Do Catholics in the US see the Church as a democracy?

[ajpirc]

The other day, I was thinking about what is different between the Church in the US compared to the Church in other nations. Many parishes around me are very disorderly (maybe it’s just my area). Is it disorderly because American Catholics are so caught up in democracy and that no one has control over us? We don’t understand that there is a reason why the Church isn’t a democracy, just look at what happened after Luther said everyone has the authority to interpret Scripture.

Is it hard for American Catholis to submit themselves to a single person (Pope Benedict) because we never wanted to listen to one person (King George)? Also, is that why many Americans are Protestant, because they only want to hear their own opinion or teaching?

 

[Rascalking]

My friend, I think you are 100 percent correct on what you said. Word for word agree with you.

Mutal agreement is sort of boring,

 

[Samuel63]

This is a wonderful insight. I am an American and believe many here are seriously selfish, spoiled, and narcissistic. I offer this. To the degree these “faithful” americans have fallen into sin, they have also decided to command operation of the local parish.

For example, in my parish we have a true model of liturgical abuse. Based on many years of observation, we also have a serious problem with contraception and support of abortion.

Is it possible, these observations of abuse and sin go hand-in-hand?

 

[Rascalking]

I am an American and believe many here are seriously selfish, spoiled, and narcissistic.

I’m an American, and I disagree completely with the selfish/spoiled thing. America is the greatest country in the world populated by the greatest people in the world. No, were not perfect, but were still the best on planet earth.

 

[valentino]

Absollutly not.And the CC isn’t a democracy.In a democracy people in the society decide which laws to enact.The dogma and canon laws come from God and through the working of the HS in the Church.The laity doesn’t vote to decide if God was resurrected or not.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

My spiritual director asked me a very interesting question a couple of years ago…

Do you see yourself as an American-Catholic Woman or a Catholic woman who is American?

Nearly 3 years later, sometimes the answer changes day to day!

But, needless to say, pondering this question has been very good for my spiritual journey,
most of the time!!

 

[hn160]

I am Lutheran but I know that the Church is not a democracy, The Words of Christ have the ultimate authority. If you are Roman Catholic, then you should believe in the doctrines of the Catholic Church and the Pope’s leadership, not pick and choose, The same goes for Lutherans, if they are Lutheran, they should believe Lutheran doctrines.

 

[OscarsMama]

I think that is an issue that a lot of Americans have (I am one-though and through… and also a cradle Catholic). I think that it is IN OUR AMERICAN BLOOD to shy away from one person telling us what to do. We are concerned very very much with FREEDOM and what that means. But as a Catholic, we are required to follow the Pope (who we didn’t elect). That is hard and I think that is an issue that a lot of people struggle with.

As for the question… am I a Catholic woman who is also American or an American who happens to be Catholic??? A priest asked us that once in a homily and then he responded by saying that we must remeber that we are CATHOLIC first… and then we are American.

Don’t get me wrong… I grew up in a military household and have tons and tons of American pride. But we have to remember that we are Catholic first. Just because something is “okay” by American standards (ie, abortion, co-habitation, etc) does not mean that it is okay by Catholic standards. We must remember that we are Catholic when casting our votes for those in office.

 

[DesDiamondS]

My spiritual director asked me a very interesting question a couple of years ago…

Nearly 3 years later, sometimes the answer changes day to day!

But, needless to say, pondering this question has been very good for my spiritual journey,
most of the time!!

Wow, that actually really is an interesting question and I had never thought about it like that before. That gives me a lot to ponder about.