I’m going to be completely honest here and say the following:
It has ALWAYS galled me somewhat that Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry, et al. were allowed to receive communion and remain in “good standing” as Catholics when I personally withdrew myself from receiving communion and considering myself a “practicing Catholic” for the simple reason that I had/have some doubts as to portions of doctrine - not that I LIVE my life in actual disobedience and still have the gall to disrespect the act of communion itself according to the rules of the church in standing there to receive it! (sorry for the “run-on” sentence there).
Anyway, I’m glad the Church is speaking out and warning these politicians - I wish they had done so sooner and/or recognized the threat from our gov’t sooner, but I defer to the Church leaders who after centuries of dealing with different governments and leaders probably have a much better understanding than I of which battles to pick, and when... Besides, politicians such as Pelosi and Sebellius shouldn’t HAVE to be reminded of these things in the first place (it goes to show how far gone they are, frankly).
I understand completely what you are saying and feeling. When I consider the situation of the Church, our country, its culture...I now understand that we are ALL to blame. In general, we relegated God to the back burner, we gave Him only leftover time from our increasingly over-busy lives.
We did this individually, as families, as parishioners...and as a nation.
We now see the consequences.
I am now honestly understanding just how much I neglected to do with the gift of faith that I was given. I should have been praying a long time ago for our pastors, priests, deacons, bishops, etc...etc....I should have been attending to my own personal relationship with God, etc. etc...walking my own path to holiness, etc.
....but I, as I suspect so many others have....allowed my self-interests, my attachment to THINGS...to get in the way. I too had grave doubts about certain teachings of the Church. As a result, I left the Church for several years. They were my choices and I accept the responsibility. Thankfully, God has a way of alerting us to where we are heading. He does this in a way that encourages us to begin to make better choices, and to examine the *why* of our actions and thoughts. Those new choices lead to joy and divine peace. Those choices improve our lives, our families, our parishes, our communities and so on. (Yes, it’s a process that takes a bit of time.)
THIS, however, is one of the most basic ways the Church (remember that WE are the Church) is strengthened and purified.
I heartily recommend this book as a way of beginning to “turn things around” and awaken us to the wonderful adventure of not only following Jesus Christ in a profound way, but to participate in meaningful growth of holiness within the Church:
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin.
May HE bless you abundantly for your honesty and sincerity.
;-)