Dear Zach,

Thanks for the question.

These views you speak of are not only liberalistic, they're anti-God. One makes themselves objectively an enemy:

• of God
• of truth, and
• of humanity when condoning or promoting:
  • prenatal homicide (abortion)
  • sodomy (homosexual acts), or
  • the voluntary killing of the sick or elderly (euthanasia).

That is the case whether one is Catholic, or not.

The Church has always condemned the act of abortion, as is found in the Didache (New Advent), the first century A.D. Catechism, as well as euthanasia and homosexual activity. They were also condemned in pre-Christian pagan societies, most of which had a respect for natural law. The ancient Hippocratic oath also rejects the voluntary killing or harming of both the pre born and the born. Homosexual acts were known to be perverted and depraved in:

• the Old Testament
• the New Testament, and
• throughout most civilized societies.

I suggest that you do whatever it takes, intellectually and spiritually, to recognize how anti-life and objectively evil these stands are. Begin with sincerely, asking God to enlighten your mind after softening your heart to see and submit to the truth.

Praying a daily Rosary could also be a great help.

Peace,

Paul

Zach,

It depends on the Catholics. If they believe in God's law for humanity, they may be afraid for your salvation (and|or) they might wonder why you would want to become Catholic, if you reject natural law and Church teaching; you would have to ask them. A more important question is:

• What does God think?

Paul

Zach —

It can never be a morally good choice to kill an innocent human being. Also, euthanasia is not a right to die issue: euthanasia is the killing of a suffering person without their consent. You may be thinking of assisted suicide, which is expressed as a right to die issue, but which is not.
It also is murder.

You cannot be Catholic without accepting the Church's fundamental teachings. You may find many so-called members of the Church who share your views, and they may let you stay in RCIA, but the fact is, that you would be in heresy and not a believing member of the faithful who make up the Church built on the rock of Peter.

In fact, until a few years ago, your positions would have put you outside of any Christian denomination and a few years before that, your views would have put you outside of all civilized society, except, of course, for the latter days of ancient Rome.

You said:

• What will the Catholics think when I present these views at my RCIA classes in the fall?
• Will there be conflict and debate?

Probably not, as many Catholics are soft on these issues.

Mary Ann

Dear Zach,

There isn't much more I can say that my colleagues haven't already covered.

I'm just wondering:

• Why would you want to join a Church you don't believe in?
  

Even if you receive poor RCIA instruction and learn nothing about Catholic teachings, based on what we have said, you now know what the Church believes and teaches. We have been around for 2,000 years and our teachings on abortion and homosexuality are obvious to anyone who is seven (7) years of age.

An uncatechized Catholic, I can understand, but why make yourself one in faith and in body,
(via the Eucharist), if you don't believe, what we believe. You would be saying that you are in a Common Union (Communion) with the Church's Teachings, when you are not.

I don't think you have thought these issues through. At our Particular Judgment, there will be only two people:

The Lord Jesus Christ and You.

I don't get it.

One final question:

• What choice does the unborn female fetus have?

Feminist groups refuse to answer this question. Whether the fetus is male or female:

pro-choice is anti-choice!

Some will say:

It's the mother's baby, because it's her body and no one has a right to tell her what to do with her own body.

The problem with this answer is that it denies the mortality of the body.

Of course, it's not her body, just as my body, isn't mine. Our bodies come from our Creator, Our Lord, Jesus Christ in a partnership with our earthly father and mother. For those who think only a man and woman are needed to give birth to a new child, I recommend they talk to the legions of couples trying to have a child but who can't.

The new child doesn't have a chance (choice) in the mother's womb unless the mother is pro-life.

We have to turn this issue from the emotional one to a rationale, helpful one.

Before birth:

Any woman with an unexpected pregnancy should know that any Catholic diocese can help and assist her in:

• delivering her child
• providing nutritional, physical and financial support, and
• help her to support herself and her family.

Though I live in one of the most liberal Commonwealths among the fifty United States, even we have a law (The Baby Safe Haven law) that allows a woman with an unexpected pregnancy, to anonymously drop their new born infant off at any fire station.

If you are interested in a different view of the abortion issue, you probably haven't heard, check out my commentary:

• The Dialogue: Who is really Pro-Choice?

Mike

Dear Zach,

Like many people, you have fallen prey to what we call Moral Relativism.

This posting below give one example within it:

• Is there a way to marry him in a Catholic Church without agreeing to raise our children Catholic?

You want a Church that fits your moral values, not the Church that is a truth-telling Church.
You are basically playing personal pope, except you have no authority to decide what is good and what is bad; this is what Moral Relativism is: every individual on the face of the earth deciding their own moral values.

If I feel like shooting you with a gun is morally fine, I can do it. When a police officer comes to arrest me, I'll just tell him:

Hello, officer. You don't have to arrest me, because shooting Zach is within my morally acceptable values. Have a nice day.

This is the crazy, insane nature of Moral Relativism. The Catholic view is the Church is present in the world, to change us, not the other way around.

All non-Catholics should join the Catholic Church because, despite the bad behavior among some of our members, they believe it will tell them the truth on what is best for them and their salvation, even though some of the teachings, like on concupiscence, may be hard to accept because of our fallen nature. Even I struggle in this area, but I trust the Church because of Her Founder!

Jesus Christ, True God and True Man, consubstantial (of one substance) with the Father.

The CJCLDS does not believe Jesus Christ is God; they believe Jesus was Satan's soul mate.

Islamic religions do not respect free will of their own people. This is why a Muslim who converts to another religion is killed. (e.g. the recent Catholic martyr in Pakistan.)

• As far as Catholics go, do you think it is fair to judge a faith, based on what so-called members of the faith say, who don't practice or believe in the teachings of their faith?

More importantly:

• If you lived back in 33 A.D. would you trust what Judas said, or what Andrew said?

You said:

• You don't think it's possible?

Well, look around. There are cafeteria Catholic's everywhere.

• Just because there are Judas Catholics everywhere, does that mean we should follow
  the 90 percent of dissenting Catholics, or discern the 10 percent of true believers?

None of us can force you to do anything you don't want to do. We give advice to help you understand why the Church teaches, what She does.

• If you don't believe the Church is a truth-telling Church that was founded by Jesus Christ, who is True God and True Man for our salvation and the salvation of all men . . .

you shouldn't join.

• Why would you base your salvation on someone else's bad behavior?
  

I just don't get it.

Mike