The Catholic Church You Never Heard Of

American Thinker ^ | January 30, 2017 | Iohanan A. Carvalho

[NYer]

As I was growing up, I lost my faith in both God and the Church.  There are many things that made me lose my faith, among them terrible stories I heard about the Catholic Church’s past.

Most of today’s pagan youth imagine people being burnt at the stake whenever they hear people talk about Catholicism.  They are wrong, but it’s not their fault.  The Church’s enemies, among them the communists, have spread lies about the history of the Church and the content of the faith. One thing they never told you, and the mainstream media simply won’t tell you, I assume, is that the Church has given us most of the important and positive things we have in Western societies.  In today’s politics, people often mention the necessity of reforming the health care system.  “People need better care,” we are told.  Nobody, though, talks about the origins of the hospitals.  Some people simply assume that hospitals have always existed.  Unfortunately, there was not even one in ancient Egypt.  There were no hospitals in ancient Greece or in the pagan Roman Empire.  There were doctors, of course, but they would treat only the royalty and nobility, and sometimes the soldiers.  There was absolutely no care for the poor, and no building where people could go to receive health care.

Things changed when the Catholic monks began to host the ill in their monasteries.  The Church was the main entity responsible for the existence of hospitals, and nobody thanks her for that.  During the Middle Ages, almost all European cities had their own hospitals.

Something else happened during the Catholic Middle Ages: the arrival of the universities.  I bet your liberal history teacher never told you that.  

[NYer]

The Church also helped in the creation of the international laws and other things like sacred music, beer (the Catholic monks were the ones to make beer popular in Europe during the Middle Ages), and the beautiful buildings of the cathedrals. In the 19th century, Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII wrote against communism, stating that it represents a big danger for humanity. Nobody listened to the Church, and the Soviet Union was formed. In 1937, two years before the Second World War, Pope Pius XI wrote an encyclical to Germany warning about a pagan authoritarian government. He was referring to Nazism, of course. Once again, they didn’t listen. In 1968, Pope Paul VI wrote, in his controversial encyclical on birth control, Humanae Vitae, that artificial birth control methods were not intended to avoid giving birth to too many children inside the marriage, since we can use natural methods – like the Billings Method – to control the number of children within matrimony. No, the pope said, those artificial methods will only make it much easier for people to have sex before or outside marriage, and that will not only make young men treat women like objects, but will also create a huge family crisis. I don’t need to say that nobody listened to the pope and that today we see the results (huge divorce rate, huge abortion numbers, and so on).

Catholic ping!

[cloudmountain]

Our wonderful Catholic Church is still around, in one piece.
It will last forever, not because of any errant pope, but because it was founded by Jesus.
I plan on staying very, very close to our beloved Church. Where else am I able to partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus every day of my life?
THAT is the food for our life-long journey to our heavenly Father.

[terycarl]

You are very correct....however, the Catholic church is 100% against abortion, yet so called “Catholics” still vote for Democrats on a national level despite knowing that they are for abortion, even partial birth abortion.........why is that???

[rmichaelj]

Short answer, because many bishops have decided not to enforce canon law regarding refusing communion to those who promote public scandal.

[Melian]

It’s a very rich tapestry... the oldest with the most depth. I love being Catholic.

[pax_et_bonum]

Thanks for posting.

[SuziQ]

the Catholic church is 100% against abortion, yet so called “Catholics” still vote for Democrats on a national level despite knowing that they are for abortion, even partial birth abortion.........why is that???

Because liberal Cardinals like Cushing and Bernadin pushed the "I'm personally opposed, but" argument or the "Seamless Garment" idea that ALL social justice issues are equal, so if you're anti-nuke, or anti-death penalty, or are concerned for the poor, you don't need to worry about whether a politican supports abortion, because those other things are just as important. And besides, Republican hate poor people, or so they've been brainwashed to believe.

[terycarl]

Because liberal Cardinals like Cushing and Bernadin pushed the "I'm personally opposed, but" argument or the "Seamless Garment" idea that ALL social justice issues are equal, so if you're anti-nuke, or anti-death penalty, or are concerned for the poor, you don't need to worry about whether a politican supports abortion, because those other things are just as important. And besides, Republican hate poor people, or so they've been brainwashed to believe.

Very good point!!

[FourtySeven]

“Short answer, because many bishops have decided not to enforce canon law regarding refusing communion to those who promote public scandal.”

There’s that and one could certainly argue that enforcement of Canon 915 has a pedagogical value (I’d certainly agree)

However a more basic and less confrontational approach would be for everyone’s pastor to, at least on occasion, speak against abortion from the pulpit instead of the usual homily about how Jesus just wants us to have hope no matter the circumstance or some other feel good homily applied week to week, that just tickles the ears and nothing else ad nauseum.

Just one pro life homily a year could go far. And a great time would be during Christmas, as we celebrate His Birth. (As there are more nominal Catholics in the pews at that time too)

[rmichaelj]

However a more basic and less confrontational approach would be for everyone’s pastor to, at least on occasion, speak against abortion from the pulpit instead of the usual homily about how Jesus just wants us to have hope no matter the circumstance or some other feel good homily applied week to week, that just tickles the ears and nothing else ad nauseum.

I understand what you are saying but disagree (mostly). In my part of the country, all the Bishops and all except the most liberal of priests are vocal against abortion. You still have Catholics voting for proabort politicians (although I grant not as many as in your part of the country). This really is an example of what you do is more effective than what you say. To be honest in my opinion it has gotten so confused now, that I think nothing short of public excommunications will clarify the issue. And in these cases excommunication is actually a mercy as it will leave the person under no illusions as to if they are Catholic or not.

[FourtySeven]

To be honest in my opinion it has gotten so confused now, that I think nothing short of public excommunications will clarify the issue. And in these cases excommunication is actually a mercy as it will leave the person under no illusions as to if they are Catholic or not.

What you say is true but I'd have to disagree when you say...

In my part of the country, all the Bishops and all except the most liberal of priests are vocal against abortion. You still have Catholics voting for proabort politicians (although I grant not as many as in your part of the country). This really is an example of what you do is more effective than what you say.

Because you're right, and I'd say even more that the majority of Catholics from wherever you are do not support abortion and vote against it, while here, in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania (around Philly) and Delaware, New York etc, in this area, you don't hear one homily ever about the evils of abortion, and that's why I can guarantee you this needs to be done first at least here, before resorting to the "nuclear" Canon 915 option.

It does no good to someone to say you're banned from Communion and/or excommunicated if you vote for abortion if they've never heard anything from the pulpit other than "Jesus loves you and just wants you to be happy". If some courageous priest around here lays down the 915 hammer, he's both ostracized by his brother priests and his parishioners go elsewhere to hear that soothing homily. And I've never heard one bishop write or say anything about the evil, here in Baltimore.

With that kind of shepherding, what's a "good" Catholic to think? And exactly how effectual (or even possible to expect) would resorting to 915 be?

[rmichaelj]

I think we are in agreement, both need to be done. For your own sake if I were out there I’d consider st Alphonsus or Mount calvary ( anglican rite) in Baltimore or the traditional parish in silver spring. If not all the time at least occasionally to get recharged before dealing with your local parish.

Deo juvante!