There’s another big reason we can’t overlook as to why so many Catholics support activities that the Church opposes. It’s called leadership. Many, many catechists, priests, bishops, and even cardinals have fallen into liberal beliefs. Supporting things that completely flies in the face of Church teachings. There’s a co-worker of mine who’s on the other side of the fence with many of the Church’s teachings. Homosexuality, SSM, women priests, contraception, and divorce just to name a few. I’ve gone to great lengths to sway him…but to no avail. His pastor comes to his house to play board games twice a month. I asked my co–worker to take these issues up with his pastor when he visits. He replied; “I have, many times…and my pastor completely agrees with my views.”
I think this is a BIG part of this issue.
Decades ago when I was getting married and my fiance and I met with the priest, I told the priest outright I would not raise my children Catholic. He told me he didn’t care to sign the “d*** paper” and make my mother happy.
I felt like I, who didn’t believe in many of the doctrines of the faith, had more respect for the teachings of the faith and not flying in the face of them.
I was ready to follow the doctrine and get married by a justice of the peace rather than the Church but the priest counciled otherwise.
Also, don’t ask the average person in the pew about what makes a person a Catholic, because you’ll get 10 different answers from 10 different people.
I was told that no matter what I ever believed or lived, I would always be a Catholic because I had been baptized so.
I was told if I didn’t believe get out rather than cause scandal.
I was told it didn’t matter if I believe, just stay in no matter what.
I was given a green scapular.
I was told I was damned and that today might be my last day so I’d better get to confession and fast.
I was told “Stay, we need more people like you”.
I was told I was poorly catechized.
I was told I knew the teachings of the faith more than 99% of Catholics in the pew.
etc etc etc etc .
So…I went to a Canon Lawyer and got the REAL answer.
In the end my choice was to no longer call myself a Catholic, because I do respect (and understand) the teachings of the faith, but do not believe them to be the Ultimate Truth. And I did not think it was right for me to call myself Catholic and misrepresent the faith to anyone.
Because I have been baptized and was catechised and then rejected the faith, I have excommunicated myself. So the correct terminology for me excommunicated Catholic.
It is even graver because I did not pass on the faith to my children
In the end it’s up to the individual to choose whether to call themselves a Catholic and show up in the pew and live the faith. But it is a grave error to pass one’s own beliefs off as those of the Church when they are not, and one who is an adult and does call themselves Catholic have the duty to learn the doctrine of the faith and not misrepresent it.
But even so, those people are still Catholic, as am I, though an excommunicated Catholic.
Like I said this is not MY opinion, but what I was told by a Canon Lawyer. I was also told that I would need to speak to a Bishop in order to return to communion with the Church, simply going to confession before a priest would not suffice.
Knowledge that the actions one takes, the beliefs they hold, or the way the represent or misrepresent the Church is necessary for the action to lead to excommunication. One must understand the gravity of their action.
Not everyone who calls themselves Catholic but does not live the teachings of the faith have put themselves in a state of excommunication. Most people don’t understand how serious an issue that is, and many priests don’t teach their flock the gravity of those issues.
, abortion, contraception and porn from people who go to church regularly.
A couple of months ago on EWTN Radio, John Martignoni, was discussing liberal priests and the bad pastoral advice they give to their parishioners and the damage that this causes them. And he said the following; *“It’s as if they were pouring acid onto their souls.” * And I can tell you this, I see very clearly where Martignoni was coming from. Because I see first hand the fruits of this bad pastoral advice in my co-worker. And I can’t help but wonder, how many more thousands like this are out there, who are corrupted by poor leadership and bad counsel…and have had acid poured onto their souls?