Filipino Catholics,sacraments and catholic faith.

Dhugz · #1 Jun 27, '12, 10:36 pm

Just want to share practice of the Filipino catholics in our country that most maybe 70-80 percent don't go to confession before receiving the communion. Most will attend only the mass for if there is great feasts like, black nazarene etc, also on Palm sunday only, many do not know the importance of the sacraments, like confession, confirmation, marriage and anointing of the sick. Some will attend mass only for devotion to a saint like Mary, some will attend the mass for healing and miracles, some will attend mass only for the blessings of the palm, oil, and water on easter sunday. Some believe that they will just attend the Mass for the forgiveness of their sins, some believe that St. May is God, Many filipino catholics do not participate in the Parish programs, Many Catholics believes in faith healers or those witch doctors. Many of us here also are using contraception, and are unaware that it is a mortal sin. And, many things beyond the Catholic Faith.

I amaze when I read many things in this forum, American or the english speaking catholics are very aware of our catholic theolgy and beliefs.

ConstantineTG · #2 Jun 27, '12, 10:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhugz

Just want to share practice of the Filipino catholics in our country that most maybe 70-80 percent don't go to confession before receiving the communion. Most will attend only the mass for if there is great feasts like, black nazarene etc, also on Palm sunday only, many do not know the importance of the sacraments, like confession, confirmation, marriage and anointing of the sick. Some will attend mass only for devotion to a saint like Mary, some will attend the mass for healing and miracles, some will attend mass only for the blessings of the palm, oil, and water on easter sunday. Some believe that they will just attend the Mass for the forgiveness of their sins, some believe that St. May is God, Many filipino catholics do not participate in the Parish programs, Many Catholics believes in faith healers or those witch doctors. Many of us here also are using contraception, and are unaware that it is a mortal sin. And, many things beyond the Catholic Faith.

I amaze when I read many things in this forum, American or the english speaking catholics are very aware of our catholic theolgy and beliefs.

You know when I go to Confession when I was in the Philippines, because Masses are said one after another, there's maybe 5-10 minutes in between Masses. And confession typically starts as soon as one Mass ends. And the priest is there until around the Our Father of the next Mass when he have to leave and prepare to help in distribution of Holy Communion.

I don't know what you are saying about no one going to confession. I always find that confession lines are long.

Dhugz · #3 Jun 27, '12, 11:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

You know when I go to Confession when I was in the Philippines, because Masses are said one after another, there's maybe 5-10 minutes in between Masses. And confession typically starts as soon as one Mass ends. And the priest is there until around the Our Father of the next Mass when he have to leave and prepare to help in distribution of Holy Communion.

I don't know what you are saying about no one going to confession. I always find that confession lines are long.

I am speaking to majority of the filipino catholics, have you been with the churches in the provinces? Maybe you are only talking in Manila area.

ConstantineTG · #4 Jun 27, '12, 11:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhugz

I am speaking to majority of the filipino catholics, have you been with the churches in the provinces? Maybe you are only talking in Manila area.

You either put forward verifiable statistics to substantiate your claim. Otherwise, you are just making this up.

johndoe100 · #5 Jun 27, '12, 11:06 pm

Yes, I know what you are talking about, because I have been married to a Filipina for the past 23 years. We have been abused and condemned by these "Holier than Thou" American Catholics. Most high class American Catholics simply do not have any tolerance or understanding for the underdogs in the Third World.

Dhugz · #6 Jun 27, '12, 11:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

You either put forward verifiable statistics to substantiate your claim. Otherwise, you are just making this up.

I am verifying it as true and correct. Yes I admit that there are filipinos aware of the Catholic teachings but not all, specially if you go to the provinces many of them do not know the teachings of the church.

ConstantineTG · #7 Jun 27, '12, 11:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhugz

I am verifying it as true and correct. Yes I admit that there are filipinos aware of the Catholic teachings but not all, specially if you go to the provinces many of them do not know the teachings of the church.

Are you some sort of authority on this? Sorry, you are making unsubstantiated claim here supported only by your own word and your own observation. You don't even have hard statistics on this. For one thing, your claims are contrary to my own experience. So now its your word vs. mine. In the grand scheme of things, we two are not authorities in this matter. So either produce HARD evidence on your claim or withdraw making such disparaging remarks on such a faithful and God-fearing people.

Dhugz · #8 Jun 27, '12, 11:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

Are you some sort of authority on this? Sorry, you are making unsubstantiated claim here supported only by your own word and your own observation. You don't even have hard statistics on this. For one thing, your claims are contrary to my own experience. So now its your word vs. mine. In the grand scheme of things, we two are not authorities in this matter. So either produce HARD evidence on your claim or withdraw making such disparaging remarks on such a faithful and God-fearing people.

I will respect your own opinion, true, that is my own observation beacuse I am part the filipino catholic community in our country, i am not disparaging or under-estimating my fellow catholics here, i just want to share all of you that many of us here are like that. I am not the one only observed it, catholic priests too in our area are aware of it. Again, its just an observation of mine. Hoping you understand that.

ConstantineTG · #9 Jun 27, '12, 11:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhugz

I will respect your own opinion, true, that is my own observation beacuse I am part the filipino catholic community in our country, i am not disparaging or under-estimating my fellow catholics here, i just want to share all of you that many of us here are like that. I am not the one only observed it, catholic priests too in our area are aware of it. Again, its just an observation of mine. Hoping you understand that.

If it is just your personal observation, then state it that way. Saying that 70-80 percent, as you did in your original post, points that what you are presenting is factual and that it is backed by a verifiable study that proves this statistic. For one thing, you do not know if it is indeed 70-80 percent. Second, you do not know if people actually go to confession or not. You know that "hiya" is a big thing in our culture and most Filipinos will not go to confession in their own parish. I in fact did that when I lived there. I traveled a long distance to go to a parish where I usually do my confession. First is because I want it to be far away from my regular parish, and second is that I found a good confessor there. Now I cannot say for certain that everyone does this and I'm sure there are some who do go to confession in their own parish, but knowing our own cultural quirks and by sharing with people, that this happen more than a few times. Besides, its normal practice for us also to go to Mass wherever. Depends where we happen to be on a Sunday.

I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but you are putting up some big claims here and you even try to put forth some statistic. Before you make such remarks, make sure that what you are putting forth is accurate and true, and if they are just your opinions then clearly state it to be your opinion. Otherwise people will have a bad image of Filipino Catholics when the piece put forth is nothing but an opinion piece by one person based on his/her own observation. You need to be fair to all Filipino Catholics.

johndoe100 · #10 Jun 28, '12, 12:17 am

I agree that we should be fair to all Filipino Catholics. When I sent for my wife's baptism certificate my sister-in-law told me that the Catholic Church tightenen up lately. But, that was not the way it was 23 years ago when we got married over there. These American Internet Catholics with their Canon Law condemned us for not being married in Church. What a joke! Heck, there wasn't an Internet with search engines back then. Not to mention the mud roads.

Crescentinus · #11 Jun 28, '12, 1:56 am

A very obvious problem is the lack of priests here in the Philippines.

Lapey · #12 Jun 28, '12, 4:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crescentinus

A very obvious problem is the lack of priests here in the Philippines.

If there is a lack of priests there, why are so many Philipino priests in the US? It seems to me that we have so many here because there is an abundance there, am I wrong?

Lapey · #13 Jun 28, '12, 4:30 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndoe100

Yes, I know what you are talking about, because I have been married to a Filipina for the past 23 years. We have been abused and condemned by these "Holier than Thou" American Catholics. Most high class American Catholics simply do not have any tolerance or understanding for the underdogs in the Third World.

Please describe what a "high class American Catholic" is and looks like; and be specific on how they "abused and condemned" you and your wife.

Crescentinus · #14 Jun 28, '12, 4:30 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lapey

If there is a lack of priests there, why are so many Philipino priests in the US? It seems to me that we have so many here because there is an abundance there, am I wrong?

I think the reason for the shortage is due to one reason, and it's because most Filipino young guys (myself included) prefer marriage to the priesthood. Ultimately, it is God who calls people to vocations and up to us to accept a vocation.

Lapey · #15 Jun 28, '12, 4:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhugz

Just want to share practice of the Filipino catholics in our country that most maybe 70-80 percent don't go to confession before receiving the communion. Most will attend only the mass for if there is great feasts like, black nazarene etc, also on Palm sunday only, many do not know the importance of the sacraments, like confession, confirmation, marriage and anointing of the sick. Some will attend mass only for devotion to a saint like Mary, some will attend the mass for healing and miracles, some will attend mass only for the blessings of the palm, oil, and water on easter sunday. Some believe that they will just attend the Mass for the forgiveness of their sins, some believe that St. May is God, Many filipino catholics do not participate in the Parish programs, Many Catholics believes in faith healers or those witch doctors. Many of us here also are using contraception, and are unaware that it is a mortal sin. And, many things beyond the Catholic Faith.

I amaze when I read many things in this forum, American or the english speaking catholics are very aware of our catholic theolgy and beliefs.

You could say in many ways your post describes American Catholics. I don't believe this is a localized problem, its more like a Church wide problem. Mass attendance is somewhere in the mid to upper 20% range for the Church as a whole. Less than a third of Catholics go to Mass on Sunday.

I'll try to find the stats I am quoting.

Update, for 2011 US Catholics; 22% report going to Mass at least once a week. The only number I see for the Philippines is for 2004 and it is much better than here in the USA at48%.

http://cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServi...urchstats.html