Catholic Town?

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I’ve read the Scarlet Letter, and they were not Catholic.

How does Ave Maria, FL stay Catholic?

Of course they weren’t. But your idea of public “penalties” for violating, say, chastity is the exact same principle. Sins are properly dealt with in the confessional, not with public displays of “penalties.” And your idea of punishing people for being non-Catholic is really beyond the pale.

 

[jeannetherese]

The problem with this is that then we would cease to be true Catholics because the narrow path is what ‘defines’ (as far as a person can be defined) a true Catholic - putting up with suffering is part of the reality. If we all escaped then we would be declaring our right to be in Heaven before God had actually permitted us to go there and would be indicating that those outside of the Church had no hope because they would be considered outsiders. This is why a psalm speaks about the need for God who is our rock who saves us and why Jesus spoke about the need of having our faith planted in rich soil.

Following this argument, one might suggest that those cloistered in religious communities are not true Catholics. Yet, Catholic history is filled with stories of people who have sought to isolate themselves to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Consider the stylites, those who have lived within various monastic traditions and cloistered communities.
It can also be argued that one does not necessarily escape suffering by moving to a specifically Catholic community (Bernadette of Lourdes might serve as an example). It seems that suffering is part of the human condition.
May God bless all who visit our thread.
Amen.

 

[Captain_America]

I’m up for it!

Great idea!

Heck, perhaps an abbey or monastery has a plot of land on which a condo can be built.

 

[friardchips]

Following this argument, one might suggest that those cloistered in religious communities are not true Catholics. Yet, Catholic history is filled with stories of people who have sought to isolate themselves to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Consider the stylites, those who have lived within various monastic traditions and cloistered communities.
It can also be argued that one does not necessarily escape suffering by moving to a specifically Catholic community (Bernadette of Lourdes might serve as an example). It seems that suffering is part of the human condition.
May God bless all who visit our thread.
Amen.

Religious life in community, or as a friar, or as a hermit - is a religious calling not a free-for-all escape and excuse to run to the hills.

 

[jeannetherese]

Religious life in community, or as a friar, or as a hermit - is a religious calling not a free-for-all escape and excuse to run to the hills.

Agreed. Intentionality is important. I should have paid closer attention to the context in which you developed your previous response.
May God bless you.
jt

 

[friardchips]

Agreed. Intentionality is important. I should have paid closer attention to the context in which you developed your previous response.
May God bless you.
jt

Thank you for acknowledging this. God bless you too! By the way, I really liked what you said as part of your post: ‘It seems that suffering is part of the human condition.’ - nice!

 

[Cat]

I think it would fall apart because of constant debates over CITH vs. COTH, veiling, women wearing slacks, and chant vs. hymns in the Mass.

Seriously, folks, Evangelical Protestants do it all the time. It’s called “fortress Christianity,” and it doesn’t work the way real Christianity is supposed to work.

Instead of a “Catholic Town,” why not a Catholic recreational community? Years ago, when my husband and I were in college, the college pastor in our home church took a group of us to a place in Illinois called Bethany Beach (on Lake Michigan). Only Christians lived there. I believe they were mainly Evangelical Protestant, because I remember that there was no liquor use allowed, no bars, no restaurants that served liquor, and no stores that sold it. All the music played was “Christian” music. The suits at the beach were modest but pretty. We were able to take walks at three a.m. and not worry about getting mugged or raped.

I remember that there was just one church that everyone in the community attended, and EVERYONE in the community attended it on Sunday morning! No one stayed home to watch the Cubs play!

It was incredibly restful because we could be ourselves. We didn’t have to be “on guard” all the time, wondering if we were being “good witnesses” to non-Christians. People could say, “Praise the Lord!” and not feel like freaks. We didn’t have to close our eyes to alcohol use and pretend that we were “OK” with it. We didn’t have to avert our eyes over suggestive swimsuits. No one swore. No one watched bad shows on TV. (I remember that there was TV, but who wants to watch TV when you’re at a beach.)

It was kind of like a glimpse of heaven.

They told us that the community started decades ago, and that most of the homes at the beach had been in the same families for the entire time, and were just passed down.

I don’t know if this place still exists. Perhaps it went belly-up in the various economic downturns. Or perhaps the Christians who had homes there decided to give up “escaping” from the world in favor of being in the world but not of the world.

I know that there are various Catholic retreat centers around the U.S., and I have been on retreat at several of the shrines. My daughter went on a silent retreat at a monastery and really loved it. Perhaps you could try this, since it’s already a reality, and a “Catholic Town” is probably not likely to happen.

 

[friardchips]

I think it would fall apart because of constant debates over CITH vs. COTH, veiling, women wearing slacks, and chant vs. hymns in the Mass.

Seriously, folks, Evangelical Protestants do it all the time. It’s called “fortress Christianity,” and it doesn’t work the way real Christianity is supposed to work.

Instead of a “Catholic Town,” why not a Catholic recreational community? Years ago, when my husband and I were in college, the college pastor in our home church took a group of us to a place in Illinois called Bethany Beach (on Lake Michigan). Only Christians lived there. I believe they were mainly Evangelical Protestant, because I remember that there was no liquor use allowed, no bars, no restaurants that served liquor, and no stores that sold it. All the music played was “Christian” music. The suits at the beach were modest but pretty. We were able to take walks at three a.m. and not worry about getting mugged or raped.

I remember that there was just one church that everyone in the community attended, and EVERYONE in the community attended it on Sunday morning! No one stayed home to watch the Cubs play!

It was incredibly restful because we could be ourselves. We didn’t have to be “on guard” all the time, wondering if we were being “good witnesses” to non-Christians. People could say, “Praise the Lord!” and not feel like freaks. We didn’t have to close our eyes to alcohol use and pretend that we were “OK” with it. We didn’t have to avert our eyes over suggestive swimsuits. No one swore. No one watched bad shows on TV. (I remember that there was TV, but who wants to watch TV when you’re at a beach.)

It was kind of like a glimpse of heaven.

They told us that the community started decades ago, and that most of the homes at the beach had been in the same families for the entire time, and were just passed down.

I don’t know if this place still exists. Perhaps it went belly-up in the various economic downturns. Or perhaps the Christians who had homes there decided to give up “escaping” from the world in favor of being in the world but not of the world.

I know that there are various Catholic retreat centers around the U.S., and I have been on retreat at several of the shrines. My daughter went on a silent retreat at a monastery and really loved it. Perhaps you could try this, since it’s already a reality, and a “Catholic Town” is probably not likely to happen.

It would be nice for a while by the sounds of it but would get a bit puritanical, or purityrannical, after a while. As you say retreat places available are in big numbers. I think what you said here kind of sums it up eloquantly:

• ‘Or perhaps the Christians who had homes there decided to give up “escaping” from the world in favor of being in the world but not of the world.’*

Reading your post was enjoyable.

 

[JackieO123]

There is a point here.

We are told not to put our “lamp under a bushel basket”. I think hiding away in an exclusive community might not be the best way to try to bring the Light of Christ to the world. It may be bad, but that means that the world in it’s darkness needs Christ’s Church more than ever.

What if this town was used as a stronghold for evangelization? A place for Catholics to recuperate perhaps?

 

[friardchips]

What if this town was used as a stronghold for evangelization? A place for Catholics to recuperate perhaps?

I think there could be a thread started for the names where these spiritual pitstops would take place…how about: The New Evangelisation Zone…?

 

[phil19034]

Of course they weren’t. But your idea of public “penalties” for violating, say, chastity is the exact same principle. Sins are properly dealt with in the confessional, not with public displays of “penalties.” And your idea of punishing people for being non-Catholic is really beyond the pale.

What I meant by “penalties” was that if you are Catholic in good standing, the “land lease” would be discounted or free. If you were not a Catholic in good standing, you would pay market price. Just like many parish schools do, where they provide discounts to registered members of the parish or how you must be a Catholic in good standing to be a God parent.

For example, at the parish where I grew up, they have three pricing levels (not including multiple child discounts):

1. lowest price for registered members of the Parish
2. 2nd tier pricing for Catholic in good standing with other area Parishes.
3. Market price for all others (Catholic or non-Catholic)

I was not suggesting public punishment. I was suggesting something similar to the above. Once a year, residents would need a letter from their parish stating whether they were in good standing or not. It would be private between the family and the community office; unless the family were publicly living in sin.

 

[phil19034]

I think it would fall apart because of constant debates over CITH vs. COTH, veiling, women wearing slacks, and chant vs. hymns in the Mass.

a “Catholic Town” is probably not likely to happen.

I don’t think it would fail because what you mentioned above would be controlled by the Parish priest or parish council. If people didn’t like it, they could always attend another parish.

BTW: the CITH vs COTH is not something which can be dictated. The Church allows both, unless the parish decides to use an Altar Rail for Communion.

Finally, we already have one Catholic town in the United States, which was created to be a Catholic Town: Ave Maria, FL

avemaria.com/

Their website doesn’t mention anything specific about being Catholic, but they are a Catholic town.

 

[JackieO123]

Alternatively, we could go and make a town primarily out of Catholic ‘settlers.’ Similar to what other religious groups throughout history have done. Or we could do what phil has suggested. Really, if one were to consider it all, in the end we wouldn’t be ‘running away,’ we’d be founding a community for the glory of God. This community could grow into a haven for evangelisation, people could say, “God bless you.” Without getting scorn. What would be so bad about such a community? What would be good?

 

[friardchips]

Alternatively, we could go and make a town primarily out of Catholic ‘settlers.’ Similar to what other religious groups throughout history have done. Or we could do what phil has suggested. Really, if one were to consider it all, in the end we wouldn’t be ‘running away,’ we’d be founding a community for the glory of God. This community could grow into a haven for evangelisation, people could say, “God bless you.” Without getting scorn. What would be so bad about such a community? What would be good?

Because of points already made by several posters.