Catholic Identity Movement

[wisdomseeker]

What a great idea. If only would work. I am with you. God knows we need such an Apostolate in today’s world. We need to return to God before the great Judgment.

 

[ConstantinePX]

A quote I once read comes to mind.

“Western culture is, above all else, Roman - and Christian Roman at that. This is so because it has been shaped and defined by Roman Catholicism, ruled by a Roma…n Emperor, guided by a Roman Pontiff and blessed by Roman rites in a Roman language. Even its enemies have been forced to recognise this. Our laws, our science, our culture, our art, our music, our literature, our scholarship, our primary institutions all derive from this Roman and Christian heritage. The oldest rite of worship in the Christian Church is the classical, Roman rite, deriving, as it does, from the ancient Jewish Temple worship, perfected under Roman rule. It is theologically unsurpassed. It is a timeless love song to the Creator of all things. In a curious “trahison des clercs”, many today, even amongst the clergy, have forgotten this and so have become disconnected from their spiritual and cultural roots. It is perhaps time to recall and re-capture our traditions and to re-connect with them in a modern setting.”

 

[jnewaz]

The idea sounds dangerously close to catechesis. Some of the questions which the movement is to address seem to be under the authority of the magisterium of the Church or vague enough that they may or may not be.

I would agree that this idea is close to true catechesis. When catechesis is done right, fully and completely explaining the faith, then a movement like this would be superfluous. This is, sadly, not the case. Nothing would make me happier than for the existence of a “Catholic Identity Movement” to be unnecessary. Until then however, I feel that it is necessary. Or at least, it can be of supplemental use, if not “necessary”.

I am ill at ease with the fact that the idea must be separate from official RICA programs of the Church. The fact that it was even brought up I think is telling.

Telling of what? I feel that the “fact it was even brought up” shows a desire to expand upon what’s outlined in the RCIA. This movement is not supposed to replace the catechesis on the faith, in fact, it is not supposed to “teach the faith” but rather “foster Catholic identity”, what I’m trying to do is start or join an organization which seeks to stress the “uniqueness” of the Catholic Church. In its rites, traditions, teachings, culture, and dignity.

We have to be very careful when we begin teaching anything about the faith apart from the Church’s authority lest we become like so many Protestant Churches separated from the protection of the Holy Spirit. That is why God gave us a Church in the first place, no?

This is not a problem. In no way did I ever make any suggestion that this organization would ever attempt to “teach”. “Teaching” as an action is the sole right of the Catholic Church and her Magisterium. Lay Catholics, while we can assist in the formation of our brethren, cannot fulfill the role of “teacher” at least when it comes to the inherent and unique right of “Teacher” that belongs solely to the Church.

Again, not trying to be a naysayer and my comments are meant in all charity. But I just don’t see how questions like “Why does the Roman Catholic Church assert its primacy” fit in with “Catholic identity” and not catechesis. Personally, I don’t see a wide enough gap between some (but not all) of the questions addressed by the movement and what belongs to the Church by right.

I would politely disagree unless you can expand on this point more. I feel the primacy of the Catholic Church fits in perfectly with Catholic Identity. It also fits in catechesis. These two things are not exclusive, and do not seek to supplant each other.

God Bless