I'm absolutely sure, that in my time, at least, many people are not sure what the Catholic Church teaches.
Just moving to Canada has shown me that there are differences in what Catholics here are focused on, in comparison to the Catholic teachings I learned in Michigan as a child. From church to church, pastors emphasize different teachings of the church and sometimes this really confuses people within the church, let alone those who are of other faiths.
So from what I have seen, many who are skeptical of the Church for whatever reason, if truly searching for truth will find it and will see that every religion is susceptible to untruths presented as real.
I've heard friends tell me that the Catholic Church is not Christian. That the Vatican is captured by Satan. That the Roman Empire controlled the Vatican and that somehow has not yet let go.
When people are open to learn, I think God will grant them faith in the true church that Jesus founded, which I believe lies within the Catholic Church, but that is for each of us to work out. Popes come and popes go. Not all are the best teachers. Not all hear the Holy Spirit and so these men are not infallible. But I do believe that the teachings that come from Jesus are protected by the Catholic Church and always will be.
I have questions. I have a lot of them, but I find that "Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened." It's not forbidden for Catholic laity to explore the church and its teachings. In fact I do think that God expects us to when we are searching for truth. He knows that humanity is curious. He lived among humans.
I'm absolutely sure, that in my time, at least, many people are not sure what the Catholic Church teaches.
Just moving to Canada has shown me that there are differences in what Catholics here are focused on, in comparison to the Catholic teachings I learned in Michigan as a child. From church to church, pastors emphasize different teachings of the church and sometimes this really confuses people within the church, let alone those who are of other faiths.
So from what I have seen, many who are skeptical of the Church for whatever reason, if truly searching for truth will find it and will see that every religion is susceptible to untruths presented as real.
I've heard friends tell me that the Catholic Church is not Christian. That the Vatican is captured by Satan. That the Roman Empire controlled the Vatican and that somehow has not yet let go.
When people are open to learn, I think God will grant them faith in the true church that Jesus founded, which I believe lies within the Catholic Church, but that is for each of us to work out. Popes come and popes go. Not all are the best teachers. Not all hear the Holy Spirit and so these men are not infallible. But I do believe that the teachings that come from Jesus are protected by the Catholic Church and always will be.
I have questions. I have a lot of them, but I find that "Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened." It's not forbidden for Catholic laity to explore the church and its teachings. In fact I do think that God expects us to when we are searching for truth. He knows that humanity is curious. He lived among humans.