If the Roman Catholic Church Becomes Much More Strict and Rigid in Enforcing Catholic Morality and Combatting Heresy,

[Seasons]

What would happen under this scenario? Will the majority of Catholics choose to be obedient to the Roman Catholic Church?

 

[avemariagratiaplena]

They will either leave or continue being cafeteria Catholics. Not sure what more we could do to combat heresy and teach right morals that we aren’t doing now, yet most Catholics (at least in the USA) are immoral and ignore the teachings. They will not be obedient

 

[Shakuhachi]

I would think not. Once there is a taste of Independent thinking there is no going back. The world today and the availability of information and disinformation has given us all a false sense of “knowledge”. We make up our own minds and do what we want. Not just Catholics but everyone in the free world.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Rigidity has never been part of the Gospel. Why would the Church embrace it?

 

[TMC]

Can you explain what you mean by this? What kinds of heresies do you think need combating?

As to what will happen, for those that do not agree with the Church’s teachings, I would not expect them to change their views because of more ‘strictness’ from the Church. Nor should they, really. If one’s conscience dictates a certain belief, that person shouldn’t change their belief because of some embarrassment or punishment. If the Church feels there is some endemic problem with the acceptance of its teachings, the answer is to better teach and convince people.

 

[Genesis315]

IMO a vigorous repudiation of error, and a strong discipline will drive such people away and make the Church more hated by the world (the whole of which is seated in wickedness, as St. John says)…but it will also be an even stronger attraction to those of good will seeking to build their spiritual home on the rigid rock that stands as a light in the darkness and a sign of contradiction before the world. It would also strengthen, reassure, and spur on the faithful of good will within the Church who look to her for clear moral, and spiritual leadership.

 

[Seasons]

I am meaning the people who do not uphold Catholic Church teaching in general.

 

[Genesis315]

Just to add to my post above, the Vatican II approach of no condemnations was explicitly proposed by St. John XXIII for a Church where, in his words, “the fundamental doctrine of the Church which has repeatedly been taught by the Fathers and by ancient and modern theologians…is presumed to be well known and familiar to all.” Likewise, he described the world such an approach to error was geared to as follows:

But all such error is so manifestly contrary to rightness and goodness, and produces such fatal results, that our contemporaries show every inclination to condemn it of their own accord—especially that way of life which repudiates God and His law, and which places excessive confidence in technical progress and an exclusively material prosperity. It is more and more widely understood that personal dignity and true self-realization are of vital importance and worth every effort to achieve. More important still, experience has at long last taught men that physical violence, armed might, and political domination are no help at all in providing a happy solution to the serious problems which affect them.

Clearly, neither of these presumptions are true any longer (honestly, these seemed to have become invalid either during or immediately after the Council). It seems to me, the Church’s traditional and more tried and true approach is appropriate once again (it makes no sense to rigidly cling to an approach for a specific set of circumstances no longer present).

 

[Seasons]

The Roman Catholic Church is rigid in all its doctrine.

 

[BigBoom]

They will either leave or continue being cafeteria Catholics. Not sure what more we could do to combat heresy and teach right morals that we aren’t doing now, yet most Catholics (at least in the USA) are immoral and ignore the teachings. They will not be obedient

It needs to start with the hierarchy. If a priest is teaching heresy or allowing staff at his church to teach heresy, the bishop needs to correct the priest. If the priest refuses to make the changes, he needs to be laicized. Same with the bishops. If the bishops are teaching heresy or allowing many priests under their control to teach heresy, the bishop needs to be removed.

 

[Genesis315]

The Roman Catholic Church is rigid in all its doctrine.

Exactly, Christ uses the imagery of a rigid rock often–including using it for the new name of his vicar–and the Scriptures often speak of cornerstones, pillars, and other rigid structures that support our faith.

Of course, rigidy is used in a negative sense when speaking of irrepentance or refusal of forgiveness for the penitent.

 

[TMC]

I am meaning the people who do not uphold Catholic Church teaching in general.

I am still not sure what you mean. I know very few Catholics who agree with every single thing the Church teaches.

Are you talking about Catholics that have theological issues over, for example, Christology. Most Catholics are not particularly well versed in theology. Or are you talking about Catholics who dissent from one or more of the Church’s moral teachings (which nearly all Catholics do). Or are you talking about Catholics who are not diligent in maintaining the Church’s practices - Mass attendance, fasting, and so forth.

Those are three very different things to me, with the one thing they have in common being that a large majority of Catholics have at least some issues in each area.

 

[Seasons]

All Catholics who disagree with Catholic Church teaching are wrong.

 

[TMC]

All Catholics who disagree with Catholic Church teaching are wrong.

Obviously that would be the Church’ position, by definition.

So it seems your position is that the Church should be more strict with any Catholics who deviate from Church teaching in any way? What does that look like - excommunication, public admonishment, how would it be carried out?

You asked what would happen. I have said that I think it would be ineffective - actually counterproductive. What do you think?

 

[Seasons]

I believe, it is not a matter of if, but, when the Catholic Church becomes much more strict enforcing Catholic morality.

 

[TMC]

I believe, it is not a matter of if, but, when the Catholic Church becomes much more strict enforcing Catholic morality.

I am really just trying to understand what you are saying. What does this mean? Can you give an example? The Church excommunicates people who don’t understand the Trinity? Pastors admonish those that don’t come to Mass? Or call out couples that only have one or two kids? Or refuses communion to people who post pro-LGBT things on their Facebook? What does it look like, and what is the impact?

 

[Seasons]

Why do you believe it would be ineffective for God to enforce his teachings through the Catholic Church?; Isn’t that what the Catholic Church is here for?

 

[TMC]

Why do you believe it would be ineffective for God to enforce his teachings through the Catholic Church?; Isn’t that what the Catholic Church is here for?

No, that is not what the Catholic Church is “for”. Where do you get that idea? Do you seriously think that the point of the Church is to punish those it disagrees with?

 

[SantaFe]

How would the church enforce morality when it seems they can’t even agree on it in the first place? It’s pretty clear thou shalt not kill is a commandment yet many “Catholics” seem to think the Death Penalty is ok when every Bishop and the Pope have said it is always wrong and an evil. Also the definition of heresy is also quite vague and there is no way I’d want to live in a theocracy of any type, even Catholic.

 

[Montrose]

I believe, it is not a matter of if, but, when the Catholic Church becomes much more strict enforcing Catholic morality.

What do you mean by “much more strict enforcing Catholic morality”? Please give us some examples because I am still confused as to what you are talking about.