Hi Vladimir

It is not hateful to say that Catholicism is the only true religion - - but it must be tempered with humility because of the graces given.  

About  the dubious-ness of N.O. sacraments---some are extremely arrogant when saying so.  Others have the gift of persuasion by God's grace.  

It is not arrogant to defend Our Lord by despising laypeople touching the Host.  Some time ago in the DC area consecrated Hosts were going for $500 apiece to satanists.  I once saw a woman take the host and run out of St. Matthew's Cathedral, the priest tried to catch her.  She was laughing as she outran him and made it to the street.   :devil2:

I can't answer your next question.  I don't know anymore.

Yes we can know for certain that our religion is the true one.  Some of the men here probably know the best source for that.

Here's a proof that Catholicism is the true religion: http://cathom.blogspot.com/2009/10/presence-of-sacred-objects-stops.html

Elizabeth,

I asked these questions because I was called all the things that I put in quotation marks for saying those things. My parents, who liken me to a Muslim terrorist (but instead of blowing up people, I just pray for myself and the conversion of sinners  :rolleyes:) had an argument with me yesterday about the Novus Ordo, etc.

I think that the fault is mine, for getting angry during the argument and speaking rudely. I still feel bad about it (it wasn't resolved). I ended it by saying that this is why Christ said that He came to bring a sword to divide father against daughter and mother against son..... I'm not sure if I sinned or not, since the only thing I was doing was defending the Latin Mass and Traditional Catholicism, but I did speak in a rude voice to my parents.... (but they did agree to speak with the local FSSP and SSPX priests about the Novus Ordo, so that is a starting point at least!  )

OOoooooohhhhh, Mr Vladimir

I know that if you win like this, this is a pyhrric victory.
I do this kind of angry arguing a lot. I regard this as one of my worst sins! Every week I go to Mass and can´t take the Blessed Sacrament because I have been screaming and shouting at my friends about my faith and couldn´t get to confession. In confession I promise I will stop and then I find my little top blowing off again.
Even if I "win", I feel I am wrong because I have been full of pride and anger. And Pride is the worst of the deadly sins.

It is still  a cause of great sorrow that I shouted and was so sarcastic and sharp to my beloved father. I can still see his face crumpling at my tactlessness.
I really hated my parents because they tried to tell me I was doing wrong. Because I just KNEW I was always right!!! ALWAYS! Even when I was totally wrong!
I didn´t care about their feelings. I had to win!!!!!!!!
I made my poor mother cry a lot and slammed the door in her face. Left without even saying goodbye.

Now my father is dead and my mother is old and crippled. Now I know how much they both loved me. Now I know what "Honour thy father and mother" really means.

Sorry if that sounds like a lecture, but I am very sad that I caused my parents so much pain when they gave me so much that was good.

What you say is not wrong and I really know how you feel, but we can´t persuade people by losing our self-control, especially our parents who looked after us when we were totally helpless.

Can we know for certain that our religion is the true one?

Yes.  If we could not, Catholics' behavior on this point would be a kind of mass insanity, perpetuated throughout two millenia.

Godspeed, young man.

NO, it's not hateful. If anything, it's LOVING!

If you truly loved your neighbor, you would say it like it is.

You are wrong!

It is certainly wrong to incite somebody to grave sin. Which you are doing here. It is always wrong to use violence, verbal or physical, to persuade somebody, especially when it is one´s parents.

I'll play....

Is it "hateful" to say that the Catholic religion is the only true religion, and by extension of that, all other religions are false?

It depends on your intent.... and the circuмstances. I've stood on my front porch and quietly told people who were trying to convert me to another religion that I was a Catholic and believed that it was the only true faith.

My coworkers on the other hand are of other religions, including Islam. It is inappropriate to get into their faces and talk religion in the workplace. If we do talk religion, I find positives we can share and steer clear of any debates. The muslims I work with really are good people and have solid families. They have always been respectful of my religion though I've never hidden the fact I'm Catholic.

Even if it were legally OK to sit down and preach to my coworkers... I wouldn't do it. I feel that the first step to converting people is by example. If they seriously ask questions or seek answers... then I'm ready to help them.

Is it "arrogant" so say that the validity of Novus Ordo sacraments are often dubious because of various factors (improper intent, etc).

Again circuмstances are important. If people ask my opinion, I offer it as tactfully as possible.

It is "arrogant" to say that Novus Ordo priests may often have the improper intent in terms of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (i.e., thinking its just a meal, etc) because of the deliberately ambiguous text of the New Mass and the deplorable state of Novus Ordo seminaries?

Same as above....

Is it "arrogant" to say that laypeople should not touch the consecrated Host?

Absolutely not.  :shocked:

If the Host is consecrated properly - then I would freak out if I saw somebody touching it.

Then again, I do not believe that the hosts consecrated in chapels that do the communion in the hand thingy are legit, so no fuss.

Is it an indefensible position to say that the Latin Mass is "better" than the New Mass? Or to say that the New Mass is not Catholic?

No. I stand by what I believe and see.  I've only seen the 'new mass' on TV, and it's like some kinda protestant thing.  :stare:

Can we know for certain that our religion is the true one?

Yep. It is the one that our Lord founded. The only other acceptible religion if you went all Da Vinci Code and proclaimed Catholicism a fraud - that would be Judaism, which was founded by God.

Besides that - I know that if you long for God and want the comfort that you find when practicing your religious beliefs - um, Catholicism is the way to go. It isn't based on your race or anything stupid like that. It doesn't find it necessary to humanize (or alienize, per LDS) God just to make him believable. And of course, speaking as a woman - I'm glad this perfect religion doesn't force me to wear burkas or be a mere commodity - because I would really hate that. And it gives us all the chance at and promise of heaven - something that isn't necessarily a certainty in other religions.

One of my friends is an Anglican and we get on while speaking of morals and various other issues.  But the beliefs they have concerning Our Lady and the saints leave me feeling a bit... twitchy. And other religions are the same way. I'm not even going to mention the things I've heard from friends who are mormans. Lovely people. But urr.... their religious beliefs remind me of a scifi novel.