Interesting article about the three groups of Catholics

[pnewton]

Regardless of the history of the quote, it remains as valid as 1 Corinthians 12-13, which says the same thing in more words. I normal respect Fr. Longenecker, but he seems needlessly sensational in this article. The SSPX is such a small splinter, the SSPV even smaller, that it hardly qualifies as a schism. Likewise those call progressive that have split off are even smaller. It is like he is predicting an American Civil War based on a hundred or so Republic of Texas folk that believe they are not part of the United States, or based on the weird Sovereign Citizen movement. The largest part of Catholics have no intention on splitting.

If we would discontinue this cult of personality, an old problem to be sure, then the article would be shown to be the smoke it is. In the First Century it was “I am of Paul” and “I am of Cephas”. Now it is personalities like Longenecker, Burke, and Marx, that convince attract the followings that should belong to Jesus alone.

It is not the fault of these clergy, but of the laypeople (and occasional priest) that elevate them as a pseudo-pope, based always on the amount they agree with their personal understanding of the Church, instead of humbly following that which Jesus gave us in the authority of the Chair of St. Peter, His Vicar.

 

[steve-b]

Could you elaborate? All of us fall. The key thing is to get back up. Yes, there are bad examples but there are also good ones.

It was the explanation of Christian and Catholic, I was responding to,

I know Catholics, who by definition are Christian, and in my parish, who are on the wrong side of key moral issues., abortion, gay marriage, etc. They not only won’t change, but are actually pro active on many such issues. So, as they are, they are a terrible example of both Christian and Catholic.

 

[steph03]

I also agree that there are three types

1. Orthodox Catholics who obey and respect church Fathers, tradition and truth.
2. Heterodox Catholics (dissenters) who don’t. A large group getting larger because of…
3. Those in the middle who as time goes on will veer one side or the other (but majority towards position 2)

I actually consider the described types in the article as more accurate…

 

[edwest211]

Such descriptions are mostly used to divide. Informing and educating those who disbelieve or who have other problems with Church teaching need more information when making choices about certain issues.