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Who the pope is, is not really relevant. It's not like the pope will suddenly go against the key scriptures or something. Also, most Catholics are born in cath

Who the pope is, is not really relevant. It's not like the pope will suddenly go against the key scriptures or something. Also, most Catholics are born in catholic families so it's not like they chose catholicism over something else.

graemep 1y ago
> Also, most Catholics are born in catholic families so it's not like they chose catholicism over something else. I do not know whether that is true any more, at least in all countries. At one Catholic parish I knew in Britain about half the congregation were adult converts. Then there are a lot of people who leave and return. I might count as that - Catholic family, was agnostic (and married in registry office, which turned out to be useful), and now am definitely a Christian but feel denomination does not matter and do not really accept much of the Catholic theology (and some of its practical consequences, such as no women priests really bother me). OTOH I have not, and would not, formally leave the church either.
ZoomZoomZoom 1y ago
Who the president is, is not really relevant. It's not like the president will suddenly go against the constitution or something. Bring serious, it's kind of important due to the Pope's infallibility.
- ekianjo 1y ago
  Irrelevant analogy. You can't change country super easily but you can stop being a Catholic in 5 seconds if you decide it.
  - bevesce- 1y ago
    Apostasy is not that quick or easy. Depending on a country the church can fight you on that.
    - ekianjo 1y ago
      Any example?
  - disgruntledphd2 1y ago
    > you can stop being a Catholic in 5 seconds if you decide it. How does one officially leave the Catholic Church? Sure, you can stop attending church and taking communion, but you're still on a list somewhere in your parish(es).
    - ekianjo 1y ago
      Being on a list means what? How does that impact your life?
      - ben_w 1y ago
        Some places have church tax based on your religion, such as Germany. I've heard varying claims from locals about the difficulty of leaving organised religion, though for me as an Auslander it was as easy as just saying "none" in the right box when setting up my tax ID.
        ekianjo 1y ago
        I am aware of Germany but that's an exception. In no other (developed) country are your taxes tied to your faith.

graemep 1y ago

> Also, most Catholics are born in catholic families so it's not like they chose catholicism over something else. I do not know whether that is true any more, at least in all countries. At one Catholic parish I knew in Britain about half the congregation were adult converts. Then there are a lot of people who leave and return. I might count as that - Catholic family, was agnostic (and married in registry office, which turned out to be useful), and now am definitely a Christian but feel denomination does not matter and do not really accept much of the Catholic theology (and some of its practical consequences, such as no women priests really bother me). OTOH I have not, and would not, formally leave the church either.

ZoomZoomZoom 1y ago

Who the president is, is not really relevant. It's not like the president will suddenly go against the constitution or something. Bring serious, it's kind of important due to the Pope's infallibility.

ekianjo 1y ago
Irrelevant analogy. You can't change country super easily but you can stop being a Catholic in 5 seconds if you decide it.
- bevesce- 1y ago
  Apostasy is not that quick or easy. Depending on a country the church can fight you on that.
  - ekianjo 1y ago
    Any example?
- disgruntledphd2 1y ago
  > you can stop being a Catholic in 5 seconds if you decide it. How does one officially leave the Catholic Church? Sure, you can stop attending church and taking communion, but you're still on a list somewhere in your parish(es).
  - ekianjo 1y ago
    Being on a list means what? How does that impact your life?
    - ben_w 1y ago
      Some places have church tax based on your religion, such as Germany. I've heard varying claims from locals about the difficulty of leaving organised religion, though for me as an Auslander it was as easy as just saying "none" in the right box when setting up my tax ID.
      - ekianjo 1y ago
        I am aware of Germany but that's an exception. In no other (developed) country are your taxes tied to your faith.