket was without a Protestant.
 
Historical difficulties notwithstanding, Latter-day Saints and Catholics have worked together in recent years on humanitarian and immigration reform, religious freedom, and in opposition to same-sex marriage.  This conference will explore the history of Mormon-Catholic relations, investigate theological distinctions, and explore the future of these traditions in the twenty-first century."

[UtahTexan]

I hope you can find some supportive Catholics where you are going and that being Bi won't bar you from anything. That would be your biggest challenge with the Catholic Church.

 

No....it has been shown that many priests are Bi, or gay.  Reading "Good-Bye, Good Men" by Catholic writer Michael Rose was an eye-opener.   I am not surprised at the gravitation to the Catholic Church.  He should find more understanding in the Catholic Church.  They are all in my prayers.

Edited April 1, 2015 by CountryBoy

[ChristKnight]

The Utah Valley University is having it's annual Mormon Studies Conference this year over Mormon-Catholic interfaith relations. I hope it recorded, and if it is, I hope you check it out as well.

Mormons and Catholics


From Margins to the Mainstream

"In nineteenth-century America, Catholics and Mormons were beleaguered and besieged minorities. Both were attacked as enemies of morality, culture, and democracy. Fueled by sensationalistic publications, both suffered prejudice, cruelty, and violence. Since this time, both traditions have gained influence and respectability in American public life. During the 2012 presidential election, Mormon Mitt Romney chose Catholic Paul Ryan as his running mate. This was the first time in American history that a major party ticket was without a Protestant.
 
Historical difficulties notwithstanding, Latter-day Saints and Catholics have worked together in recent years on humanitarian and immigration reform, religious freedom, and in opposition to same-sex marriage.  This conference will explore the history of Mormon-Catholic relations, investigate theological distinctions, and explore the future of these traditions in the twenty-first century."

 

That looks interesting, thanks for sharing.  

[saemo]

I hope you can find some supportive Catholics where you are going and that being Bi won't bar you from anything. That would be your biggest challenge with the Catholic Church.

If there were an interest in marriage, and the interest was a same sex marriage, then no, that wouldn't happen. The approach of the RCC is that everyone sins, and needs Christ. The other kicker is, focusing on sexual orientation as the defining thing about a person, may be prevalent among a lot of Catholics, but the pastoral approach is to see the person first, as loved by God, and possessed of the inherent dignity that God has given them.