I’m a Catholic layman from Orange County, and was going to submit this to our local paper’s Religion section. I thought I’d post it here first (or INSTEAD) in its entirety as The Register will edit for space and sometimes that changes the whole feel of the article.
It was aimed at a mixed audience (whereas HERE it is mostly Catholics) and used humor as well as insights to make its points and entertain. Not preaching to the choir.
Your comments will be appreciated. My article follows:
In the never ending war of good vs. evil even churches fall short of perfection. Sometimes VERY short, and even Jesus warned us of “weeds in the field”. But a church must always point the way to heaven and be headed there under the guidance of God’s spirit.
Yes, there are problems in both the Catholic Church and the Crystal Cathedral; but when in Christ, they are allies – with more in common than a CC abbreviation. Sudden thought: Calvary Chapel is a CC too! As Calvary’s Chuck Smith ages and disagrees with at least one pastor child of his – I wonder, will the Diocese propose a purchase/swap of the Calvary campus for a parish to be named later?
I’m a Catholic who has always liked seeing that big cross from the tower shining out - even before the “Crystal Cathedral” part of the ministry was built. I saw it as a front porch “ministry” outreach to the unchurched that did an excellent job of practical things that blessed the community with youth groups, charity, counseling, and pageants that called our minds to the “Glory of Christmas” and the “Glory of Easter”. And of course televised worship that included hymns and sermons - and more informally guest speakers. It was years before I learned of that ministy’s “Dutch Reformed” affiliation.
As a volunteer at St. Callistus (down the street) we jokingly called ourselves the “stucco Cathedral” back in the days before THAT “new church” was built.
I remember Reverend Schuller having Bishop Sheen as a guest speaker, and installing TVs throughout the Cathedral when Pope John Paul II visited LA. In the midst of that week, in an astounding moment of Ecumenism that somehow never made the big news or led to his congregation fleeing, came this quote …
“It’s time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope] and say 'what do we have to do to come home?” Dr. Robert H. Schuller, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, September 19, 1987.
I don’t know if there ever was a follow up to that suggestion or dialogue, but Christians seeking to be more united is what Jesus prayed for and Paul preached. Among Christians the “we should be one” urge is quite strong; and yet most agree “we” must unite more at the HIGHEST common denominator (Christ Himself) than the lowest (sacrificing much truth for “unity” with groups whose teachings are divergent to the point of contradiction).
There was Schuller’s “possibility” thinking and “good news”, while across Orange County at Calvary Chapel the “possibility” that Jesus was coming back NOW in an apocalypse loomed in counterpoint. The local Catholic Church was led by several Bishops during these same past decades and is about to get another.
Both the “possibilities” and the “stay awake” reminders from our Christian allies are good ones for Catholics. And are visited often in the Church’s weekly and daily liturgies - with ministerial homilies from the parish priests. The faith of course is even bigger than these two important things. And unity is possible. Diversity too as (a Catholic example) Dominicans and Franciscans emphasize different virtues and are not the same, yet love each other and serve the same one Lord with respect for one another.
The media covering “religion” often favors news of real estate deals, business, and whatever juicy scandals or schisms are about. But like Noah’s ark the church is a human built but divinely sustained vehicle that can guide us through to heaven (St. Peter’s insight not mine).
Boiling things down (not always proper but a good beginning and reminder) we are to love God and our neighbors with all our hearts; do good and not evil; and not be OVERLY committed to the things of “this world” which will end.
As a Catholic I joyfully invite anyone and everyone to be welcomed into the Church (actually, Jesus, who founded it, has already invited all; sometimes we “servants” don’t get this word out enough).
Here’s hoping the Bishop doesn’t sell off all 68 parishes to seal the deal and hide the tabernacle in an undisclosed location to “preserve ecumenism and the architectural tradition of the historic site” !
On a more serious, less cynical note, Jesus prayed for his followers to be one - so may we all strive to be one in HIS spirit as “Priority ONE”.
