Is Catholicism losing relevance in today's world?

[CaliLobo]

In today’s modern culture in which:

1. It is prohibitively expensive to raise children, and the world is becoming overpopulated;
2. We are learning more about gender and sexuality, and we realize that homosexuality is normal in a certain percentage of the population, and therefore there are no longer any secular reasons to deny marriage rights to gay couples;
3. More and more people are acquainted with a gay person and realize that gays are normal human beings, and should not have to suffer from denial of right to marriage;
4. There are no longer any financial incentives for people to stay married or to have children, and it is possible to be financially solvent and successful living alone;
5. Lifespan is increasing and it’s a tall order to remain committed to one partner for life;
6. Postmodernism is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in a diverse society in which not everyone is Christian;
7. Women have careers and pregnancy is a major impediment to women’s careers;
8. Pregnancy is a form of suffering to women and is a health risk, and women should not be forced to go through it;
9. The Magisterium is no longer trusted because of sex scandal and historical scandal;
10. Denying civil rights to certain classes of people is a form of hate, and societies that have exercised civil tolerance have continued to flourish and maintain high standards of living.
11. It is now impossible to maintain work or business if you do not support gay marriage rights;

Can we admit that Catholic teachings on abortion, sex, marriage, and contraception are losing relevance in today’s modern world?

 

[weller2]

Can we admit that Catholic teachings on abortion, sex, marriage, and contraception are losing relevance in today’s modern world?

Ahem. Maybe we should start by reading Matthew 23 and 1 Timothy 3.

The problem is not with teachings, the problem is that the clergy which is supposed to preach these teachings is so insulated from real-world problems that it does not understand the challenges involved. They don’t marry, so they have no idea what it takes to raise children (but they will preach that everyone else should do it). They are exclusively male, so they have no idea what it means to be pregnant or give birth (but they will spout metaphysical nonsense on the subject day and night). They don’t have to work to eat, so they don’t understand what financial solvency is (but insist that congregations should fund their expensive lifestyles). The only problem on your list they know is homosexuality, and we’ve all seen how well they could deal with it during the last scandal.

 

[CaliLobo]

Ahem. Maybe we should start by reading Matthew 25 and 1 Timothy 3.

The problem is not with teachings, the problem is that the clergy which is supposed to preach these teachings is so insulated from real-world problems that it does not understand the challenges involved. They don’t marry, so they have no idea what it takes to raise children (but they will preach that everyone else should do it). They are exclusively male, so they have no idea what it means to be pregnant or give birth (but they will spout metaphysical nonsense on the subject day and night). They don’t have to work to eat, so they don’t understand what financial solvency is (but insist that congregations should fund their expensive lifestyles). The only problem on your list they know is homosexuality, and we’ve all seen how well they could deal with it during the last scandal.

Yes, I agree. The clergy don’t fully understand.

 

[Nacho45]

I would say its more along the lines of the world losing its relevance.

 

[Memaw]

In today’s modern culture in which:

1. It is prohibitively expensive to raise children, and the world is becoming overpopulated;
2. We are learning more about gender and sexuality, and we realize that homosexuality is normal in a certain percentage of the population, and therefore there are no longer any secular reasons to deny marriage rights to gay couples;
3. More and more people are acquainted with a gay person and realize that gays are normal human beings, and should not have to suffer from denial of right to marriage;
4. There are no longer any financial incentives for people to stay married or to have children, and it is possible to be financially solvent and successful living alone;
5. Lifespan is increasing and it’s a tall order to remain committed to one partner for life;
6. Postmodernism is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in a diverse society in which not everyone is Christian;
7. Women have careers and pregnancy is a major impediment to women’s careers;
8. Pregnancy is a form of suffering to women and is a health risk, and women should not be forced to go through it;
9. The Magisterium is no longer trusted because of sex scandal and historical scandal;
10. Denying civil rights to certain classes of people is a form of hate, and societies that have exercised civil tolerance have continued to flourish and maintain high standards of living.
11. It is now impossible to maintain work or business if you do not support gay marriage rights;

Can we admit that Catholic teachings on abortion, sex, marriage, and contraception are losing relevance in today’s modern world?

The Catholic Church will always teach the TRUTH. It’s us that need to wake up and start living that TRUTH in our daily lives. Then we will see a change for the better in our world. God have Mercy on us if we don’t and our children. We can already see the harm being done. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Dorothy]

Catholics are supposed to live in the world but not be of it.

We must not lose hope!

We are to impact the world, but not allow the world to impact us.

Jesus, we trust in You!

 

[drz888]

As Our Lord Jesus Christ stated to His disciples in John 15:18-19…

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

That there is One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, whose founder came from an empty tomb, still so hated by the world is further testament we are the one true Church instituted by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings and peace.

 

[jc4751]

I would agree with the above poster that “the world is losing its relevance.”

We basically have two paths in life…we can adhere to an ideal or a teaching, even if it is not necessarily Catholicism, or we can live without ideals of any sort, which is the basis of the modern world’s current mode of thought. Since the 60s, the idea has been to reject everything and just find your own path. The problem is that you can never really adhere to anything from that point on, which is why people jump from one fad to the next, because they cannot accept or tolerate the idea of a basic truth. “Gay marriage” is just the latest manifestation of this, and they’ll move on to something else in a couple of years when the dust has settled from that.

We’ve been blessed/cursed to live in an age of great wealth for several decades now, which has really made easy and fertile ground for this sort of thing, but it’s coming to a close as the excess wealth of Western civilization that took centuries to build up has now been depleted from warfare and handouts. Along with the end of frivolous living is going to come the end of frivolous thinking, as people take a more careful look at their lives and their relationship to the world and higher ideas.

 

[shelly5254]

Staying committed to marriage is a tall order? My husband and I have been together nearly 16 years. I could only hope we have another 80 years together! We are of a mindset that if it breaks we fix it instead of throwing it away. We havd our disagreements and our own opinions on things but we are willing to put in the work. I think the problem is that people 1) rush into marriage 2) rush into divorce 3) are not willing to accept each other as they are 4) are not willing to put in the work to keep it going.
All your points are a problem with society not with the church

 

[delmo]

Society becoming more immoral does not mean the Church is losing relevance, rather, it’s more needed. What’s right and wrong isn’t determined by a popular vote.

 

[SwizzleStick]

In today’s modern culture in which:

1. It is prohibitively expensive to raise children, and the world is becoming overpopulated; **No, it isn’t “prohibitively expensive to raise children.” Children are blessings and raising them is the most worthy endeavor of a lifetime. What could compare? Also, the world is not overpopulated. **
2. We are learning more about gender and sexuality, and we realize that homosexuality is normal in a certain percentage of the population, and therefore there are no longer any secular reasons to deny marriage rights to gay couples; There is no such thing as homosexual marriage and the status of those in homosexual relationships is not normal.
3. More and more people are acquainted with a gay person and realize that gays are normal human beings, and should not have to suffer from denial of right to marriage; There does seem to be an increase in the small percentage of people who self-identity as homosexual, so it is possible that more and more people know someone who identifies with that disordered state.
4. There are no longer any financial incentives for people to stay married or to have children, and it is possible to be financially solvent and successful living alone;
   What a truly, truly sad statement. There is so much more to life than financial status. The joy of marriage and children is priceless and money is just money.
5. Lifespan is increasing and it’s a tall order to remain committed to one partner for life;
   **Another truly sad statement. Marriage is a lifelong commitment and only death can end a marriage. **
6. Postmodernism is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in a diverse society in which not everyone is Christian;
7. Women have careers and pregnancy is a major impediment to women’s careers;
   **Being a mom is the best title ever. The rewards are priceless. A career title goes with the deceased and matters not at all. **
8. Pregnancy is a form of suffering to women and is a health risk, and women should not be forced to go through it;
   Oh please. Pregnancy is a form of suffering? What a truly bizarre notion.
9. The Magisterium is no longer trusted because of sex scandal and historical scandal;
   People are flawed. That is true. But, the Truths of the Church remain.
10. Denying civil rights to certain classes of people is a form of hate, and societies that have exercised civil tolerance have continued to flourish and maintain high standards of living.
    Nobody is being denied civil rights. There is no such thing as homosexual marriage.
11. It is now impossible to maintain work or business if you do not support gay marriage rights;
    That is true and is a tragic reflection of the twisted culture we live in. We are well on the same path as Rome and are swirling the drain.

Can we admit that Catholic teachings on abortion, sex, marriage, and contraception are losing relevance in today’s modern world?
There is no reason to admit to something that isn’t true. Catholic teachings are as relevant as ever and may be even more so since we are living in such corrupt and degenerate times.

There is so much wrong with the post above, I don’t really know where to start and I also don’t have time. But, I’ll briefly dissent. Bolding mine above.

 

[SwizzleStick]

The Catholic Church will always teach the TRUTH. It’s us that need to wake up and start living that TRUTH in our daily lives. Then we will see a change for the better in our world. God have Mercy on us if we don’t and our children. We can already see the harm being done. God Bless, Memaw

True. God did give us free will so that we can freely choose good or evil, to sin or not to sin, to follow the teachings of His Church or not. And, He does allow us to choose our final destination. He will allow each and every one of us to live with, and allow America to die as a result of, the consequences of that exercise of free will. He said that the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church, but He didn’t mention America prevailing. But, in the end His perfect justice will prevail over all.

 

[dmar198]

Is Catholicism losing relevance in today’s world?

No, because nothing that’s going on in the world can make it okay to disobey God’s commandments.

In today’s modern culture… 1) It is prohibitively expensive to raise children, and the world is becoming overpopulated;

Can you name a few scientists who agree that the world is overpopulated? The Population Research Institute (pop.org) says that the developed world is undergoing a demographic winter, the opposite of overpopulation. I don’t know of any scientists who disagree; can you name some?

1. We are learning more about gender and sexuality, and we realize that homosexuality is normal in a certain percentage of the population, and therefore there are no longer any secular reasons to deny marriage rights to gay couples;

I don’t think that any laws are founded on secular reasons because there is no secular foundation for right and wrong. What do you think?

Also, the Declaration of Independence says in the prologue that a nation’s laws are only just if they are founded on “the laws of nature and nature’s God.” And God says it is a sin to practice homosexuality. What do you think of that argument?

1. There are no longer any financial incentives for people to stay married or to have children, and it is possible to be financially solvent and successful living alone;

God says children are a blessing. About staying married, God says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.” Mark 10:11. Don’t you think it’s reasonable for people to follow what God says?

1. Postmodernism is the only way to ensure peace and coexistence in a diverse society in which not everyone is Christian;

Postmodernism is killing children in the womb. Is that peaceful or coexistent? Christianity teaches that you should protect the right to life. It also teaches that you should not force anybody to believe in Christianity, but you should believe in it yourself. Don’t you think that’s a reasonable basis for peace?

1. Women have careers and pregnancy is a major impediment to women’s careers;

1. Pregnancy is a form of suffering to women and is a health risk, and women should not be forced to go through it;

I think these arguments ignore the child’s right to life. I think the child and the mother both have a right to life and good health, and doctors should do what they can to keep both of them healthy. I don’t think any reason gives a person the right to take an innocent person’s life. Don’t you think that’s reasonable?

1. The Magisterium is no longer trusted because of sex scandal and historical scandal;

I think we can go to the Scriptures for an answer to this argument. The Bible prophesied that the Church would have great sinners – Acts 20:29-30. We’re not supposed to respect their actions. But we are supposed to follow the Church’s teachings. The Bible tells us that the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth – 1 Timothy 3:15. From this it seems to me that we should follow the Church’s teachings, but when priests commit crimes, they should be treated like other criminals. Don’t you think that’s a reasonable interpretation of the Bible?

1. Denying civil rights to certain classes of people is a form of hate, and societies that have exercised civil tolerance have continued to flourish and maintain high standards of living.

This is not in conflict with Church teaching.

1. It is now impossible to maintain work or business if you do not support gay marriage rights;

That does not justify disobeying God. He says it is a sin to practice homosexuality. All people of good will should follow that teaching because it comes from God.

Can we admit that Catholic teachings on abortion, sex, marriage, and contraception are losing relevance in today’s modern world?

No, because nothing that’s going on in the world can make it okay to disobey God’s commandments.

 

[Jennie1964]

To the original poster:

From your questions, you tell me that you have bought into the beliefs of post-Christian-era thinking, ie humanism and possibly hedonism. If you subscribe to either of those “isms”, then of course the Church has lost her relevance. Any church will lose its value in the eyes of a post-Christian society.

But the point is, as other posters have said, it is not the Church that is losing relevance, but rather the world is losing its proper perspective on mankind’s role. The Westminster Shorter Chatechism (and I imagine also the Catholic chatechism), asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” If the world actually asked the right questions, they’d realize that the answers are held by the church.

I’m a Protestant, but even I know the relevance of the Catholic Church; and believe me when I say that it is more relevant now than it ever has been.

 

[SuperLuigi]

To the original poster:

From your questions, you tell me that you have bought into the beliefs of post-Christian-era thinking, ie humanism and possibly hedonism. If you subscribe to either of those “isms”, then of course the Church has lost her relevance. Any church will lose its value in the eyes of a post-Christian society.

But the point is, as other posters have said, it is not the Church that is losing relevance, but rather the world is losing its proper perspective on mankind’s role. The Westminster Shorter Chatechism (and I imagine also the Catholic chatechism), asks the question, “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.” If the world actually asked the right questions, they’d realize that the answers are held by the church.

I’m a Protestant, but even I know the relevance of the Catholic Church; and believe me when I say that it is more relevant now than it ever has been.

:clapping:

 

[SuperLuigi]

I’ve seen this style before, and a lot of these questions are written in such a way in an attempt to antagonize conservatives and those with traditional values.

It won’t work.

 

[robwar]

to OP,
all your so called points are straight from the out of touch liberal media. None of them are based in reality unless the reality is in the minds of out of touch liberal media. I think looking at all of the 2000+ years of history we can safely say not only is the Church revalent, it is a voice crying out in a world that needs to hear it. You have sadly bought into the lies feed to you in the culture that has gone down the tubes. Remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

 

[Schatzl]

The Church, in my opinion, will never be irrelevent. We live in an era where we need the Church now more than ever! I have seen what living in our modern world without the Church can do to teenagers (some of my classmates have fallen away from the faith) and it frightens me. We need Christ and His Church and we always will. Not to mention that Catholicism is the true religion and always will be.

 

[petra22]

:clapping:

I thought you would be eating some of that popcorn…!
But hey, we all know the pendulum swings wide to the left and wide to the right and the truth is in the middle where the Catholic church tries to hang on and hand down the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He is never irrelevant and so his church is never irrelevant. Society many THINK His church is old fashioned and worthless but they are throwing what the THINK are modern ideas out there to distract people. Let us remain strong in the Faith until Jesus comes… His church guiding us…

 

[WKW_69]

The Church will never change. If the only Catholic left in the world is the Pope then it still will not change.