A Practicing Catholic.....

I do what I do, hun....I help who I help....My god, I know, loves me and respects me for what I try to do....he doesn't always want to know...but he knows I am a good person at heart...

And...his words....his messages...they mean more to me than someone who is trying to speak to everyone the word of god....

That is, in a way, second hand news...and we've all seen how man's interpretations have got him into trouble, time and again...

Sammy Jo xx

Sammy, despite my sins, I will pray for you. Please recall the St. Ignatius wasn't always St. Ignatius. Vivat Jesus

Have you ever knowen, that in the middle Ages Prostitution went up near the cathedrals, where the priests lived.

For a long term of time, Prostitution was a way of society to get peace.

Jesus did not judge other people.

It is not the question of church to judge somebody.

Maybe you on yourself want to get out of the circle of prostitution.

consa and perseverer i dunno if im the 1 confused or if u guyz r...i think yr tryin 2 convince sammie that prostution is a sin rite? but she sed it herself at the beginning "love the sinner not the sin" so she alredy knows its a sin that shes doin wrong but she cant help it so she tries 2b good in other ways...so yru tryin 2 make her feel bad about it?? yr sinners 2 ya know...but i dont c u confessing it here 2 evry1 like sammy :P

Again...one man's "freedom fighter"...

Sure. My daughter has little religious faith, as such, but lots of understanding about it....the many and varied religions and faiths of the world. The rest is up to her really. However, she was baptised as a Catholic....



Look at England, where I'm from, and the 'concept' of the Crusades....amazingly, they're glorified as this great thing....and yet we all look down on Hitler and Pol Pot for doing the same thing? What's that about?



Very shameful...



Samantha x

I'm raised Catholic but I struggle with it; probably more agnostic than anything else these days. That said we are raising our kids in the faith; I think it important (particularly in this society) that they be exposed to it so they can make up their own mind.



And I agree with your point large communities; don't think there is a single one that can look in the mirror and like everything they see.

True, true...



I've never tried to 'pretend' or 'bend opinion' on who and what I am....yet these people do, and they do it knowingly....that's not the word of the lord!



In muslim rule they say that god made everyone different and different countries so that everyone had something to learn from...to communicate....not start wars, y'know?



As a Catholic I am proud of my religion and my beliefs. I might not be proud of some of the people in it, but that happens with any large community.



I try my best to be the best person I can be....and I deserve to be looked upon as an equal....no one man/woman should be seen as 'better' than anyone else....



That's my main 'ideal'



Thanks...



Samantha xx

Well said Samantha. There is so much gray in these matters...not the black and white some would like to see. I also like the use of the term "freedom fighter"; you know one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

Ok....don't get me started on MM! According to hidden scripture, during the lengthy decisions on what exactly to put in the bible, lots of things were cast aside along the way. One of which was that Mary was, in actual fact, a type of Freedom Fighter, for want of a better term. Now, that may have been done because at that time, as is now, the world was seen as a male-dominated place....and having a 'cool' woman kicking arse - and doing it well - for what she believed in was probably way too much for these priests to take....



So.....in light of that....there's me who's a prostitute who's compassionate and caring about her community.....and there's these guys that for a thousand years have corrupted the way that the world looks upon one of Jesus' best friends.....who's the most corrupt and sinful?



Do I struggle with my sin? I don't see prostitution to be a sin. I see lack of respect for others to be a sin....



It is my duty to respect others and be helpful on their long journeys of discovery and of life. This I do...



Samantha xx

A fundamental moral problem with prostitution is that you have no way of knowing which of your clients are married. To service a married man is aiding and abetting adultery, which middle eastern monotheism has always deemed a grave sin. Many Jews and Christians have, as a pragmatic concession to modern life, silently accepted fornication among the young. But our secular society has not budged on adultery, if only because nearly all married women are very deeply hurt by it, if only for selfish reasons.



God designed our bodies to have the capacity for sexual passion. God did this, not so that we can have fun with people who strike our fancy, as occasion arises, but in order to bind us to someone of the opposite sex for life. Sexual desire is the epoxy cement of the mind and soul. It binds one man and one woman to each other, hopefully for life. The childbearing married couple is a fundamental unit of an orderly and moral society.



Many men have difficulties with sexual desire. Many human customs surrounding the notion of body modesty were intended to reduce the temptations men experience. A prostitute does not help men on their life journey to moral wisdom. This is the sense in which prostitution is contrary to God's plan for the human condition. Sexual pleasure can be seen as the reward, here and now, for couples who do their part.



Christian legend has it that Mary Magdalen was a REFORMED prostitute. There is no claim that she was an active one during the time of Christ's earthly ministry.



God indeed does love the sinner, especially the reflective sinner. That does not absolve the sinner of his duty to struggle against sin.

Well, what I DO think - and believe - is that only God can make that call and that people of ANY faith should be tollerant.....after all, you could interpret the "false prophets" as Muslims, Pagans, Buddists etc...



I believe that god looks upon people as a whole....the holistic. And, as such, being a caring and considerate person and helping my fellow man/woman/animal, God would look upon me as a woman who tries...



That boils down to respect....



Thank you...



Samantha xx

Prostitution is a practise contrary to the gospel. You are in the situation of being what is referred to as a public sinner. And you are asking us to hate the sin but love the sinner. No problem. However, if you do not sincerely regard prostitution as a sin and think that the Catholic Church is wrong for condemning it, then the correct thing to do would be to formally disassociate yourself from the Church.

I'll enter a church ....come sit next to you ...hug you ...show everyone in the room that I'm "associated" with you. :)

(Sorry ...just NOW I happen to come across this story)

Thank you...



I think that's true. Very profound words that I think everyone should heed...



Samantha xx

I've been brought up a catholic also. My Mom was once a nun. I had to leave my religion in order to understand it. I do not attend church on a regular basis but I do go on missionary trips through my church. My faith is in my heart and I carry it with me daily. Be who you are and change the things your dissatisfied with. Be true to your heart because your heart will always tell you what is right for you. Only you know what is right in this journey called life.

you are a great person, Samantha, don't worry about what others may think of you.

People, as human beings, have their own opinion on things. As we have all seen in our real lives - I bet! - that the one action can be seen in many different ways, depending on who's eyes it seen. Right? As such, there are a lot of contradictions in life...as in all things.



I was brought up to believe in God....in Jesus....and in a higher power. That I still do. I have faith in the 'person' of Jesus....the 'person' of god. That's why I go to church....



People can have the best will and intentions in the whole world but still get it wrong, y'know? That's my opinion. That, along with my belief in god, I hope will never change...



Samantha Duponte xx

The Bible? Only the works of man. I seem to recall, back in the 10th Centuary I believe, there were ministers holding a 3 day (?!) meeting about who's testamonies should appear in the condensed - as we read it now - bible. Some 40 or so were not included....some because they contradicted others. From MM herself - one of the non-includes - she doesn't state she was a *****. Likewise, from a couple of others it stated that she was a strong woman, fighting for the cause....



We, after all, only go by what we've read. If indeed Mary M was a prostitute then she'll be my role model! If not then she's still a cool person - caring and believing. That, at the end of the day, is the main thing, right?



Thanks.....



Sammy Jo xx

Thanks for that Imogen. However, I seem to recall that MM's involvement in religion has been seriously dumbed down. She wasn't a prostitute but a strong, independant women.



Still, yeah, Jesus was Kind and conciderate to all.....as we should all try to be...



:-)



Samantha Josephine Duponte xx