As you all know I've been railing against the lackluster teaching of the faith by laymen, priests and Bishops, not just in this Diocese, but worldwide ever since I underwent the travesty known as RCIA.
It seems that most "catholics" today either don't understand what the Church teaches, or have allowed themselves to be influenced by pop culture, and they pick and choose what they do and do not believe. They think that the Catholic faith can be shaped by their personal beliefs, chief among them, those "catholics" who believe that abortion should be permitted in the case of rape or incest. Or those who believe that to further the cause of women's equality, they should allowed to be priests. Or that priests should marry. Or any of a thousand other ideas floating around out there.
Michael Voris from RealCatholicTV.com touches on this issue. Give it a look and leave your comments.
3 comments:
Well look I'll admit I have wiggle room on some areas. Don't hate! Not on abortion though, I really can't see the light on that. Even if it is rape/incest, God still knows and wants that baby/kid/soul alive and with him in Heaven one day, and we have no right to snuff that out. I'm not going to throw stones at people who do have abortions though because, you know, that's not a very Christian thing to do ;)
And I don't want Catholics turning all oyster crackers and grape juice and women priests dancing down aisles etc.
BUT I do see the virtue of some other religions and belief systems out there, and a lot (even non christain) have same underlying messages, and you might hate me for this, but I'm not 100% convinced that Catholics and ONLY Catholics have everything right, and no one else does. That just seems...I'm not buying it. I'm Catholic, that's how I was raised and still choose to be, but there's openness in me too.
uh
*runs*
- L
This is a classic employment of the "No True Scotsman" fallacy. There are many, many, many Catholics who all believe different things, but if they believe in the life and resurrection of Jesus, aren't they still considered Catholics?
We can't just say that people aren't Catholics because they don't have fundamentalist beliefs like no sex outside of marriage, no abortions (ever), no contraceptives, no living with another person of the opposite sex you haven't married...
There are, though, many hypocrites out there and many people who are "Catholic by name" because their parents indoctrinated them and they were "born into it."
Imagine if I said that people weren't "real atheists" if they didn't accept evolution or weren't skeptical. The minimum (and only) definition for an atheist is "no belief in any gods" and a catholic, likewise, is belief in Jesus as a lord and savior.
We can squabble about the minimum definitions of what a Christian is, but this gets very complex (Who decides what they are? Who decides who is and is not a "true Catholic") . I'd like to hear what you think about this.
Are King's College priests not "true Catholics" because they Creationsists? Is Mike Dowd not a "true Catholic" because he views Christianity as a big myth? Are King's College students who drink alcohol and have premarital sex "not true Catholics?"
Justin,
You believe it is a unreasoned assertion on my part to expect Catholics to believe what Catholics have always believed? Really?
Especially since these very same Catholics willingly prayed the Nicene Creed at Mass on Sunday? The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, and it is a statement of belief.
"I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Born of the Father before all ages. God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. Begotten, not made: consubstantial with the Father; by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from Heaven: [kneel] and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary: and was made man. [stand] He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead: of Whose kindgom there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified: Who spoke through the Prophets.
And in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen"
The Catholic Church brings us the truth of Jesus Christ in the form of doctrines and dogmas. These are the lampposts that light the path to Jesus Christ. One either follows the path or they do not. You either accept the teachings of the Church or you do not. There is no middle ground.
What I am trying to say here is that being Catholic is not a personal or subjective matter, it is not open to one's whims. It involves accepting Church teaching and practice. If someone can't or isn't willing to do that, maybe it's time for them to pray and ask God why they are Catholics, and what they hope to get out of Catholicism. Hopefully they also have a good priest at their parish where they can go for spiritual guidance and confession.
God Bless You!
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