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Do you lean toward the Ecumenical Catholic ?
Are You a Roman Catholic or an Ecumenical Catholic? The answer might surprise you. Your beliefs will help you to identify which tradition you are really following. These questions are by no means a full review of the differences between the Ecumenical Catholic and Roman Catholic understanding of faith. There are many other questions that could be asked, but this is a sampling of questions that might reveal your attitudes/beliefs, allowing you to see if you are aligned with the Ecumenical Catholic or Roman Catholic thinking. A. I believe the Pope is infallible in all matters of faith and moral practice and that he has direct spiritual authority over me and all others. B. I believe the Pope is a great leader and teacher of the church, but that in some of my decisions on faith and moral practice, I may differ with him. A. I believe that artificial birth control is a sin even when used by married couples. B. I believe that the decision to use artificial birth control is best decided by couples in serious, committed relationships. A. I believe that divorce between two Catholics is wrong and that the church should never recognize the divorce of a married Catholic couple. B. I believe divorce is often tragic, but not an unpardonable sin; that divorced people who remarry should be fully welcomed into the church and it’s sacraments. A. I believe that only the Pope and Catholic bishops should have authority in the church and that lay people should not share in the church’s governance. B. I believe that laypeople of the church should have a voice in the church’s governance and that the clergy should have accountability to the people of the church. A. I believe that only celibate men should be priests. B. I believe priests can be celibate or married, male or female. A. I believe that non-Catholic churches are defective and that their members are spiritually at risk because of this. B. I believe that non-Catholic churches are not "defective", but sincere expressions of Christian faith that do not share the traditions of the Catholic Church. A. I believe that only Catholics should receive Holy Communion at mass and that Protestants should not be allowed to receive communion at Catholic masses. B. I believe Holy Communion at Mass should be open to Christians who are not Catholic, but are sincere people of faith. A. I believe that Holy Communion at mass should only be given to those who believe in the Pope’s infallibility and authority, and, thus, Protestants should be excluded. B. I believe that Holy Communion should be allowed for all who believe, not just those who accept the infallibility and authority of the Pope. A. I believe that sex between unmarried people is always a serious or mortal sin, and that even mature adults in committed, romantic relationships are sinning if they have sex before marriage. B. I believe that sex is best in the context of a marriage, but that mature adults in committed relationships are not automatically sinners because of their sexual sharing. A. I believe that gay and lesbian people are "disordered". B. I believe that gay and lesbian people are not "disordered", even if I do not understand or relate to their sexual orientation. If you answered (B) more times than you thought – You could be inclined toward the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. |
