Arguably the MOST SERIOUS issue facing the Catholic Church is the absolute lack of knowledge by the laity of the basics of Catholicism.
A couple of years ago, Father Benedict Groeschel made this point very strongly at a seminar he gave at my home parish (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) here in Ridgewood, NJ.
The “dumbing down” of American is not confined to our secular educational system with a de-emphasis of math and science and American history. The “dumbing down” is very evident in the lack of basic knowledge of Catholic doctrine.
The famous Baltimore Catechism was thrown overboard. That was the #1 teaching tool of the Catholic Church in the U.S.
Sean Hannity is an average American with a gift of gab whose job requires no dead air time. His job also requires maintaining a certain level of “excitement” [both radio and television] to prevent viewers from changing the station. No boredom allowed for even a second. He is good at his job.
By coincidence, Sean Hannity also happens to be the average American “cradle Catholic”.
It is a miracle that Sean knows as much as he does. But he does not have a lot of “book learning”.
Witness the extreme lengths Sean went to and through during the Terry Schievo case. I apologize for spelling her name incorrectly.] Sean virtually moved his studio to Florida for a week or so. He interviewed EVERYBODY. I would even venture to say that Sean was responsible for the response, however inadequate, by the President and Congress.
When the issue of the illegal border crossings came to light, Sean again relocated his studio to the Southwest of the United States.
I did not “experience” the exchange between himself and Father Euteneur. So I have no idea what nuances took place in the instantaneous need to prevent dead air time and in the exigencies of broadcasting of keeping emotions running on high volume.
But, in my opinion, what we actually experienced was and exchange between a “typical American cradle Catholic” and a Catholic priest who is willing to be a lightning rod.
I am 64 1/2 years old and a cradle American Catholic [and I did have the benefit of the Baltimore Catechism] and I can say that arguably I have only heard the issue of contraception discussed from the pulpit on one or two occasions, at most.
People (particularly American Catholic people) have simply NOT been educated on the whys and wherefores of Catholicism. [Sarcasm: they may have been trained in coloring and making banners, but they sure don’t know much about understanding, or explaining, or defending the Faith.]
Sean merely illustrated and demonstrated for us how little we really have been educated … about how little we really know. And how far we have fallen … and how much remedial work we need to do to merely get back to where we were in the 1950’s.
She said that Father was the one that attacked Sean. This person is a former Catholic who is now Evangelical. I don’t think that is very Christian of her to behave that way. And yet her post is still there. She attacked Father Euteneuer and her post remains untouched. And yet we cannot say anything about Sean. :whacky: But they don’t care… that is Sean’s forum so of course they will protect him. 
But be careful in mentioning Sean’s name. I don’t want my thread over there to be closed the way the other thread was.
(I hope Sean is paying attention. 
)
All Glory to God!