Just a little bit of a note before I go to bed.
The Catholic Church is not "like McDonalds franchisees under a corporate headquarters." The Dioceses and so forth are not like franchisees at all. They do not comprise a corporation, nor do they have the kind of legal or economic structure tha a corporation does. And the vast majority of its members are neither consumers nor employees.
The best analogy you can reach for, I think, is a living organism. It's like a body.
"And finally, we do not believe it is a mortal sin to not be Catholic"
Well, what the Church says is that it is "grave matter" --- it's not a mortal sin unless you realize you are opposing God's will, and intend that.
It's serious, but it's not an automatic ticket to hell!
"We wish that every person, including every Catholic would come to saving faith in Christ."
I wish that right along with you.
Peace!
“The Catholic Church is not “like McDonalds franchisees under a corporate headquarters.” The Dioceses and so forth are not like franchisees at all. They do not comprise a corporation, nor do they have the kind of legal or economic structure tha a corporation does. And the vast majority of its members are neither consumers nor employees. The best analogy you can reach for, I think, is a living organism. It’s like a body.”
Actually, after reading your response and letting mine set in a bit more, I think the McDonald’s model is the Catholic Church model.
Equipment identical in every location
Menu identical
Branding identical
Few employees, lots of customers
McDonald’s doesn’t have great food. They have fast food.
Mother corporation is supported by the daughter franchisees. As a corporate employee of the MD’s told me, “hamburgers are how our franchisees pay their lease payments.”
Training manual of beliefs is identical
One leader all obey
One corporate headquarters
McDonald’s University, where they train new franchisees
Oldest franchise (not necessarily the best)
Lots of minority customers
Total control and domination of franchisees - their way or the highway
Well, it’s late and that’s off the top of my head.
If anyone else wants to take up the question, “How is the Catholic Church similar to a McDonald’s”, have at it!
best.
” Well, what the Church says is that it is “grave matter” -— it’s not a mortal sin unless you realize you are opposing God’s will, and intend that. It’s serious, but it’s not an automatic ticket to hell!”
But salvation has never been in a church, but in a Savior. It not only isn’t a grave matter, it is not a sin of any kind.
There is one ticket to hell - failing to entrust ourselves to Christ alone for salvation, but attempting to define our own righteousness through good works.