Interesting. I have been toying with the idea of joining the Catholic Church after years of being fed up with the Episcopal Church for many of the same reasons. Liberals seem to foul up everything they touch. Their politics seep into everything. I think a lot of it depends on the priest and parish, but it is frustrating. The Episcopal Church is almost beyond redemption for those of us who are more traditional. Very sad.
I know, Pen .. it’s sad, sad, sad. You’d think the ONE
place you could depend on traditional, unchangeable
values and principles, but even there ...
Since I’ve been gladhanded and given empty rhetoric
and brushed off for so long when I asked meaningful
questions, I get very disheartened. But, as has been
said by others, the commitment, love and worship is for
Christ, His one, true Church, not the fallible humans in
positions of temporary and temporal leadership on earth.
They can become corrupted and political as all flawed
humans can ..and we’re all flawed human beings .. but God
does not change, and He is still on His throne forever,
and always loving us. And WE are in charge of our
salvation ultimately.
I take great heart and hope from Fr. Robert Barron.
He created an extraordinarily insightful, historic.
beautifully inspiring, solid documentary series on
the Catholic church from its beginnings, called the
Catholicism Series, that’s been shown on PBS. You
can find clips here .. I find him SO articulate and
understandable, logical, uplifting, comforting and
hopeful .. watch a few:
And this can apply to all questioning Christians:
Fr. Robert Barron - Why Catholics leave the Church
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dftZ5K_EA4s&feature=plcp
Article:
FATHER ROBERT BARRON: Why Do Catholics Leave?
We just have to keep praying and praying. We know
God is listening. I have faith you will find your way ..
God bless and guide you, dear Pen.
The one legitimate complaint you can have against a Catholic is that he is not talking or acting like a Catholic. He is not "thinking with the Church." In other words, he is outside the Truth because he is not living the faith and morals proposed by the auhentic teachings of the Church.
Where I fall short (and this is daily) I know that the problem isn't that Church does not propose the truth, but that I am not faithful to it.
I am a pretty thoroughgoing hypocrite.
However, that's why one has to forge on with confidence, not permitting oneself to be thrown off track by sinners. There will always be a sinner sitting next to you at church. There will always be a sinner in the pulpit. There will always be a sinner looking back at you in the mirror.
But in this Church you can find Christ: the Way, the Truth and the Life.
I have issues with the Church, mostly due to human vanity & incompetence (sometimes others, sometimes my own, LOL). But I know that the Ulimtate Truth of the Church is unquestionable — though I may personally fail it. It’s the people who administer for Her who can cause grief. That said.... I pray that you join us in the home of Christianity.