Very well said, Mr Bene. Sakto gyud, religion doesn't save us. Ang mga pari mga tawo ra man pud na sila, kung makasala sila, it's between them and God. It doesn't disillusion me, coz mas daghan man ko kaila nga mga maayo kaayo nga pari. Do you know Fr. Chapman SJ? He was my most beloved priest. I cried for days when he died.
With regards adtong pari nga cgeg counseling adtong ex-wife sa akong uncle, na affected baya gyud ang parish. Kay giluod siguro ang mga tawo maminaw niya magwali sa misa about God's teachings, unya cge siyag counseling on the side. I think the counseling has been going on for close to ten years now. What I don't understand is why wala gi futbol sa Obispo ning paria.
This is true that religion does not save, it is in Faith and in Acting on Faith itself. The structure of religion does encourage the increase and development of faith through the reading and interpretation of scripture with fellow worshipers. This also includes in the act of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Prayers, Litanies, and the act of consecration.
As one who struggled with faith during my adolescent years, particularly all throughout my high school years, I particularly found it hard to accept the rules and structure of the Catholic Church.
At the time. When I left for college, it was when I was alone and distant from my parents and family, physically, that I found and reaffirmed my faith. Kai sa una when ever we would go to church, all liturgical teachings would pass me; that or i would dismiss the words as mere heresay, as mere stories and nothing more.
In college, I immediately realized that I needed something to hold me together. Even logical understandings and scientific methodology could not explain a natural need to 'believe'. I befriended a very good friend of mine to this day, Fr. Mark Hoffman, the catholic chaplain in my college. And I must say that we would have long-ended, glorious, and mind-refreshing conversations. Ranging to questions and talks on scripture, on politics, history and deeply on prayer.
I will always remember the words of Fr. Mark because he always stressed to me the power of PRAYER. He would tell me, "Al, you must open yourself to the Holy Spirit, open yourself to the word of God. To the name of Jesus. Many Americans, are deaf. Not physically deaf, but deaf to the call of God as it is in prayer that He communicates with us and it is in solid and candid prayer that we can truly understand what He has planned for us. Or accept the things that we cannot change and to find strength in what will and what has already happened."
My relationship with Fr. Mark Hoffman has reconnected me. I always thank him for allowing me to be "Born Again" Catholic . On the September of 2006 my sister and I enrolled for Catholic Confirmation with many catholic students as well as municipal members. We studied scripture with Fr. Mark and other ecclesiastical members. We read the entire bible; story per story, and our meetings were 3 times a week. Sometimes it would last from 3 hours to even 5 hours. Depending on the questions we had. LoL
Oh How I loved it! It has allowed me to accept and understand the structure of the Holy Catholic Church, and the teachings, the adoration of the sacraments, and most of all the adoration and consecration of the Holy Gospel.
There is no feeling that can describe the beauty of prayer, of worshiping and singing praises to Our Father. It is true though, that religion does not save, but religion itself can influence and increase Faith itself. Faith comes to the individual. God Claims His Own in due time. Trust me.
For me, mo add lang ko sa aning mga priestly order. I do understand the points of what you guys are saying; and do agree with you that some of these instances of priests molesting young children is completely abhorable. These individuals do not represent the holy order of priests. These are exceptions, and I can only pray for them for the forgiveness of their souls for their actions. It is not right for us to condemn, but to pray for them so that mercy shall be given to them from God. But on a human level, I believe that they should be punished harshly and accordingly to their actions.
Outside of that, the holy orders of priesthood and sisterhood, brotherhood and missionary work are holy orders. God has spoken to them to join in order to spread His Word. And these callings are genuine and true. For that I truly respect priests and those who are seminarian majors and seminarian minors. For they have answered what many do not.
Blessed Be God The Most High,
and Peace to His People on Earth,
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