Every single time I’ve seen Catholics walk out of church over a sermon it was invariably a sermon that was attempting to improperly insert the Church into personal politics.
I’ve never seen anyone walk out of a sermon preaching against abortion per se.
In my experience its when overzealous priests cut corners on Church teaching and take it beyond where it actually goes.
A recent example is the fellow in (I believe S.C.) who told his parishioners that if they voted for Obama they needed to go to confession before he would give them the Eucharist.
Another would be a deacon at my Church who told the parishioners that anyone with a Kerry sticker on his car was in a state of mortal sin.
If we want to end abortion, we need to carefully study the reasons it happens and attitudes that permit it, then address those reasons and attitudes.
Intentionally vilifying and misrepresenting those who disagree on abortion will never enlighten them or bring them into agreement.
OTOH, if we’re not really interested in ending abortion, if instead we’re more interested in congratulating ourselves on our piety and self-righteousness, and we want to make sure that no Catholic can aspire to a career in politics, then I think we’re doing a fine job.
Perhaps you can blame this on the Church for being to opinionated also;
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
(Jeremiah Ch 1: 4-5)
Thus says the LORD,
Your redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens; when I spread out the earth, who was with me? (Isaiah Ch 44: 24)
5 For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting: from every animal I will demand it, and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life. 6 If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; For in the image of God has man been made. (Genesis CH 9: 5-6)
I first refer to what Jesus proclaimed to the apostles when they attempted to stop the Children from approaching Him. These were not Baptized in the sense as we know it, but merely children at this point. Children in reality in contrast to how John in the gospel referred to figuratively to the Baptized in Christ. We are children of Adam and Eve, who were children of God, God’s own who fell to temptation. It goes much deeper than adults being Baptized or born again, I believe. But if I am wrong, and no one is a child of God until “Baptized” including the children, why would Jesus make the proclamation He did with such displeasure to His apostles?
Throughout the OT and the NT for that matter, it has always been recognized as a BLESSING OF GOD for a person to have children. All references to the Baptized are made comparing them to children and I submit the following verses as well;
Mark CH 10; 13 And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child 2 will not enter it.” 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.
Luke CH 9; 46 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
Luke CH 18; 15 34 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
1 Corinthians CH 7; 10 To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): 7 a wife should not separate from her husband 11 - and if she does separate she must either remain single or become reconciled to her husband - and a husband should not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest 8 I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her; 13 and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy.
1 Timothy CH 2; 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 15 But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
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