Please
answer the following questions by placing a check mark next to the statements
you agree with. These questions are by
no means a full review of the differences between the Roman Catholic and
American National Catholic understanding of faith.
There are many other questions that could be asked. But this is a sampling of your attitude to
see if you are aligned with Roman Catholic or National Catholic
thinking. Which do you more align yourself with?
National Catholic
1. _____I believe that 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.
2. _____I believe birth control is a private matter that couples should decide according to their own informed consciences.
3. _____I believe that divorce is often tragic, but not an unpardonable sin and that divorced people should be fully welcomed into the Church and its sacraments.
4. _____I believe that the laypeople of the Church should have some voice in the Church’s governance and that the clergy should have some accountability to their people.
5. _____I believe that priests should be free to marry.
6._____I believe that non-Catholic Churches are not “defective” but rather are sincere expressions of Christian faith that do not share the traditions of the Catholic Church.
7. _____I believe that Holy Communion at Mass should be open to Christians who are not Catholic but are sincere people of faith.
8. _____I believe that Holy Communion at Mass should be offered to all who believe, not just for those who accept the Pope’s infallibility and authority.
9. _____I believe that sex should be within the context of marriage, but that mature adults in committed romantic relationships are not automatically sinners because of their sexual sharing.
10. _____I believe that gay and lesbian people are not “disordered” (even if I do not understand or relate to their sexual orientation).
Roman Catholic
National Catholic
1. _____I believe that 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.
2. _____I believe birth control is a private matter that couples should decide according to their own informed consciences.
3. _____I believe that divorce is often tragic, but not an unpardonable sin and that divorced people should be fully welcomed into the Church and its sacraments.
4. _____I believe that the laypeople of the Church should have some voice in the Church’s governance and that the clergy should have some accountability to their people.
5. _____I believe that priests should be free to marry.
6._____I believe that non-Catholic Churches are not “defective” but rather are sincere expressions of Christian faith that do not share the traditions of the Catholic Church.
7. _____I believe that Holy Communion at Mass should be open to Christians who are not Catholic but are sincere people of faith.
8. _____I believe that Holy Communion at Mass should be offered to all who believe, not just for those who accept the Pope’s infallibility and authority.
9. _____I believe that sex should be within the context of marriage, but that mature adults in committed romantic relationships are not automatically sinners because of their sexual sharing.
10. _____I believe that gay and lesbian people are not “disordered” (even if I do not understand or relate to their sexual orientation).
Roman Catholic
- _____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.
- _____I believe that artificial birth control is a sin even when used by married people.
- _____I believe that divorce between two Catholics is wrong and that the Church should never recognize the divorce of a married Catholic couple.
- _____I believe that only the Pope and Catholic bishops should have authority in the Church and that lay people should not share in its governance.
- _____I believe that only celibate men should be priests.
- _____I believe that non-Catholic Churches are defective and that their members are spiritually at risk because of this.
- _____I believe that only Catholics should receive Holy Communion at Mass and that Protestants should not be allowed to receive communion at Catholic masses.
- _____I believe 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.
- _____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.
- _____I believe that gay and lesbian people are “disordered.”
