Reply to Why is it ok to bash Catholics?

Forum Index » Religion

Reply to "Why is it ok to bash Catholics?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am Catholic and have from time to time been accused of "Catholic Bashing", even though I think I am making reasonable criticisms of the Church.  Then when I say I am Catholic, I get the standard replies that I am not really Catholic.  I interpret the reaction as defensiveness, and I think the Catholics on the board would get much more respect if they showed an appropriate level of concern for Church problems.

The other problem is that posters often enough respond with Church doctrine on certain matters of morality.  To us, who are used to the language and have been reading this stuff our whole lives, it sounds reassuring and convincing.  To outsiders with no background it sounds condescending and unconvincing.  Take for example Women and the Priesthood.  A typical response will be to repeat the standard doctrine about the "special" role women hold within the Church, and how "truly" beautiful it is when we realize the "fullness of God's plan".  But when you take the documents apart with a critical eye, sometimes you realize that the source of the doctrine isn't biblical or philosophical.  [b]Ultimately it relies on the belief that the hierarchy is God's official representative on earth, designated by Jesus himself.  And all of the poetry unravels for a person who does not share that single belief.[/b]

Jesus showed a healthy skepticism of the religious hierarchy when he was on earth.  I suggest that we Catholics would do better for our church and earn the respect of outsiders if we do the same.  Of course there are those who will always hate Catholicism, but those occasional bigots should not be the excuse for us to ignore real problems in front of our eyes.[/quote]

But that belief is everything, PP.

The reason the Church is hated is because she claims that ultimate, total degree of authority:  God's own authority, when talking about faith and morals.  Without that authority, the Church is just another human effort to understand the Divine.  With that authority, it is the ONE TRUE HOLY APOSTOLIC faith.

So the "poetry" is either just that--pretty words, lovely ideas--or it is REAL, the most real thing there is, the TRUTH.

This does not mean the Church, as an institution, is not populated by fallen, sinful human beings.  But if Jesus told the truth, the Gates of Hell will not prevail against his Church.  And if only people knew history better, they would know the Church has been gutted and rotted and attacked from within and without for centuries.  Yet on doctrine and morals, it remains a constant, a beautiful, uplifting, affirming constant.

Jesus said over and over that his followers would suffer for their faith.  He was talking to people from all times and places.  He already knew every sin that would ever be committed, and he died for each one of those sins.  And the higher the authority granted on Earth, the more responsibility entrusted, the more is expected--so those who abuse their authority here will face eternal justice.

But if Jesus was who he claimed to be (and if you are Catholic, you must believe in him), then he left behind an authority.  You cannot have the Church without that authority.  You can't reject the authority and keep the pretty stuff.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics