Militant Laodiceanism

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Maximian

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I often come across Catholics who are not very enthusiastic about the faith and in various stages of lapsing. But recently I came across a new phenomenon (at least to me), of a Catholic who is militant and quite angrily in favour of being semi-lapsed.

For example, someone who is living in sin and furiously insists upon his right to do so as a Catholic.

Has anyone else come across this?
 
When someone is validly baptized in the Church, or outside the Church later joining Her, they are a Catholic for all eternity. Sin does not take away one’s Catholicism.
 
Yes I know that.

That’s not my focus. My focus is that he insists that AS A CATHOLIC he has the RIGHT to live in sin and that it is outrageous that the Church should suggest otherwise.
 
I would suggest that you pray for him, offer the best witness you can by the manner of your life, and don’t gossip about him, especially not online where he might see.

-Fr ACEGC
 
Gossip is only gossip if there is an identifier, quod non.

I was giving an example of a phenomenon; he isn’t the only case Ive met recently.

My question is: have you come across this type of thing, or is it simply coincidence that I met a couple of people taking this line.
 
Sure, I’ve come across people who want to live their lives the way they have chosen to, and are rather openly against being told otherwise, by the Church or anyone else. I would say the broad majority of people, however, are not like this, they are simply indifferent.

I’m not sure what can be accomplished by a thread like this, to be honest. Your question can be answered with “yes, that is something I have witnessed,” but very little discussion is possible beyond that if it is to remain objective and charitable, and not turn into a source of needless validation for those participating. By which I mean something along the lines of the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee: “O God, I thank you that I am not like this tax collector.”

In short, these kinds of people do exist, these kinds of attitudes do exist, but very little is gained by adjudicating that. My advice from before still stands.
 
Again, that is not what is odd. I find it perfectly normal (unfortunately) that people live sinful lives and don’t want to be told not to. What is new to me is to insist that this is a Catholic thing to do.
 
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Maximian said:
Has anyone else come across this?
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I have come across a lot of self-righteous Catholics who point out the shortcomings of others to make themselves feel superior rather than as fellow sinners. A lot of it has to do with dualistic black-white thinking: one can be either good or evil, and there is no in-between. So if I’m good, and someone disagrees with me, they must, of course, be evil.

I do not find such thinking conducive to spiritual growth. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s a habit that I have struggled with myself.
 
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