Cat,
Do the bishops and priests that teach things contrary to the Catholic faith also bother you? Do you think they cause confusion to ordinary Catholics and new Catholics?
I ask because I’ve read probably 100+ of your posts and have never seen you speak to this issue.
Thank you for reading my posts. I usually read yours as well (and your wife’s).
I have never seen Masses that are irreverent.
I have never seen priests that teach things contrary to the Catholic dogma, priests that avoid topics like artificial contraception and abortion, priests who rail against celibacy, priests who advocate women priests, priests who criticize tradition.
I have never seen a bishop who refuses to allow the Latin Mass.
I have never been in a Mass where the music is worldly, or in Masses that are inclusive to the point where they cannot be distinguished from Protestant worship services, or at Life Teen Masses that are abusive.
I have never known charismatic Catholics that are factious, etc.
I have never seen clowns or dancing in Mass.
I have never seen irreverence, abuse, or indifference towards Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
I HAVE seen Adoration offered 24/7 in our city, TLM offered daily in our city, Life Teen offered in our city (and growing by leaps and bounds!), Catholic schools that teach orthodox Catholic dogma, RCIA programs that truly disciple new Catholics, a two-year ministry formation program
required by the bishop for all who are involved in teaching ministries in the parishes, “Why Catholic” Bible/catechism studies offered throughout the diocese, magnificent music from all the centuries of Catholic tradition in Mass, Bible studies and apologetics classes offered in many of the parishes,
a SURPLUS of vocations in the diocese, and active involvement by Catholics in the prolife movement as well as in movements that help the poor and the disenfranchised.
So it is difficult for me to assess how the things you speak of upset or confuse the average lay person since I have never experienced anything but the best that the Catholic Church has to offer.
I’m kind of like Richie Rich here–I have no idea how the “lower half” lives.
However, in spite of living in the incredibly orthodox diocese that I described above, I
have met plenty of Catholics (lay) in the diocese who are what I would describe as “carnal.”
They support liberal causes (women priests, marriage of priests, etc.), they join their voices and paychecks politically with those who support outright sin (abortion, homosexual marriage, etc.), they disrespect the Eucharist, they refuse to submit to the Pope and the Magisterium, they are hard-hearted, unrepentant, and openly sinful, and critical of Catholics who DO adhere to the orthodox Catholic Church.
So it seems to me that having an “orthodox” diocese and a conservative bishop is no guarantee that Catholics will remain close to the Church.
If someone gives in to temptation and practices deliberate sin, they will do so even if Pope Pius X is standing over them intoning in Latin.
And on the other side, if someone is trapped in a diocese where the things that many of you decry are practiced regularly (abuses, incorrect teachings, irreverence, etc.), I agree that it is possible that they will become confused, discouraged, and eventually fall away from the Church.
I think that more than likely, Catholics are likely to become confused when they look away from the Church to the “green grass” on the other side of the Christian block–the Protestant churches and fellowships where the music is fine, the fellowship is friendly, and it’s OK to use a condom and have sex more than a few times a month.
I agree that the answer to this sort of confusion and attrition of Catholics is better catechesis, however, there are times when catechesis is excellent and teaching is orthodox and non-confusing and Catholics still choose the easier road of Protestantism or outright un-churched life.
I think there are many things that can confuse a Catholic who does not stay close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, avail themselves of the Sacraments (especially Reconciliation), read the Scriptures and the Catechism, and attend Mass as often as possible, even a sub-par Mass. As long as Jesus is offered, Mass is worthwhile and efficacious for a person’s soul.
A Catholic who does these things may be upset by “confusing teachings,” either from groups like SSPX or from liberal priests, but they will NOT be led down the wrong path. Jesus promised that He will not lose any of His sheep.
But WE have to listen to and obey God
If you have read my posts, you will see that many times, I have said that rather than submitting to unorthodox teachings in the Catholic Church and allowing yourself to become whipped into lethargy and possibly even sucked into attending an organization that is questionable in the eyes of the Church, it would be better to move away to a different diocese.
Your very soul is at stake. People say they can’t move. This may be true in some situations, but I honestly think that many people COULD pull up stakes and immigrate to a city in a diocese like mine. I’m not saying it’s easy to leave kith and kin behind, quit a good job, sell a house (especially in todays market), uproot children, etc. But again–your SOULS are at stake! What is the worth of your soul? If you are really serious about ending abuses and irreverences to the point where you are willing to become part of a movement that is divisive (not necessarily truly schismatic, but certain factious, something that is utterly condemned by St. Paul in the Scriptures), then you should be willing to move. Action, not words.
If you aren’t willing to move or you truly can’t move, then FIND a way to deal with the abuses rather than abandoning the true Church of Jesus Christ for a factious group.
