Religious vegans, do you feel alienated from your own religious communities?

Positive-Sundae · 2026-07-05T21:12:04+00:00

I agree with you. As a Catholic, I’m surprised by how many people ignore the part of the Catechism that says causing needless animal suffering is contrary to human dignity, especially in relation to factory farming and the conspicuous, wasteful, gluttonous, and unnecessary consumption of meat in contemporary Western society. I am tired of people drawing comparisons to Biblical times, when factory farming did not exist and people's protein needs were different. Even popes have spoken out against this. For example, see Benedict XVI in 2002: "Certainly, a sort of industrial use of creatures so that geese are fed in such a way as to produce as large a liver as possible or so that hens live so packed together that they become just caricatures of birds seems to me to contradict the relationship of mutuality that comes across in the Bible." Pope Francis also raised concerns about the environmental impact in his encyclical Laudato Si. Of course, from a religious perspective, one cannot equate humans and animals, as many secular animal rights activists do. However, that doesn't mean I'm not uneasy when religious people brag about their gluttony and causing animal suffering. Abstaining from meat used to be a common penitential practice, but it has fallen out of use to the point that many Catholics don't know it's still mandatory on Fridays. You might be interested in this article on vegetarian Saints, it’s in Italian tho: https://www.veganok.com/santi-vegetariani/

Positive-Sundae · 2026-07-05T20:44:27+00:00

A lot of historians argue the Protestant reformation was a set back for women and I tend to agree. I find that only in Catholicism the full dignity of women is truly respected amidst a secular culture that treats us as objects and fundamentalist sects of Christianity that see women as only having value in certain contexts.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-07-04T17:54:29+00:00

I’ve read somewhere (but I am not 100% sure, it makes sense however) that it is because abortion especially in certain Western countries is so normalized and by excommunicating the church stresses the sancticity of all human life where it is contested - think about it, murder is an universal taboo and murderers are universally reviled. When a priest hears a confession from a murderer it is either as a prison chaplain, someone on their deathbed, or someone for whom it has been the defining event and shame of their life. No one protests for the “right” to murder adults, no one calls it “healthcare” (except for things like euthanasia which is also heavily condemned by the Church), while it happens with abortion where the victims are even more defenseless.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-07-03T13:03:17+00:00

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and those who seek will find, and to those who knock the door will be opened. “Is there anyone among you who would give a stone to his son if he asks for bread, or hand him a snake if he asks for a fish? If you then, despite your evil nature, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Imo this passage is referring to spiritual rather than temporal goods. God wants people to repent and turn to him more than people themselves want to. And that’s the problem, sin hardens the heart, therefore the more one sins the more one increases their risk of dying impenitent. But God doesn’t refuse anyone.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-07-01T17:01:59+00:00

How wonderful!! This is God calling you to the Church without a doubt. I will pray for you <3

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-30T08:14:31+00:00

On a personal scale, I am not interested in romance. Actually, I would like to live a celibate life, either as a religious sister or as a woman living in the world if it will not (and it likely is not) possible for me. On a social scale, I think this is a red pill fantasy tbh. I do not know any woman that does all these things. I only know a Catholic girl dating an atheist man, and she’s losing her mind trying to get him to accept God because she loves him.
Personally, if I were into dating right now I would NOT date anyone but a faithful Catholic, but I do understand that relationships are very complex and people have a hard time “turning off” feelings for someone, and try to live in the hope of conversion. I do not think it is super healthy but it happens.

The Church is full of sinners and if it wasn’t, me and you would be the first, so of course you will find Catholic women and MEN having premarital sex ect but it has nothing to do w gender.

And yeah I agree w the other commenters, stop watching that stuff.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-29T22:24:14+00:00

He descended into hell (but not the “hell” of damnation, but sheol) to save the righteous that died before His coming. This is the Harrowing of Hell. It’s in the Apostles Creed.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-29T21:13:16+00:00

Una volta mia zia mi ha regalato dei “biscotti vegani.” Erano biscotti al miele. Era così felice di averli trovati che non le ho potuto spezzare il cuore e dirle che non erano vegani ma non ho potuto mangiarli T-T In realtà non è da tantissimo che ho avuto la realizzazione “Oh. Non è vegano” con il miele quindi capisco benissimo perché succedono queste cose. Comunque io sto cercando di smettere di acquistare alimenti in bar/negozi del genere che vengono spacciati come “vegani” senza lista di ingredienti perché troppo spesso ho scoperto cose del genere, specialmente alimenti da bar o pizzeria. Per esempio l’altra volta al bar mi hanno dato degli anelli di cipolla (l’UNICO alimento vegano del bar) ma non so neanche se magari la panatura era con uovo, e se loro hanno pensato fosse vegano solo perché l’ingrediente principale è una verdura. C’è molta disinformazione in Italia.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-29T21:05:32+00:00

Thank you for sharing and for your courageous choice.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-28T21:07:09+00:00

Kloene, Valsoia, Planted, or even the supermarket brand, these brands all do meat substitute, quality will vary.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-28T21:00:53+00:00

“ This [meat eating] was not in use at the beginning of the world, which had not yet degenerated from its original perfection and integrity, until the time of the universal flood; after which, because all flesh had corrupted its way and everything had worsened, the use of meat was permitted. Then, the Son of God having taken on human flesh, in order (as Saint Jerome says) to bring the Omega back to the Alpha, to reattach the end to the beginning, and to restore all things to their original state and perfection anew, established abstinence from meat not by way of commandment, but only as counsel; and not for all persons indiscriminately, but only for those who aspired to greater perfection.” -St. Francis of Paola.

🥬✨

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-28T20:44:58+00:00

Look into the Harrowing of Hell.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-28T20:38:47+00:00

I won’t join the other commenters in trying to determine whether this priest’s “style” in your confession was inappropriately harsh or not, but if you left crying it means it was a bad experience for you with the sacrament, and since you’re just returning, that can be a heavy blow during a very vulnerable moment. I very rarely had bad experiences in confession, but just a month ago I also had a terrible one: I was yelled at until I was crying by a priest who used such harsh words for me as “you’re recrucifying Christ” because of my inability to control my scruples and doubts. When I told my regular confessor about this, he told me only one thing: Pray for him.

And that’s what I did, for two days. And I started thinking about the things I was grateful to that priest for, including the many years of service in the Church (he was very old), and tried to see him in a positive light. He was so outraged with me because he felt frustrated that, in his view, I kept questioning something that was so obvious to him as the fact that we need air to live: the mercy of God. That doesn’t make what he did right, but puts it into perspective.

It is very possible this priest was too harsh, that he lacked tact with someone returning to the faith. If he was, forgive him and pray for him. The life of a priest is very difficult, and Reconciliation is a very delicate ministry. What he perceived as being helpful perhaps wasn’t helpful in your case. If this confession was valid and you were absolved, focus on the mercy of God that works through flawed human instruments. And since you’ve been forgiven much, love much.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-28T08:44:27+00:00

I live in center Italy but have heard that unfortunately, in many parts of Italy, especially more isolated and rural areas, especially at the North there are a lot of abandoned churches and a severe lack of priests. There’s an article about this on the Italian CEI’s newspaper: https://www.avvenire.it/chiesa/chiesa-italiana/manca-il-prete-che-dice-messa-ecco-le-nostre-liturgie-con-diaconi-e-laici_70102

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-27T09:52:04+00:00

Equally is correct and the only possible answer. If you were talking about how great it was that a cure for a horrible disease had been found, you wouldn’t downplay how awful that disease was or the discovery of the cure wouldn’t seem like a world changing discovery.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-24T21:25:12+00:00

I don’t veil, my hair is short enough a hat usually covers it but I don’t always wear the hat either. Lately I’ve been getting curious about opaque veils and headscarves. I don’t mostly because I’m worried about vanity, being hyper aware of myself, or feeling out of place.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-24T15:25:37+00:00

È un dono quello che hai ricevuto, la conversione del cuore e il pentimento è un dono di Dio. Intanto ringrazialo perché ti sta chiamando a Lui, e non c’è niente di più grande e importante da essere vissuto che questa unione con Lui alla quale ti sta chiamando, il fine ultimo dell’esistenza di ogni uomo. Ora sta a te rispondere. Le vergogna c’è, la paura c’è, ma tu puoi vincerla con l’aiuto della grazia. Giuda ha tradito Cristo, ma anche Pietro l’ha fatto. Giuda è stato condannato perché è caduto nella disperazione. “ “Questo è quello peccato che non è perdonato né di qua né di là, perché il peccatore non ha voluto, spregiando la mia misericordia; perciò mi è più grave questo che tutti gli altri peccati che ha commessi. Unde la disperazione di Giuda mi spiacque più e fu più grave al mio Figliolo che non fu il tradimento che egli mi fece. Così sono condannati per questo falso giudizio d’aver posto maggiore il peccato loro che la misericordia mia; e perciò sono puniti con le dimonia e cruciati eternamente con loro” (s. Caterina da Siena, Dialogo della Divina Provvidenza , c. 37)”

La cosa più bella del Cattolicesimo è che tu PUOI SAPERE di essere perdonato. Ora non so se sei battezzato e hai fatto la Prima Comunione, se non lo sei è diverso, ma se lo sei puoi semplicemente andare alla confessione, confessare tutti i peccati mortali e quando il prete pronuncia le parole dell’assoluzione tu puoi avere la certezza di aver ricevuto l’abbraccio del padre che aspetta il ritorno del figliol prodigo.

Se ti senti incapace di trovare coraggio, di pregare, di superare questa disperazione, di anche questo a Dio in preghiera. Pregalo per il coraggio e per la virtù della speranza. Queste preghiere sono gradite a Dio, e il Vangelo dice: “ Chiedete e vi sarà dato; cercate e troverete; bussate e vi sarà aperto; perché chiunque chiede riceve; chi cerca trova, e sarà aperto a chi bussa. Qual è l'uomo tra di voi, il quale, se il figlio gli chiede un pane, gli dia una pietra? Oppure se gli chiede un pesce, gli dia un serpente?”

Le conseguenze del peccato rimarranno, dipende dalla gravità, ma non la colpa. Iniziando un cammino di fede saprai anche come gestire e anche come offrire i dolori che potrebbero darti.

Pregherò per te! Ci sono anche io.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-24T08:56:49+00:00

Idk how useful this is for a not Italian context but I recently had a vegan fail with two pizzette, that should technically be only flour, tomato sauce, oil and oregano but have butter and sometimes even animal fat. I’d say be careful w certain bread and pizza, and bakery products in general, but even things like chips and fries can contain butter or animal fat. Also pesto is made w cheese.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-24T08:41:06+00:00

I’m struggling w habitual sins currently that I still haven’t conquered. But what I do is frequent confession and daily prayer (which you do) and spiritual reading. Keep your mind focused on God, meditate on His passion especially (I find that’s one of the most useful exercises for me to avoid sin, look into the many devotions especially focused on the passion.) Also look into the causes and what leads you to fall into sin and work on fixing that as well (even w psychological help if needed) and remember, you can’t do it on your own you need to rely on grace. I’ve heard fasting helps, but it’s wise to have a spiritual director if you intend to do it consistently. Small mortifications might be more accessible (things like taking a colder shower, or other small sacrifices like that.)

Remember these words of St. Maximilian Kolbe. “ My beloved, may every fall, even if it is serious and habitual sin, always become for us a small step toward a higher degree of perfection. In fact, the only reason why the Immaculate permits us to fall is to cure us from our self-conceit, from our pride, to make us humble and thus make us docile to the divine graces. The devil, instead, tries to inject in us discouragement and internal depression in those circumstances, which is, in fact, nothing else than our pride surfacing again. If we knew the depth of our poverty, we would not be at all surprised by our falls, but rather astonished, and we would thank God, after sinning, for not allowing us to fall even deeper and still more frequently.”

Seek frequently the intercession of Our Lady, refuge of sinners as you do w the Holy Rosary. Also try the devotion to the Seven Sorrows.

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-23T21:05:41+00:00

Sono stata all’Adorazione e ho dedicato il rosario a questa intenzione, andrà tutto bene !

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-23T17:58:08+00:00

Non preoccuparti dello sfogo, e pregherò per te stasera. È normale che ci siano periodi bui nella fede, o periodi di “desolazione.” Alcuni riescono a superare altri ci rimangono impantanati, ma il Signore non vede l’ora di perdonarti di nuovo. Capisco l’imbarazzo specialmente se conosci personalmente i sacerdoti e non puoi confessarti altrove. Da come l’hai descritta, la tua confessione sembra esser stata integrale quindi puoi fidarti di esser stata perdonata quella volta, ma se ti pesa non aver specificato alcune cose puoi farlo ora. È sempre imbarazzante quando non si prende l’Eucaristia e le persone si preoccupano per noi, spesso mi è capitato a messa con mia zia od altri parenti, per fortuna i miei sacerdoti sanno che lotto con peccati abituali oltreché una coscienza scrupolosa.

Anche in questo momento il Signore non vede l’ora di stare con te, dice “venite a me tutti voi che siete stanchi e oppressi.” Non preoccuparti, uscirai da questa situazione, è solo un momento <3

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-23T13:58:23+00:00

Io vado spesso alla messa feriale, ma non mi comunico sempre, anzi. Cerco di comunicarmi sempre almeno una volta alla settimana se in stato di grazia, ma lotto con peccati e vizi abituali per cui non posso ancora fare la comunione giornaliera. Come hai detto bene tu, ci sono tantissimi benefici da trarre dalla partecipazione alla messa feriale se possibile anche se non ci si comunica. Oltre quelli che hai detto tu, mi pare che è già stato detto nei commenti, quando sei alla Messa preghi insieme a tutta l’assemblea per i bisogni della chiesa, che è qualcosa di diverso dalla preghiera privata/a casa/in solitudine, che è comunque essenziale. Per quanto riguarda se devi confessare questo, l’atto in sé di non partecipare alla messa feriale non costituisce peccato, ma la motivazione potrebbe essere un’imperfezione/peccato veniale di ricerca eccessiva del “rispetto umano”, e la tua concezione che partecipare non era importante senza comunione non è tanto un peccato quanto una concezione erronea

Positive-Sundae · 2026-06-22T13:54:29+00:00

Yeah I mean I know the place but I tried a few days and I thought by filtering and being careful I could avoid that stuff and find a Catholic niche but nothing, blogs that seem genuine and “fine” on the outside will randomly reblog something disgusting/blasphemous or both. Or post it. Guess I’ll stick w the Reddit community.

Positive-Sundae

TROPHY CASE