RCIA Candidate - Troubled with Doubts

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1. Her first argument is that there is a culture of pedophilia within the priesthood. As the mother of a young boy, I have to admit this has troubled me also. I know the news has had a wonderful time bashing the Catholic church over this issue but… even today in the news I read about 10 priests in Spain that have been accused. Logically I know that pedophiles are drawn to where the children are (teachers, churches, etc.) but it seems like the Catholic church still has a problem.

Billy Graham’s grandson, Boz Tchividijian, works for a ministry that investigates sexual abuse scandals in the Protestant church. Below is a Huffington Post (of all things!!) article in which he states that the rate of abuse in Protestantism is “worse than Catholics”:

Article

1. She argues that it’s terrible that the Church decides if I’m “fit enough” to receive the Eucharist, just because I was married once before. Part of me understands the Church’s beliefs on this, but it truly breaks my heart at the thought of never being able to receive Eucharist if I am not granted an annulment.

It bothers me terribly that my current husband can get a form annulment in a snap (protestant wedding), but that I have to jump through hoops and hurdles that may prevent me from ever fully participating, when I wasn’t even Catholic or ever thought I would be. (Not to mention the incredible heartbreak I feel that I probably won’t be joining the church with my son this Easter like I hoped and anticipated.)

Hopefully your process will go much more smoothly and quickly than you anticipate. God knows your heart. That’s all that truly matters.

But, on the other hand, there are just inevitable things in life that are not fair and don’t make sense. For instance, my daughter is allergic to nuts. It stinks that she will never be able to enjoy a delicious Reese’ cup or other nut items and we have to be careful about what she is exposed to for fear for her health which includes having to keep our other children from eating nut products when they are around her or even having them in our home. No, it’s not particularly fair to our non-allergic kids, but we have to implement these rules for the health and well-being or our child who could get seriously ill. In a way, I can relate this to what the Church is doing in your particular case.

1. And finally, she accuses the Church of being a giant, corrupt bureaucracy full of power mongers, financial corruption and an organization of rules instead of a house of love & welcome. That they’ve left Nuns who have devoted their lives to the church, in poverty and destitution at the end of their lives. (Apparently my Mom talked to some Nuns?) She went on to say that Pope Francis is the first Pope (because he’s Jesuit? I didn’t understand that comment) to speak out against, and tackle this behemoth, and that people have been leaving the Church in droves because of these “very real” problems.

I do have to say, it has bothered me somewhat that the Vatican/Popes seem to be a lavish lifestyle; with gold chairs and jewelry, limousines and living quarters. I know that Pope Francis has been living much differently but… why all the flash and wealth? Why the gold embroidered stoles and the air of royalty? It seems like so much political maneuvering and power plays just like our government. (Forgive me, I’m probably heavily influenced by the media.)

Does your mom live in a bubble? Does she seriously think that there are not power struggles, greed issues, corruption, lavishness, etc. abounding outside of the Catholic Church? Really? Has she taken a look at the infighting that goes on between Mega-church leaders, their salaries, their homes, their extravagance, etc. Really?

Just like the sexual abuse scandals, I daresay that all the issues she (and you) raised in this regard is present in the Protestant churches IN MUCH GREATER DEGREE than the Catholic Church.