I
Iotaunum
Guest
It seems that there are hardly any Catholics left who are willing to not only stand up for the one True faith, but who are not afraid to say that it is the one True Faith.
I find that plenty of Catholics (of course all should be) are willing to say that yes, the Catholic Church is the one True Faith - but just not too loudly these day. This is what saddens me the most. Catholics today seem to have a fear (and that is indeed an appropriate word) of “upsetting” anyone who believes to the contrary.
Catholics should not fear to say: The Catholic Church is the one and only True Church/religion set up by God outside of which there is no salvation. All other religions/faiths are therefore false.
And in Charity we are to preach these truths to others because we should love them enough to have concern for their soul. I have many friends who are not Catholic; Protestants of all persuasions, agnostics, athiests and new agers etc, whom I love; but in no way would I be willing to withold my Catholic views in religious/moral matters just incase I might “offend” someone.
If we read the lives of the Saints and the Popes and Church councils for the past 2,000 years, we see that in no way was the Church or its members willing to keep silent or avoid mentioning what may “offened” others if it was the Truth of the Holy Catholic Religion.
For example, I was reading recently some of the views of Canonised saints on Islam and Muhammad. These would not go down well today. Likewise, here are some examples of the teaching of the Popes on Islam which could now be considered controversial:
Pope Eugene IV -Council of Basel- Session 19 1434:
“… once it is established, there is hope that very many from the abominable sect of Mahomet will be converted to the Catholic faith.”
*
Pope Clement V - Council of Vienne - 1311-1312: *
“It is an insult to the holy name and a disgrace to the Christian faith that in certain parts of the world subject to Christian princes where Saracens (i.e., The followers of Islam, also called Muslims) … in which the Saracens meet to adore the infidel Mahomet, loudly invoke and extol his name each day at certain hours from a high place… This brings disrepute on our faith and gives great scandal to the faithful. These practices cannot be tolerated without displeasing the divine majesty. We therefore, with the sacred council’s approval, strictly forbid such practices henceforth in Christian lands. We enjoin on Catholic princes, one and all. They are to forbid expressly the public invocation of the sacrilegious name of Mahomet… Those who presume to act otherwise are to be so chastised by the princes for their irreverence, that others may be deterred from such boldness."
I am not singling out Islam from any other non-catholic religion - its just that this is the topic I was researching - I love all Muslims with the love Christ commanded us to have for all men - for His sake. However, It seems to me that if these Popes, or the saints - or the hundreds of Bishops and clerics at these Councils for that matter were to come back toady and repeat their Canons/teachings - the vast majority of Catholics would say that they were out to cause trouble or are being uncharitable and infact would not want these Saints to be canonised. Some would actually accuse these Popes/Saints/Bishops of gaing against the will of Christ!
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. These seemingly harsh statements have paralellels in other less controversial issues. Catholics now have such ecumenical Fear of “offending others” that they won’t raise their voice to assert Catholic Truths which are under attack. For example, I know some (including priests) who are not putting the Church’s teaching foward on the invalidity of Womens “orders” because it offend the protestant ministers they were praying with just the other day, or they dont want to seem against womens rights.
Likewise, if Catholic were to state that Islam, or Judaism, or any protestant sect is false - they are branded anything from “haters” to “anti-semitic”! Infact, Catholics are encouraged NOT TO try and spread the faith and convert others, as if this act of charity commanded by Christ Himself were a sinful act.
It makes me wonder; if Catholics are unwilling to speak up for their faith for fear of “offending others” then how may would be willing to make a full profession of Faith in the one true Church, and die as Martyrs, should physical persecution ever force us to chose?
I find that plenty of Catholics (of course all should be) are willing to say that yes, the Catholic Church is the one True Faith - but just not too loudly these day. This is what saddens me the most. Catholics today seem to have a fear (and that is indeed an appropriate word) of “upsetting” anyone who believes to the contrary.
Catholics should not fear to say: The Catholic Church is the one and only True Church/religion set up by God outside of which there is no salvation. All other religions/faiths are therefore false.
And in Charity we are to preach these truths to others because we should love them enough to have concern for their soul. I have many friends who are not Catholic; Protestants of all persuasions, agnostics, athiests and new agers etc, whom I love; but in no way would I be willing to withold my Catholic views in religious/moral matters just incase I might “offend” someone.
If we read the lives of the Saints and the Popes and Church councils for the past 2,000 years, we see that in no way was the Church or its members willing to keep silent or avoid mentioning what may “offened” others if it was the Truth of the Holy Catholic Religion.
For example, I was reading recently some of the views of Canonised saints on Islam and Muhammad. These would not go down well today. Likewise, here are some examples of the teaching of the Popes on Islam which could now be considered controversial:
Pope Eugene IV -Council of Basel- Session 19 1434:
“… once it is established, there is hope that very many from the abominable sect of Mahomet will be converted to the Catholic faith.”
*
Pope Clement V - Council of Vienne - 1311-1312: *
“It is an insult to the holy name and a disgrace to the Christian faith that in certain parts of the world subject to Christian princes where Saracens (i.e., The followers of Islam, also called Muslims) … in which the Saracens meet to adore the infidel Mahomet, loudly invoke and extol his name each day at certain hours from a high place… This brings disrepute on our faith and gives great scandal to the faithful. These practices cannot be tolerated without displeasing the divine majesty. We therefore, with the sacred council’s approval, strictly forbid such practices henceforth in Christian lands. We enjoin on Catholic princes, one and all. They are to forbid expressly the public invocation of the sacrilegious name of Mahomet… Those who presume to act otherwise are to be so chastised by the princes for their irreverence, that others may be deterred from such boldness."
I am not singling out Islam from any other non-catholic religion - its just that this is the topic I was researching - I love all Muslims with the love Christ commanded us to have for all men - for His sake. However, It seems to me that if these Popes, or the saints - or the hundreds of Bishops and clerics at these Councils for that matter were to come back toady and repeat their Canons/teachings - the vast majority of Catholics would say that they were out to cause trouble or are being uncharitable and infact would not want these Saints to be canonised. Some would actually accuse these Popes/Saints/Bishops of gaing against the will of Christ!
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. These seemingly harsh statements have paralellels in other less controversial issues. Catholics now have such ecumenical Fear of “offending others” that they won’t raise their voice to assert Catholic Truths which are under attack. For example, I know some (including priests) who are not putting the Church’s teaching foward on the invalidity of Womens “orders” because it offend the protestant ministers they were praying with just the other day, or they dont want to seem against womens rights.
Likewise, if Catholic were to state that Islam, or Judaism, or any protestant sect is false - they are branded anything from “haters” to “anti-semitic”! Infact, Catholics are encouraged NOT TO try and spread the faith and convert others, as if this act of charity commanded by Christ Himself were a sinful act.
It makes me wonder; if Catholics are unwilling to speak up for their faith for fear of “offending others” then how may would be willing to make a full profession of Faith in the one true Church, and die as Martyrs, should physical persecution ever force us to chose?
