Posted on 12/10/2003 4:48:49 AM PST by Aquinasfan
CATHOLICS WHO DON'T THINK LIKE CATHOLICS
Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:
In October ABC News and "The Washington Post" conducted a poll of Catholics in America. The results are not surprising: Catholics are not much better off, theologically and morally, than other Americans--and that means they are in pretty poor shape.
Here are the percentages of people who think the following practices are "acceptable." The first figure is for Catholics, the second for Americans in general.
1. Birth control using the pill or condoms: 88 percent, 94 percent
2. Abortion when the mother's life is NOT in danger: 30 percent, 39 percent
3. Premarital sexual relations: 67 percent, 67 percent
4. Homosexual relations: 48 percent, 45 percent
Given these responses, it's no wonder that 62 percent of Catholics say the Church is "out of touch with the views of Catholics in America today."
I would recast that to say, 62 percent of Catholics in America are out of touch with the faith they profess to believe. In other words, the problem is with Catholics, not with the Church.
A similar number, 64 percent, say the Church should change "policies to reflect the attitudes and lifestyles of Catholics today."
That means Catholics want to preach what they practice, which is a step down from practicing what one preaches. "Don't ask me to reform my life! Change the rules so I no longer am in violation of any. Hey, it's my self-esteem that's at stake here!"
On the issue of priestly celibacy, 67 percent say the requirement should be dropped, and a like number--64 percent--say women should be able to be ordained. Such figures show a deep confusion among Catholics. When two-thirds of them are so far off in their thinking, something is amiss.
The poll, which was conducted by telephone, apparently did not limit itself to practicing Catholics but counted as Catholic anyone who identified himself as one. Since only one-fourth of Catholics in the U.S. attend Mass regularly, the results necessarily were skewed.
But, still ... the results can't be considered encouraging. What they tell me is that the Church in this country has failed in its first task, which is instruction in the faith. If the folks in the pews don't know their religion, they can't practice it.
I suspect it's fair to say that most of today's priests have never--not even once--preached a homily in which they forcefully explained why contraception is a serious sin. I'll go further: I'll bet most priests never have mentioned contraception from the pulpit, even obliquely.
"The hungry sheep look up and are not fed," says Scripture. Well, in this case they are being fed, but with the same gruel fed to the rest of the populace. Why are Catholics at Mass given, in so many parishes, the Social Gospel but not gospel truths?
They should have no doubt that priestly celibacy makes good sense, but most priests have never told them that. Is it any wonder that laymen follow the lead of dissentient groups or non-Catholic opinion-makers? There are excellent reasons to maintain celibacy, but which priests share them from the pulpit? (For that matter, which priests even know them?)
As I said, the answers given in this poll are no surprise. Catholics are badly off, intellectually and morally, and they need help. They need instruction and correction. They need some holy hectoring.
Instead of trimming their remarks to pacify (or somnabulize) their congregations, bishops and priests need to go on the offensive. They need to be blunt about the necessity of subscribing to all Catholic teachings, particularly moral teachings, since assent is weakest there. They need to talk in black and white to get people's attention. They need to focus on the hard sayings instead of on the usual fluff.
And they need to lose congregants. They will know when they're saying what needs to be said when they see some people walk out of church.
I'm not talking about homilies that are harsh or rude and therefore alienating. I'm talking about homilies that are firm and true and challenging--and therefore alienating to those who are unwilling to repent and reform.
Truth really is a two-edged sword. It divides, and people find themselves on one side or another. But for too long, in too many parishes (probably the large majority of them), truth has come after convenience.
It is inconvenient to make a fuss, to anger anyone, to say "This is right, and this is wrong." It is much easier, or at least more comfortable, to be Fr. Nice Guy, serving up platitudes so everyone leaving Mass takes your hand and gushes, "That was a nice service, Father."
The parish I recently started attending used to have a pastor who was big on "ministry to gays and lesbians." You know the type: He had an off-campus condo and didn't live in the rectory. You can imagine what the Masses were like.
The new pastor moved into the rectory, sold the condo, and started celebrating Masses as they should be celebrated. I am told--this happened before I joined the parish--that most of the homosexuals left. In the last few months the congregation has been instructed and admonished from the pulpit, and today more people are attending Mass than had attended under the old regime.
Of course, changes come slowly. You can't reform people overnight. You have to show them that much of what they hold is false or pernicious or just plain silly, and you have to supply true and useful and sensible alternatives. A few people catch on right away, but for most it's a slow process. They have become accustomed to whatever they have believed and however they have lived, and they fear change, even change for the better.
The change occurring in my newly adopted parish can occur in any parish. It comes down to will. Do our priests and bishops have the will to instruct and admonish (including the will to instruct and admonish one another)? Frankly, I don't know.
Until next time,
Karl
We got to get you out of that state.
Seriously why do they bother going to mass at all?
I hope and pray there are not. Personally, many people I know are true to their faith, but they seem to lack the courage to defend it. I suppose they have been taught not to by so many Bishops who won't defend it either.
They go to Mass because they love Jesus and want to be close to Him but unfortunately they have bought the line that conscience (leaving out well formed or malformed) is primary.
"A Generation Betrayed" by Eamonn Keane details a huge part of the problem - as does George Weigel's "The Courage to be Catholic".
Book Description of "A Generation Betrayed"
Confronting error and falsehood in today's Catholic education environment. Modern American Catholic education has been inexorably impacted by Thomas Groome's Shared Christian Praxis and Elizabeth Shussler-Fiorenza's Feminist Theology of Liberation. Their writings and theories have affected many aspects of Catholic education and impeded the proper implementation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church. Now, in this brilliant analysis, Eamonn Keane exposes the doctrinal error, false logic and bad methodology that characterizes their works. Tracing the theological and philosophical influences of Groome and Shussler-Fiorenza, Keane shows how both were led astray to a basic misunderstanding of Church doctrine. He clearly demonstrates the flaws in Shussler-Fiorenza's methodology and the dubious theological underpinnings of Groome's pedagogical method. He defends the truth and provides a needed antidote to those in danger of intellectual, religious and moral deception. With a special preface by Fabian W. Bruskewitz, Bishop of the diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, A Generation Betrayed will serve as a clarion call to all American Catholics—and indeed to Catholics throughout the English-speaking world.
Thomas Groome (x-priest) and Elizabeth Shussler-Fiorenza are both Bostonians - Groome teaches at Boston College and Fiorenza teaches at Harvard. Both are frequent and sought after speakers, sadly.
THE second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine and necessary for these times, as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth: and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the ministers diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people.
Of the Names of the Homilies.
Of the right Use of the Church.
Against peril of Idolatry.
Of the repairing and keeping clean of Churches.
Of good Works: first of Fasting.
Against Gluttony and Drunkenness.
Against Excess of Apparel.
Of Prayer.
Of the Place and Time of Prayer.
That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue.
Of the reverend estimation of God's Word.
Of Alms-doing.
Of the Nativity of Christ.
Of the Passion of Christ.
Of the Resurrection of Christ.
Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
For the Rogation-days.
Of the state of Matrimony.
Of Repentance.
Against Idleness.
Against Rebellion
Now, just because you guys figure Anglicans to be apostate doesn't mean you can't steal a good idea from them. Perhaps the Pope should come up with some standard sermons or Apostolic Letters that clearly set out essential articles of the Catholic Faith and command that they be read from the pulpit (not just printed up and left in the pews, and not edited by the priest reading it) once a year.
If you go to the above link, it in turn has links to the actual text of these sermons.
My Uncle was a LaSalette Priest. My Dad was at LaSalette Seminary for three years. I was brought up in a Catholic Family. I went to Catchism Classes and CCD. I knew very little despite my environment.
It was only after I left the Faith for a decade or more and decided to return that I took an interest in the Faith.
Thanks be to God. He never forgot me even when I abandoned Him.
Bad (but not surprising, sadly) news about the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro, Massachusetts. You can now visit there and pick up all kinds of printed information or take classes explaining new age practices... centering prayer, reiki, crystals, etc.
Excellent idea. However, we needn't plagiarize from the apostate. There are excellent collections of sermons from St. Alphonsus Ligouri and St. Jean Vianne available from TAN Books and Publishers. If only priests would copy those, instead of supplying their usual drivel, you would see a huge change in their congregations in short order.
What, he's putting an "r" on the end of his name now? You know it's pronounced "Nomah" - what gives?
and they'll take the Churches with them.
To put it another way" Do our priests have faith? Many of them, no.
Just the buildings.
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