Comments on: A Cafeteria Catholic Meets Father Robert Reyes

By: Cats Betonio

Cats Betonio — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:27:37 +0000

Not everyone is fortunate to get in touch with a priest like Father Reyes. I am lucky enough to hear great homilies from lively priests. After reading this, I recalled reading an article about Catholics in a certain western Asian country who waited 70 years for a priest to administer confirmation and such other rites. These priestless Catholics keep the faith and endure persecution and politics until the time the ban on the Catholic religion was lifted. Even without a priest for the long span of time, they inspired others and helped them in the faith. They have suffered too much for the Lord who suffered for them. In their persecution, they refused to give up their faith. They chose to die, spilling their blood for Christ’s name, drop by drop even if they are unworthy servants. They were never daunted.
After reading that, I began to include the Church, priests, and many lay people in my prayers. Being aware of the persecutions many Catholics and the Church endure stopped me from being critical of the church. I can’t afford myself being critical if I did nothing to lift the burden of these people.

By: BrianB

BrianB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:22:29 +0000

It was a good home for me for five years but it also ruined my ordinary social life. Lost touch with a lot of useful friends. People there were OK, helpful when you need help, but they are just too different from me. Ordinarily, you measure people before they become your friends and they measure you. What you get in the end are people like you and people who can truly help you because they know you. Not there, where friendship is just offered and taken without judgment. In the end, you end up with nothing except basic companionship.

By: BrianB

BrianB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 04:17:59 +0000

It was a good home for me for five years but it also ruined my ordinary social life. Lost in touch with a lot of useful friends.

By: Isai

Isai — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:47:20 +0000

Hi Noemi.. My catholic journey was like yours. I skipped Sundays and other stuff. Then I thought I was a sinner to the nth degree. But when I sought God with my whole heart.. He revealed Jesus to me. I have ceased to be a catholic and instead genuinely embraced Christianity for Who it is about. Bottomline is in this simple bible verse John 3 :16. “For God so loved the world that He have His only begotten son (Jesus) that whosoever believe in Him shall have eternal life.” You asked about your eternal salvation? There is your key to salvation. The bible asks that you repent of your sins and Believe. And He who believes has eternal life. Eternal life does not happen after death, it happens the minute you acknowledge that Jesus is your Savior and Lord. iT can happen here and now. This is when the ‘born again’ experience ( referring to a spiritual birth) begin in one’s life.

Nor It is about traditions. It’s about Jesus who died for your past present and future sins. He has paid it all. And what do we need to do? If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord then we shall be saved.

Jesus further says, No one goes to the Father except through me.

I pray Jesus will continue to reveal himself more and more. And as the bible says ‘ whom the son sets free, is free indeed.”

I admire Father Robert. He is not afraid to rock the boat and live as Jesus lived. May Jesus continue to work in his life as he becomes His eyes, arms, feet and mouth. That is a taste of heaven on earth!

By: Noemi

Noemi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:31:55 +0000

I really don’t understand the politics. Aren’t we just supposed to help each other, give support? I know organization needs a structure but they should also bend rules or adjust.

By: Cecile Yap

Cecile Yap — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:26:15 +0000

Hi Noemi, tama ang sinabi mo about Cafeteria, but I am no longer a catholic but a Seventh Day Adventist! Why I believe ? because it hurts me to learn people in the church (all) are NOT really following what the Bible is telling us to do and their preaching. There is a willing – ignorance even to leaders in the churches of any denomination, though they know what the Bible really want us to do, still they go againts because of the impact in donations or whatever business they have! I understand no one is perfect, so I keep murmuring to myself, better to read the Bible and pray for myself at home, than going and joining church activities that hurts me when I see hypocrites, maybe I am one too, God forgive me!
Cecile Yap´s last blog ..September 20,2009 – CVC Wellness Centre

By: BrianB

BrianB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:23:57 +0000

Haha, Noemi, I was in the Youth for Christ. my parents were in the same boat. Not that they weren’t at fault too for bailing out. too much middle class self-absorption and ego, I believe. The YFC is full of blowhards trying to outdo one another in being former sinners. I heard this has been toned down significantly. Ha ha. And you got the really insecure types trying to use talks as a platform for their own wild versions of the world. I’m one of those intellectual snobs, tried anyway, but I was immediately suspect. Elders didn’t want me talking too much because of my “heretic” tendencies. he he.

Yes, I suppose the CFC should’ve concentrated more on their primary purpose: helping out couples. Then it became a miniature representation of Philippine society until it became a fullblown representation of Pinoy society–I guess, you have to swap ordinary Pinoy cynicism with naive idealism. But idealism is not enough, is it? A truly decent, rational mind, fairness, lack of hypocrisy is needed, too. Compared to my experiences there, organized religion… the one we have now courtesy of Bishop Irenaeus–in all its impersonal glory–doesn’t look too bad.

By: Noemi

Noemi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:19:39 +0000

He is so open-minded. I liked him right away and hopefully help him with his Parokya sa Web. As a servant of God, he truly loves people from all walks of life. Jesus would have done the same. I bet.

By: Pia Cayetano

Pia Cayetano — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:55:13 +0000

I love this Noems. On your twitter you said, “bless me Father, for I have sinned. I am a cafeteria Catholic.”
I said something similar to Fr Robert when I met him.. We hit it off right away, we were running and I had to tell him… Father, I am born-again. He smiled, he didn’t seem to mind.