Why do progressive Catholics stay in the Church?

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Lutheranteach said:
I wouldn’t say it’s just liberals. I’ve wondered often why so many of the Catholics I know are Catholics as they disregard any number of teachings and disagree on a multitude of things. The answer I get most often is just that it’s a cultural thing or a matter of inertia. This is where I go because this is where I’ve gone.
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Our society has slowly begun to worship the false god of pop culture media without realizing it. Few want to admit it that they are enamored by entertainment to the point of breaking the first commandment. The problem is only going to get worse due to our higher exposure to portable media unless we spread the word and reduce exposure to it. Marketing and advertising execs know that the more times people hear a message, the more likely they are to buy it. That’s why a good salesperson will try to keep the conversation going. You’ll see persistent boys try to gain favor with a girl by just talking and talking and talking to her. “If your arm causes you to sin, cut it off.” If too much exposure to pop culture media causes us to sin, we need to find a deeper existence.
 
RobbyS said:
The root of the matter is the Council’s declaration on Religious Liberty. It was cast by liberals, and was interpreted by the liberals who seized control of the Church in such a way as to encourage indifferentism. An anecdote from the time tells me a lot. A trendy priest invited a jazz band to play black hymns etc. at mass. The band was near the altar. Came communion time and the priest was walking around handing out hosts as it were candy. He offered it to one of the musicians and he refused. Offered a second time, he vigorouly shook his head. The priest moved on. After mass, the person observing this scene went to the man and asked why he had refused. He replied: “I’m Baptist.” he understood the meaning of communion: the priest did not.
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A very sad, but powerful illustration of the harm done!
 
RobbyS said:
The root of the matter is the Council’s declaration on Religious Liberty. It was cast by liberals, and was interpreted by the liberals who seized control of the Church in such a way as to encourage indifferentism.
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I just noticed something else in your post that confirms what I heard yesterday at the reflection during the reciting of the Divine Mercy chaplet. Our pastor told us that the one thing the Church sorely needs at this moment in time is ZEAL - the same zeal Jesus displayed for His Father’s House.

You are correct. What I truly believe we are seeing with today’s progressives in the Church (and I’m mainly speaking of the liberal clergy) is indifferentism - why else would we not receive proper catechesis during this important time of history and all going on with government and most especially regarding the loss of faith in all churches? I do not, for the most part see spiritual ZEAL among the clergy, nor with the statements issued by them. What I do hear is mostly political.

And yet look at this forum - whether politics or social justice or even the Liturgy and Sacraments, I do see vehement protests against those who obfuscate and confound Church teaching with liberal theology. A Baptist friend has shared with me that the same thing is happening in his church. Could it be that perhaps the laity will have a greater role in defending the Church by pure virtue of the FAITH they hold fast to, than the progressive leanings of some ecclesiastics? Our Lord knew all this…perhaps that’s where the indefectibility comes in. Much to think about.
 
Hmmm…St. Thomas the Apostle doubted…at the Ascension the apostles believed but they doubted…doubt is part of human experience and something which keeps us humble. Don’t know about you but last time I checked Mother Church learns as well as teaches…
Rascalking said:
LOL! Oh, nothing-by all means start a new conversation here…I was just trying to say that someone else had already asked the question.

My 12 cents, for what little it’s worth, is that many liberals, like many Catholic conservatives, mean well and try to do the right thing. They just might be misguided. Like I said in the other thread, What is a liberal catholic? Does it make you progressive/liberal to want woman priests? What about Communion in the hand? A guitar or folk service at mass? What if your pro-choice, but never voted for a candiate who is, never was party to an abortion,

See what I’m getting at? I think it’s very hard to call someone a progressive/liberal or a traditionalist/conservative in the Catholic sense.
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I know of few Catholic progressives" who would disagree with you on this point. Most progressive Catholics I know DESPISE pop culture precisely because of the phony marketing schemes, advertising, etc. Pop culture pushes a consumer culture which degrades men and women; contributes immensely to environmental decay and encourages general stupidity.

How to deal with it is another question. Fortunately or unfortunately we live in a country which guarantees freedom of speech.

Best thing we can do is educate students, parishioners, etc. to view things critically - to learn to ask good, hard questions and that’s a task both progressives and conservative forces can find a mutually beneficial starting point upon.
 
Do you know AB Sheen supported the civil rights movement and opposed the war in Vietnam? Spirituality and religious belief without social justice is an empty gong…
 
So the entire modern Catholic social teaching tradition beginning with Leo XIII and continuing through Benedict is “betrayal”? Why is it those of you who claim to LOVE tradition, refuse to adhere to the tradition in this area?

And you don’t think conservative Catholics who “line their purses” through unregulated, laissez faire capitalism (freedom without responsibility) are somehow “holier than thou”?
 
Why do you object to Catholic social teaching? Why don’t you take a good, solid class in Catholic social teaching and free yourself from the ignorance perpetuated by people like Glenn Beck?

QUOTE=sedonaman;6501482]There is if you are a liberal, because they are revolutionaries who want the whole establishment torn down, no matter how good it is.They are change oriented. They naively assume it will be replaced by something more to their liking [see “hope” and “change”], but they would be wrong. One of my colleagues fled the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 and had lived under communist rule for most of his life. He told me they had a saying: “A revolution eats its own children.” The “children” in this case are the useful fools who tore down the old and put the new regime in power. This is what Hitler did and what Stalin did, the theory being that if someone put you in power, he can also remove you.
 
Funny, I’ve met, listened and read Joan Chittister’s work. No where do I find any reference to a woman’ right to choose. Where do you get some bizarre ideas?
 
It seems like there is an awful lot of judging regarding the true motives of “progressive Catholics” without a lot of real information.

Politically, I am a fairly liberal pro-life Democrat. Economically, I am liberal. Socially, I am fairly independent, supporting some conservative and some liberal beliefs. For example, I believe the government should grant civil unions to gay and lesbian couples, so that they may have the tax other benefits that civilly married couples have. I do not believe, however, that any church should be forced to marry anyone they don’t want too.

I was just baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church one month ago. Why did I choose to join what is a fairly conservative church? Because I believe in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Because I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Because I believe that the Catholic Church is the true church of Jesus Christ. Because I believe in the Eucharist and that the Church is the sole holder of this amazing gift that God has given us.

My personal politics may be different from a large number, and possibly even a majority, of other Catholics. And yes, there are some issues where I don’t agree with teaching of the Church. I do, however, still follow those teachings because I recognize what a powerful and awesome gift we have been given by God in this Church and in the Eucharist and I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize my ability to receive it. I pray now, and will continue to pray, that someday the Church will change some it’s policies.

That is why I, and I would wager a very large number of “progressive Catholics”, choose to join and will remain a Catholic. It’s not because I want to destroy the Church or make it more secular or anything of the sort and I’m fairly insulted that some people here, who would probably claim to never judge others, are being so judgmental and generalizing so much about people who genuinely love the Church.
 
Rascalking said:
There is a thread sort of like this in the Back Fence section. It’s called Why do Liberals stay in the Catholic Church?
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Or, why do conservatives stay in the Church? In my parish we have vibrant liturgies, a great social outreach program, strong preaching, multitudes of children, elderly gay couples who’ve been Catholic all their lives, lesbian parents with kids in the parish school, an excellent choir and organ program, children who present the gospel every fourth Sunday, people who say “for us men and for our salvation” and people who leave out the “men” bit, female altar servers, pro-life program, inclusive language, bells and incense, lots of Latin, and on and on,

It’s a typical diverse Catholic parish? Why would anyone leave this parish just because she or he is liberal or conservative? That’s jumping out of a lifeboat because you don;t like the color it is painted.

StAnastasia
 
chriskey01 said:
That is why I, and I would wager a very large number of “progressive Catholics”, choose to join and will remain a Catholic. It’s not because I want to destroy the Church or make it more secular or anything of the sort and I’m fairly insulted that some people here, who would probably claim to never judge others, are being so judgmental and generalizing so much about people who genuinely love the Church.
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Excellent post, chriskey!
 
tpw said:
Why do you object to Catholic social teaching? Why don’t you take a good, solid class in Catholic social teaching and free yourself from the ignorance perpetuated by people like Glenn Beck?

QUOTE=sedonaman;6501482]There is if you are a liberal, because they are revolutionaries who want the whole establishment torn down, no matter how good it is.They are change oriented. They naively assume it will be replaced by something more to their liking [see “hope” and “change”], but they would be wrong. One of my colleagues fled the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 and had lived under communist rule for most of his life. He told me they had a saying: “A revolution eats its own children.” The “children” in this case are the useful fools who tore down the old and put the new regime in power. This is what Hitler did and what Stalin did, the theory being that if someone put you in power, he can also remove you.
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I don’t watch Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity; nor do I listen to Rush Limbaugh.

I didn’t say I objected to Catholic social teaching. Why do you think it is justification for socialist agendas? Or do you think?

Why don’t you learn how to use the “Reply” features of the forum?
 
tpw said:
Funny, I’ve met, listened and read Joan Chittister’s work. No where do I find any reference to a woman’ right to choose. Where do you get some bizarre ideas?
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She’s a very thoughtful writer; I have used one of her books in my graduate theology seminar.
 
pwl said:
I was born and raised a Catholic and raised quite strictly under Benedictine and then Jesuit tutelage - I had no problem with that but at the same time I never came to grips with Catholicism / Christianity.

I dont go to Church and I am fairly certain that I do not take much notice of Catholic Dogma - I think I follow a reasonable life in terms of the humanist values contained within Catholic Dogma.

For those who might question my right to continue to recognise myself as A Catholic (and I do) I would say it has nothing to do with any human being other than the Pope.

Born a Catholic, die a Catholic.
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Dear PWL, You are absolutely right concerning your last remark.
You are on my prayer list now along with my son James. I trust God for you .
I am very happy to know you have come to visit CA, you are welcome ,I ask God to bless you with his grace and peace,:)Carlan
 
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