Gay marriage, abortion, contraception, married female priests and unchastefulness... Why would the Church ever speak out against these things...?

[TEPO]

What I mean is that, if there are Catholics out there who feel that any of these issues are not grave sins, then why would the Church teach it?

…how would this benefit the Church, if these were made-up rules?

…Why would the Church simply choose to make these these things up?

 

[DrewMcCullough]

An obvious reason, and probably the one most in line with complaints against the church’s authority over matters like these, is that the church could be mistaken. This isn’t my position – I assent to orthodox Catholic teaching on these issues (and all others). All I’m saying is that this is what someone might believe.

Maybe I’m missing the heart of the question.

 

[JohnnyK]

The Catholic church teaches the moral truth. period.

 

[cmmillen]

I think I know what is being asked…but correct me if I am wrong.

Why would the Church take the time to speak out against Gay Marriage, etc…why would it place itself at odds against the mainstream media and secular world? Why does it take the trouble to do that?

To be counter-cultural for what reason? Wouldn’t it be much easier if our Mother simply said, Fine! It’s all good! Then everyone would like us! Everyone would say–see how cool that Catholic Church is! They ordain women and marry anyone who wants to get married and support abortion…

I think everyone here knows the answer to this…

 

[TEPO]

The Catholic church teaches the moral truth. period.

Right, because the things that the Church teaches are passed on and approved by God through the Holy Spirit.

…but there are some Catholics who don’t believe that God has spoken on these matters through the Holy Spirit -instead, they think that the Church simply made these things up out of thin air.

…so I’m wondering if these Catholics think that the Church had some agenda or ‘goal’ in mind for making it up. Or maybe they just don’t really believe in the Church at all, but even then, why would the hierarchy create such tuff rules, unless they were bent on troubling people for some reason.

I just don’t understand…

 

[TEPO]

An obvious reason, and probably the one most in line with complaints against the church’s authority over matters like these, is that the church could be mistaken. This isn’t my position – I assent to orthodox Catholic teaching on these issues (and all others). All I’m saying is that this is what someone might believe.

Maybe I’m missing the heart of the question.

I see. Perhaps these Catholics feel that the Church hasn’t quite been able to interpret scripture correctly -that the Church leaders made honest mistakes.

 

[TEPO]

I think I know what is being asked…but correct me if I am wrong.

Why would the Church take the time to speak out against Gay Marriage, etc…why would it place itself at odds against the mainstream media and secular world? Why does it take the trouble to do that?

To be counter-cultural for what reason? Wouldn’t it be much easier if our Mother simply said, Fine! It’s all good! Then everyone would like us! Everyone would say–see how cool that Catholic Church is! They ordain women and marry anyone who wants to get married and support abortion…

I think everyone here knows the answer to this…

Right! For what reason would the Church go out of its way to do such strange things. What would the agenda be?

 

[JamesCaruso]

What I mean is that, if there are Catholics out there who feel that any of these issues are not grave sins, then why would the Church teach it?

…how would this benefit the Church, if these were made-up rules?

…Why would the Church simply choose to make these these things up?

I think what you are saying is that it must be at the core of Church teaching, not just a Church rule or made-up teaching not necessary for salvation, because the Church would never insist on such a teaching if it were not essential, in view of the terrible opposition it would surely encounter. In simpler terms, no organization would take a stand that is likely to be rejected by many of its members unless it felt compelled to do so for the highest of reasons.

Purely human organizations are not in the business of trying to put themselves out of business. It’s one of the signs of the authenticity of the Church that it does not bow to human thinking and convention.

 

[SaintPatrick333]

Protestantism does all these things. Catholicism does not and never will. It can’t. She will speak out against all heresy, depravity, immorality, etc because She is Truth. She is the Bride of Christ and where Christ physically resides. If you want a wordly religion that changes with societal/cultural opinion then please feel free to try any number of those man made groups. If you want Christ then you must be obedient to Him in His One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. You will not find Him outside of the Catholic Church (Orthodox being the sole exception)

 

[Christianus_Dei]

Protestantism does all these things. Catholicism does not and never will. It can’t. She will speak out against all heresy, depravity, immorality, etc because She is Truth.

Well, she is the Bride of Truth. Be careful in wording that so as not to confuse our Protestant brothers and sisters as to what we believe. Great post anyways.

 

[wardrandolph]

Church teaching is not based on how we "feel"about a particular sin,but rather on Truth.Truth is Truth reguardless of how we feel about it.

 

[Frank_Drebin]

An obvious reason, and probably the one most in line with complaints against the church’s authority over matters like these, is that the church could be mistaken. This isn’t my position – I assent to orthodox Catholic teaching on these issues (and all others). All I’m saying is that this is what someone might believe.

Maybe I’m missing the heart of the question.

Once you adopt that position, you cannot defend ANYTHING you assert as true, though.

I can defend my beliefs (outside of logic and reason) because we know the Church cannot err in faith and morals. If I mantain then can, then anything I defend could be in err, and I cannot stand on any position without admitting “there is a chance I am wrong.”

Amazing how many people assert “the Church is wrong in this area” while also asserting “I am right in this area over here.”

 

[Frank_Drebin]

Right! For what reason would the Church go out of its way to do such strange things. What would the agenda be?

I think the answer is people don;t think that deeply about it.

They form an opinion based on their own selfish beliefs, and then look to see if the Church is correct or not based on whether or not the Church agrees with them.

They do ponder why the Church would bother to take a stand like they do. They simply don’t care, and go about their lives.

 

[VirtusTransitus]

I think the answer is people don;t think that deeply about it.

They form an opinion based on their own selfish beliefs, and then look to see if the Church is correct or not based on whether or not the Church agrees with them.

They do ponder why the Church would bother to take a stand like they do. They simply don’t care, and go about their lives.

I agree.

The vast majority of humans have really no interest or concept of philosophy. And with the media culture we are currently in, most folks are FAR more in touch with their FEELINGS than with their THOUGHTS, much less their THOUGHT PROCESS.

In many ways, I think our generation knows more data, but understands far less than previous generations because huge numbers of us only FEEL, and no longer really THINK.

 

[DrewMcCullough]

Once you adopt that position, you cannot defend ANYTHING you assert as true, though.

I can defend my beliefs (outside of logic and reason) because we know the Church cannot err in faith and morals. If I mantain then can, then anything I defend could be in err, and I cannot stand on any position without admitting “there is a chance I am wrong.”

Amazing how many people assert “the Church is wrong in this area” while also asserting “I am right in this area over here.”

I have a couple clarifying questions. Are you proposing the infallibility of the church as a first principle of all knowledge? And when you say “ANYTHING” do you mean in faith and morals?

 

[TEPO]

I think what you are saying is that it must be at the core of Church teaching, not just a Church rule or made-up teaching not necessary for salvation, because the Church would never insist on such a teaching if it were not essential, in view of the terrible opposition it would surely encounter. In simpler terms, no organization would take a stand that is likely to be rejected by many of its members unless it felt compelled to do so for the highest of reasons.

Purely human organizations are not in the business of trying to put themselves out of business. It’s one of the signs of the authenticity of the Church that it does not bow to human thinking and convention.

Thank you. That’s exactly right.

 

[Frank_Drebin]

I have a couple clarifying questions. Are you proposing the infallibility of the church as a first principle of all knowledge? And when you say “ANYTHING” do you mean in faith and morals?

No, I mean anything. How can you guarantee the Church is right about anything you believe oif you already disregard their infallibility in faith and morals. If they are wrong there, they can be wrong in every single case, and can be ignored 100% of the time.