How the media harms the Church

[edwest2]

In Detroit, Cardinal Maida is retiring, to be replaced by Bishop Allen Vigneron. A newspaper article focused on secular humanist aspects of this Bishop as opposed to Church teaching. Words like “traditionalist” and “conservative” were applied to him. There were comments from “progressive” Catholics, for example, about his request for monthly Confession. One complained that “Don’t we have freedom of conscience?”

The Church does not have secular humanist camps. It is not about politics but about established Church teaching and tradition, and spreading the Gospel. The word “progressive” is an ugly word. It often means that the Church needs to change something when it, in fact, doesn’t. This leads some people, especially those not familiar with the Catechism, to believe that truths held by the Church are somehow flexible and changeable.

The Church does allow “freedom of conscience” but that conscience has to be properly formed to begin with. It does not allow Catholics to do whatever they want and it does involve individual Catholics doing some work and study so that they know why the Church teaches what it does and requires what it does.

Secularists are hoping that by giving the illusion that there are and should be so-called “conservative” and “progressive” people in the Church that the Church is flexible and changeable, along with allowing various Catholics to do things other than what it teaches, including in the area of moral law.

As followers of Christ, He established this Church and He established His law. While there are some points of sincere disagreement, as Catholics, we should act in obedience to the Church. As Jesus said to Peter, He who hears you hears me.

So we must not be quick to disagree but hold the Church in proper esteem, knowing that they are our sheperds through this life and are guiding us in our journey to the life to come.

Obeience is our strength, not dissent out of ignorance of Church teaching. And don’t allow the secular media to replace the role of your priest or bishop. They are your guides to living a good and holy life, not the secular media.

Peace,
Ed

 

[ForwardProgress]

Did Christ really establish a ‘Law’? I think he died for fulfillment of the law and to give us the opportunity to enter heaven, based on how much love and forgiveness we show others and the Lord…but don’t ever think he stated 'This is my Law. Section 1 states blah blah…

I’m Catholic btw, and not trying to sound Protestant.

 

[edwest2]

If you check your Bible, Christ tells His disciples numerous times to do what He says, including “Why do you say to me lord, lord and do not the things I tell you?” And what did He say to the wealthy young man? The young man who asks what he must do? Christ answers by mentioning the Commandments, to which the young man replies he has observed them since his youth.

The Church has Canon Law and the Catechism clearly lays out what Catholics must know and do. We should reverence our Church leaders since they are made sheperds over us not by men, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as teachers of Christ’s flock on earth, their responsibility is especially grave. For the media to reinterpret their role in light of secular beliefs distorts their true role for and among the Catholic Community.

As Catholics, we profess we are the one true, holy, Catholic (meaning universal) Church. This, by the way, does not allow us to treat our fellow human beings as anything less than our neighbors, as Christ told us in the parable of the Samaratin.

He said, “If you love me keep my commandments.”

Peace,
Ed

 

[gardenswithkids]

…A newspaper article focused on secular humanist aspects of this Bishop as opposed to Church teaching. Words like “traditionalist” and “conservative” were applied to him. There were comments from “progressive” Catholics, …

In the example you gave, it is not just the media harming the Church–it is people within the Church speaking against the Church, her teachers and and her teachings. The news reports what they say. Unfortunately, the media doesn’t have to look very far to find dissenting Catholics. Sin harms the Church. Serious sin and dissent by members within the Church does far more damage to the Church than sin from those outside of the Church.

 

[Newbie2]

I noticed also that the Detroit Freepress online allows comments for certain news stories and doesn’t for others. Of course, they allow comments for all the “Catholic news” that happens, and invariably the comments usually run 90/10 AntiCatholic slams/intelligent comment.

Interesting that any “race” related stories don’t usually allow commentary, nor do they allow comments on, say Islam-related stories. Catholic bashing is in fashion, certainly not new, but well tolerated in the media.