what makes one a "Liberal Catholic"?

[MoNiCa4316]

Hi, I'm a conservative Catholic, but..I come in peace lol! I'm fairly new to Catholicism... and I never knew this forum existed until now!!
so I'm just wondering, what exactly is a "Liberal Catholic"? We're talking about theology, not politics here, right?

Thank you!

God bless

monica

 

[Loki]

Liberal Catholics (here at least) are those who have trouble with some aspects of doctrine. This subforum was created so that people could express their doubt and troubles without being browbeaten.

Hopefully Protie or someone will be along shortly to describe it better. It's a quiet forum, but serves its purpose when called upon.

Welcome, btw

 

[MoNiCa4316]

ooh I see! thanks! well I think it's good to have a place for people to talk about their doubts etc (I have those too sometimes). Better to talk to others who are also struggling with (maybe similar) doctrines than pretend/act like the struggles don't exist..

 

[Loki]

ooh I see! thanks! well I think it's good to have a place for people to talk about their doubts etc. Better to talk to others who are also struggling with (maybe similar) doctrines than pretend/act like the struggles don't exist..

Or to say that one isn't Catholic because one has doubts.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

True

 

[Loki]

But welcome to both Catholicism and this forum. The people here tend to the left politically, though the liberal primarily refers to theology.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

thanks!

 

[Ave Maria]

I'm a liberal Catholic because I disagree with Catholic moral teachings on many things such as gay marriage and abortion. That is why I am a liberal Catholic.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

First, it is important to realize that most liberal Catholics are very Catholic in their theology and practice. We love the Mass even if we prefer a different set of hymns than our conservative brothers and sisters. We also tend to subscribe to distinctively Catholic ideas such a Purgatory even if we think the descriptions given in the the Baltimore Catechism are wrong.

Generally, liberal Catholics simply think something in the Catholic status quo is wrong. What this is will vary from liberal Catholic to liberal Catholic, but with it will come a tolerance of others who have their own problems with the status quo.

 

[Caedmon]

I don't think I can hold a moniker one way or the other. I'm conservative on some issues and liberal on others. Maybe moderate is a better term? I don't know. Does prefering Gregorian Chant make you "conservative"? Does having no problem with homosexual civil unions make you "liberal"? I don't know.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Even my self-described progressive parish likes to throw traditional pieces and practices into the mix.

 

[Caedmon]

Even my self-described progressive parish likes to throw traditional pieces and practices into the mix.

I think if we would focus on what's easy to unify on, the Church would be a whole lot better in the long run. Liberal politically? Fine. But let's at least have a completely unified liturgy. Is it really going to hurt you not to hold hands during the Our Father? Will it kill you to sing the Lamb of God in Latin? I think not. You don't have to scorn universal healthcare to sing "Dona nobis pacem."

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

I think if we would focus on what's easy to unify on, the Church would be a whole lot better in the long run. Liberal politically? Fine. But let's at least have a completely unified liturgy. Is it really going to hurt you not to hold hands during the Our Father? Will it kill you to sing the Lamb of God in Latin? I think not. You don't have to scorn universal healthcare to sing "Dona nobis pacem."

I don't think centralization of the liturgy has been entirely good. If things stay the way they are now, there will never again be a new rite.

 

[Caedmon]

I don't think centralization of the liturgy has been entirely good. If things stay the way they are now, there will never again be a new rite.

What would you like to see in a new rite?

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

What would you like to see in a new rite?

I would like cultures to have the ability to adapt the liturgy to their own circumstances.

 

[JasonV]

I would like cultures to have the ability to adapt the liturgy to their own circumstances.

Oh you mean like during the first 1000 years of the Church?

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Oh you mean like during the first 1000 years of the Church?

Yes. I'd also like to go back to the old way of choosing bishops. It was good for the pope to take it out of the hands of secular authorities, but it shouldn't be centralized.

 

[PetersKeys]

I'm a liberal Catholic because I disagree with Catholic moral teachings on many things such as gay marriage and abortion. That is why I am a liberal Catholic.

Liberal Catholic = Oxymoron. By definition the things you support would make you a heretic or schismatic by church definition. If people don't believe the churches teachings then they really cannot call themselves a Catholic since thats what the meaning of the word is - Catholic - someone initiated into the church and follows it doctrine. It would be like me calling myself a Jew yet proclaiming that I believe Jesus is the Messiah.

There is nothing liberal about Catholicism. Its a very narrow road to the gate.

 

[JasonV]

Liberal Catholic = Oxymoron. By definition the things you support would make you a heretic or schismatic by church definition. If people don't believe the churches teachings then they really cannot call themselves a Catholic since thats what the meaning of the word is - Catholic - someone initiated into the church and follows it doctrine.

Not really. Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Old Catholics also are Catholics. Sure, that's less than 400 million people, but I think that's enough to count.

It would be like me calling myself a Jew yet proclaiming that I believe Jesus is the Messiah.

I take it you've never heard of Messianic Jews?

There is nothing liberal about Catholicism.

This forum proves otherwise.

 

[Antigone]

There is nothing liberal about Catholicism. Its a very narrow road to the gate.

Thank goodness not everyone subscribes to that 'ein volch, ein reich, ein führer' mentality...