Frequently enough, I get embarrassed for you . . .
watching all the elaborate convoluted explanations you have to go through justifying, elaborating, clarifying, documenting etc. the incredible layers of STUFF to support a lot of the Vatican dogma.
If nothing else, that kind of RELIGION would be far too
tiresome and wearying, for me. Particularly on top of the refiner’s fires God has periodically scheduled for all of us anyway.
Sheesh.
Maybe the problem is about a humongo group, that tries to maintain some kind of functional unity. The usual slur is that the Pope exercises minute control and has something amounting to a kind of gestapo or secret police to enforce his decrees. Anyone IN full communion (and half-way awake) knows that's nonsense.
But when we are accused of THAT, and counter with the plodding reality of trying to discern the sense of "the faithful" and the consensus of theologians (and you know, they're not all evil schemers like the character in Alexander Nevsky) then we are attacked because of that.
It's because we are ONE Church. That's not a bad thing. It's sort of ragged around the edges, and there are always groups, little and not little enough, going a-haring off in this direction or that.
But charismatic Catholics, "smells and bells" Catholics, guitars and 'praise band' Catholics -- all one fractious family.
I wish you could come to my parish one Sunday.
7:30 AM - Gregorian Mass, beautiful chant.
9:00 AM - "Vanilla" Mass, great hymnody, organ, yeah!
10:00 AM - "Theology and donuts" a class on whatever.
11:30 AM - Folk Music Mass.
5:15 PM - Bongos, drums, electric guitars and (sometimes) violins ... And our oldest priest, Commander Father Scordo, former Navy chaplain and immensely good guy, LOVES that Mass!
But the point is: one Church!
Some of us do theology and Bible study. We have three or four Bible studies going on weekly. Some do 'charismatic' prayer and praise. Some focus on Haiti or on other situations of great need.
One Church. Easily 1,000 people there every weekend. (There's also a 5:00 PM Saturday "Vanilla" Mass. When the University is in session it is quite full at all services - closer to 2k+ on a Sunday.
Yeah, some of them seem to have no clue why they are there. Well, I say, they are there, and God will smack them up 'side the haid when it's their time to be smacked.
# to 4 priests on staff, one DRE with 3 or 4 assistants, one worship coordinator, two sec'ys, and yours truly: humble, aged volunteer security D00d, teacher, lector, hospital visitor, "what else you need done?" guy.
ONE Church.
yes the bureaucracy is intimidating. How else are you going to do ONE Church?