Posted on 07/01/2015 2:24:24 PM PDT by NYer
From a reader…
QUAERITUR:
Who is a member of the Roman Catholic Church? Is baptism all that is required? What about people baptised into the RC Church who later in life do not believe in some of the teachings of the RC Church (eg regarding homosexuality) but still go to Mass & Holy Communion? Can they still claim to be members?
This seems like a simple question, calling for a simple answer. It isn’t.
From the perspective of the world, the Church, like any other “club” should have clearly demarcated lines of membership, with an initiation process, rules for membership, and penalties of exclusion for those who either violate the rules, or who choose to separate themselves.
The Church is not just a human institution. It is also a divine one. Therefore, it is a mystery. Founded by Christ the Lord, it is the gathering of all those called to faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
1267 Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: “Therefore . . . we are members one of another.” Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
1268 The baptized have become “living stones” to be “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.
1269 Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us. From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to “obey and submit” to the Church’s leaders, holding them in respect and affection. Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church: to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church.
1270 “Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church” and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God.
We know the effects of valid baptism. Baptism makes the baptized members of Christ’s Body… the Church. Baptism is the ordinary means by which men are initiated into the Church. In one sense, every person who has ever been validly baptized is a member of the Church.
The Church often uses the language of “communion”. Every baptized person is initiated into the communion of the Church. But many baptized people, through their actions and beliefs, impair, or even break their communion with the Church. These people remain baptized. Baptism changes the person’s soul forever. In some senses, they are still “members” of the Church. Until they die, they are capable of repairing their communion with the Church.
In the early centuries of the Church, we faced the question of whether those who commit sin are excluded from the Church. The heresy of Donatism concluded that some sins, particularly the sin of denying one’s faith, rejecting Christ and His Church in order to avoid punishment by the State, were so heinous that those who committed these sins were no longer part of the Church. The Church responded that as serious as the sin of apostasy is, apostates and other sinners are still Christians in virtue of their baptism, which is not repeatable. Their communion with the Church was broken, but it could be repaired through penance and reconciliation.
Today, sinners who reject the teachings of the Church sometimes hide their break with the Church. They pretend that they are still in full communion with the Church, despite their rejection of the Church or of some essential teachings. We can think of examples.
Added to their sins of rejecting the Church’s teaching, they continue to receive Holy Communion, adding to their others sins the sin of sacrilege, a serious sin indeed. These people desperately need our prayers: they have been deceived by Satan, the Father of Lies.
As their sins pile up, they become jaded and can no longer see the dangerous cliff toward which they are speeding.
They remain baptized, however. The Church remains their Mother, ever solicitous for their care. We should pray for them to realize the damage they are doing to themselves, and hope that, before it is too late, they recant their misguided beliefs, return to full communion with the Church, and put their moral lives in order.
“Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
Our Lord suffered and shed tears for these souls.. For our part, we need to pray for them on a daily basis.
Catholic ping!
**The Church remains their Mother, ever solicitous for their care. We should pray for them to realize the damage they are doing to themselves, and hope that, before it is too late, they recant their misguided beliefs, return to full communion with the Church, and put their moral lives in order.**
Amen!
Jesus told the disciples the answer .. why don’t people just look it up. ..??
None of this ever bothered any Kennedys, Pelosis, Kerrys, Bidens or other Catholic liberal politicians...They didn’t have to listen or follow the rules of the church.
“....hiding their break with the Church....”, while receiving the Eucharist, claiming it’s mantle, are not examples of “lukewarmness”. The word “apostate” comes to mind, as well as “mortal” sin, not lukewarmness.
On the subject homosexual tolerance, which applies I believe as well to declarations of truth about apostasy, here’s a quote from Rorate Caeli, dealing with the pervasive Catholic tolerance for evil (my characterization).
Here it is:
” By putting the bulk of their efforts into lecturing the Catholic faithful about the need to be
“welcoming”, “respectful”, “charitable” and “kind” toward the homosexual lobby, not a few prelates play right into the homosexual playbook. It is even more heart rending that many “conservative” and “traditionalist” clerics, perhaps due to fear, are joining the band wagon by distancing themselves from “harsh” Catholics, whose “harshness” lies in using language that would have been normal for Catholics to use, until the 1960’s.”
“This is the language of a Church that refuses to fight and refuses to stand up for the Faithful. The Church will now be in the closet.”
I concur. Language is being turned on it’s head, as was proven by the Supreme Court opinions in Obamacare and homosexual “marriage”. Up is down now.
The Church is starting to show signs of participating in the destruction of language, Dogma, Doctrine and ignoring it’s duty to teach and admonish entirely. The wolves are toying with us. Some of us know it.
Personally, I’m outraged at the namby pamby responses toward this clear and present danger, the goal toward utter destruction. This goes for the apostate condition which is actually allowed to flourish with smiles and charitable tolerance INSIDE the Church, as well. We are lying when we don’t call it what it is.
Apostates are NOT “lukewarm”. They are apostate, plain and simple. We mustn’t pretend. We mustn’t participate in diluting our duty to teach, correct and admonish, in favor of the world’s use of false charity that covers up for mortal sin, refuses to fight and deceives many by burying truth.
Sorry, I meant to ping you to #6
Preach it sister.
So why so many Catholic Dems? Well, like every group, we have some left wing nuts. But what I see as the main reason is that Irish and Italians comprised the two largest mass immigrations in US history. They came because they were poor, and back then, the Dems were more for the working man; the Reps for the wealthy business owners who were already here.
The next generation fulfilled the American dream and followed in their parents' political footsteps. As times changed, so did the parties, but most people stuck; worse yet, some became "yellow-dogs."
That's how my Mom and Dad explained it to me, although they were conservative-minded and didn't vote their party, but their consciences, and taught me to do the same.
Now, personally, I think money is the big driver, with special interest groups soon to overtake. These people aren't even lukewarm- they have ice in their veins.
Good reply....Thanks
She was very proud to be American- but to this day, the idea of that sweet little lady being an enemy alien tickles me!
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Sorry, I had just gotten a little caught up in the moment...
No need for any apologies. I found it interesting and I know as OUR years roll on, fond memories of family that we have from long ago are ones we want to hang onto. That’s when we realize how blessed we really were/are. I have siblings and their offspring and cousins left from my family but it was painful to lose parents and aunts/uncles. I think when the aunts/uncles went was when a light went on that said that generation was gone for good. I didn’t know my grandparents; they died when I was very young in the 1930’s....I know I missed a lot....
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