I was raised Catholic to 12 (baptism, catechism, confirmation), and then my folks stopped taking us to church. It is MY dad’s biggest regret, one that he has been working to rectify for the last 15 years (since then he has been going to Mass daily.)
So, I am on a long journey home. My wife and I were on our way to the RCC (went to two services, not receiving the Eucharist) when the church sexual abuse scandal broke, and we had a tough time dealing with that since we are protective of our kids. We couldn’t understand how such a thing could be covered up instead of exposed to the Light of Truth, where Satan has no power.
However, at the same time, we had (in our then-current protestant church) a scandal involving an elder and another elders wife. I now read weekly some scandal or another involving religious of all Christian denominations (like the ptotestant minister in Texas last week that drove 200 miles to meet with a 13-yo girl he met on the internet) and it seems to me that the wise evaluation is that Satan is attacking where he can do the most damage.
It is everywhere, and that has made it an easy choice to do bible study at home, and not have to deal with the hypocritical behaviors in every church we have tried (sola scriptura and Episcopal).
Now since Benedict has been Pope, there is a real change occuring within the RCC.
I continue my journey, while praying for guidance.
My son (Ultra) has an internal nature that he was given as a gift, and his wisdom on the abortion issue, his website, various college papers and his activism against it did not come from MY wisdom. It came from God. If you have gone to that website I posted, you would see that he frames the issue from numerous angles and answers all of them in a clear, thoughtful manner that is easy to understand and difficult to dismiss.
He joined a non-denominational group at college that worked on anti-abortion issues, and the fact that every single member in the group was Catholic probably helped to shape his opinion about where he belonged. There is no greater social issue than this one in his mind.
Just some background, since you asked.
But please, let’s stop with the thoughts that he had some ulterior motive. He doesn’t have it in him. At all.
I’m glad you gave your background. It does sound Catholic for the most part, with the exception of the scandal in a protestant church.
I’m sorry, IMA, but I’ve not seen the evidence that would yet erase the credibility issues.
He attacks, he wounds, but he does not prevail!
St. Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, oh prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Give up — they want to believe in a conspiracy theory, so let them.