I have a question for all the Catholics out here. If u r going to flame me go away. I wanted to ask if you think that the church has every right to imply the rules of no-abortion and anit-gay marriage to the laymen? I am confused about it, but a thought came to me suddenly. Is it the AMerican way of thinking that we can choose whatever we want and how we want to think, or is the church right? Just posing a question because i get stuck on what i think is right and what they think is right.

Thanks everlast

Hi Autismnomore,

I'm a committed Catholic so I will answer your question the best I can. It is more than just a right for the church to proclaim teachings about protecting the unborn or the sanctity of marriage. The church absolutely believes that it has a duty- a God ordained duty- to proclaim these things, because it believes abortion and homosexual marriage are not in keeping with God's will and that they infringe on the dignity of human life and the sanctity of marriage. Catholics believe in the authority of the church as God's institution here on earth.

This means that Catholics cannot simply choose to agree or disagree with whatever they like or dislike that the church teaches. Otherwise, we would not really be putting our faith in the fullness of the Catholic church. Some teachings might be difficult to understand,but we trust the wisdom of the church and we trust that the church really is where God's will for us is most fully communicated to us. Also, because God is God, He is God for everyone, not just for Catholics. Because God loves everyone and His will is for all people, it is important that in the two matters you bring up, the church tries to reach everyone including (non-Catholic)laymen. The church is ocncerned about everyones' welfare not just Catholics.

People can choose: but they can make good choices or bad choices. The fact that you can choose to do something doesn't make it right. That's why we need to look to something bigger than ourselves to point to what's the right choices to make. I find it comforting that the world's major religions advocate very similar morality to what the Catholic church teaches.

Hope this helps you

They think thier ideas are the most morally correct, so they want to tell the public. It is your job to make up your own ideas with the information given. I am Catholic and on many church issues I do not agree. You don't have to agree with what is said, just listen to the facts given.