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 Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? Having once been a fallen away Catholic, I can answer this. The number one reason is because they still believe in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Due to today's secular, modern, Protestant dominated, American society they might not understand or agree with Catholic teachings. But the reason they have not become Protestants is because they do believe in the Catholic understanding of transubstantiation. When my dad left the Catholic Church to become a Baptist, I finally asked him if he believed in transubstantiation. He didn't know what it meant, so when I explained that we Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Christ (our Mystery of Faith) via the Holy Spirit... my dad said, "No, it's symbolic. Priests don't have the power to make that kind of miracle." Therefore, I said to my dad... "OK, you are officially not a Catholic anymore." To me... if they believe in transubstantiation, then they are still Catholic. They might not be a good Catholic, or a devout Catholic, or a practicing Catholic or an educated Catholic; but they still believe in the Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, they are still Catholic. Instead of trying to kick them out, keep in mind that they most likely have NOT received a proper Catholic education. I know I didn't. Of course, then there are some secular Catholics who view being Catholic in the same regard as atheist Jews consider themselves to still be Jewish. They view being Catholic as a culture/people/idenity. However, unlike the Atheist Jews who do not believe in God, secular Catholics still believe in God and most likely in the Eucharist. All former Catholics who are now Atheists that I know will say they "used to be Catholic." They do not consider themselves to Catholic anymore. And most who do not believe in the Blessed Sacrament will not identify themselves as Catholic either. So in closing, I really think most times it comes down to believing in the Eucharist. It's the one thing that ALL Catholics (conservative, liberal, orthodox, secular, non-practicing, Eastern, Western, etc) all have in common. And finally to answer your question, "God perhaps keeps these people around in hopes that someone will evangelize them?" ----- the answer is YES. God bless! Last edited by phil19034; Today at 12:45 pm. Reason: typo  |
| #7  Today, 12:38 pm | |||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? Quote:
God bless you as well. |
| #8 Today, 12:41 pm | |||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? Quote:
This was gradually infused into the Catholic mind by anti-religious Progressives. They were preaching their brand of anti-Catholic thinking but never called it that. The most effective liars are the most subtle, often hiding behind an outer surface of sincere intellectualism and a feigned love for 'freedom.' Freedom from religion, or, at worst, promoting a corrupted version of it, was the goal. The current version of our plight started in 1967. Catholic institutions of higher learning were convinced they needed academic "freedom" and cut their ties with the Church's hierarchy. http://www.catholichistory.net/Event...sStatement.htm Things I heard in the late 1960s, during the start of the Sex without love or commitment Revolution, included: "All you Catholics do is listen to the Pope!" Yeah, who should we be listening to - you? But we were not taught to answer an insult with an insult. And, "You know what the problem is with you Catholics? You're sexually repressed!" No, we were taught that the primary purpose of sex is what our human biology tells us, for making babies." So, most of us ended up getting married. And, "You Catholics think sex is dirty!" No, you're saying that so we might think that having sex with whoever is OK, and the fact that you know we were taught it's not OK offends you. The late 1960s and 70s were the 'golden age' of dissent in the Church. You want to know when all the changes and distortions and poor catechesis started, look there. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/...54282563939764 In the 1960s, government at all levels, reflected and respected Christian ideas and values. And that included the media. In 1969, the truth was that most Americans were against permissive abortion, but the media and the public were told lies, which included the 'socially backward' attitude of the Church. The whole plan of deception and falsehoods is laid out here. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/re...ionist-speaks/ So, what did we not establish in the 1970s? The New Opium Dens and the PLANNED addictions that followed? Who ran and paid for porn bookstores everywhere when just a few years prior, the worst you could legally do was buy Playboy which did not show graphic sex acts? How about strip clubs and topless bars? And who paid for the lawyers who kept us 'religious nuts' at bay? And who said, "We have the First Amendment RIGHT!" to do these gravely immoral things. And who, starting in the 1970s, gradually allowed the media to very gradually allow risque, off-color, and tiny bits of sexual content? And, who, decade after decade, gradually turned up the volume on sexual content and even added profanity? And in 1973, the Supreme Court legalized murder of the unborn, which some of us are fighting to this day. AND THEY HAD NO GOOD REASON TO DO THIS. Whose idea was it to put porn on cable in the 1980s or legalize No-Fault Divorce in the 1980s? Anybody? During the Papacy of Pope Benedict, one of those dissidents from the 1960s accused him of "trying to return the Church to the Middle Ages." If you - meaning Catholics - are told you are wrong for decades, and exposed to ever-increasing amounts of immorality as "entertainment," then it's no wonder that the dam has broke for too many. That too many Catholics have one hour a week to be Catholic and then spend the rest of their time living like pagans. It's like being schizophrenic. But not without a bunch of real interventions by the wolves. Pope Benedict, who lived through all that, echoed your thinking: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pop...u-dont-believ/ Peace, Ed |
| #9 Today, 12:44 pm | ||||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? It is a trait of human nature to surround ourselves with like-minded individuals and to affiliate with like-minded organizations. Should our views diverge, via external pressure, from an organization to which we already belong, this does not change our basic nature - actually it demonstrates it more fully. We then seek to conform our surroundings to our current train of thought. We prefer to drag the Church along with us rather than to move back toward her. Thus, we seek out and associate with those of our particular religious or political bent, rather than deny ourselves out of obedience to the Church. Cultural influences have been, and are increasingly tremendous. Since the media age has come upon us, we have been substantially formed by the opinions of others. I cannot think back far enough to remember a time when the popular media stood in defense of the moral teachings of the Church. Consider, for the average pew-sitter: Church influence: 1 hour per week. Media influence (TV alone): 26 hours per week http://www.fcs.okstate.edu/parenting/issues/tv.htm Very sobering numbers. Imagine the difference if those hours were spent viewing EWTN, reading the scriptures or the catechism. __________________ "He was the first one in the world to break all of the commandments at once" - Bishop Fulton Sheen regarding Moses throwing the stone tablets - |
| #10 Today, 12:48 pm | ||||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? I think Phil is right about a good number. But I also think that the reasons are likely to vary based on the person. There are some quite educated Catholics who still go to Mass every day, who participate in parish life -- and yet they disagree with certain moral teachings. I think that some simply don't see the connection nor do they view those issues as make-it-or-break-it issues. In their mind, it is perfectly in accord with their Catholic faith to disagree. So why leave? __________________ Joe (Average Joe Catholic)  Read through the Documents of Vatican II for the Year of Faith The Catechesis of the Popes |
| #11 Today, 12:50 pm | |||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? Inertia? Maybe they still consider themselves Catholic because they haven't found another church they like better. A few actually make the effort to break ties with the church for specific reasons, but I think most simply drift away... and sometimes they come back (as I did, or as I am doing) when they recognize the need. |
| #12 Today, 12:52 pm | |||
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? Quote:
While they can do great damage to the Church as they proclaim to be Catholic to family and others while living secular lives, I would hate that they lose their identity as Catholics. That makes it incumbent on the rest of us to fervently participate in the New Evangelization. Too soon will these people who merely identify as Catholics identify as atheists. At least if they convert to another Christian church they will have Christ. It seems that many of these people often make their political philosophy their real religion, and thus often strongly oppose Church morality. They really have walked away from Christ or perhaps never knew him even though they may have been baptized and even received other sacraments. Therefore, many of them dont have the courage or conviction to support Catholic morality. The world's secularism is their real religion, and thus feel ashamed of the moral teachings of the Church since they still wear the Catholic label. Its like being mocked for wearing your team jersey after theyve have one losing season after another. Not that the Church has had losing seasons, but these people dont have the guts to stand up to others for what they believe in since they really have no faith life. Thus they cower from or worse, are offended by the Church's moral theology. While I wish they had the courage to stand up for what is right , I have to realize they dont know what is right because they barely know Christ or His Church. We need to change that! Then they wont be offended! But stand strong for truth with the Church! |
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| Re: Why are many Catholics "offended" about Catholic morality? I think that deep down, fear of death and the hereafter keeps a nominal Catholic nominally Catholic. Everyone eventually dies, and then what? If what the Church teaches is true, it is ultimately either Heaven or Hell. So, the fear of death is there, in the back of one's mind, but in the meantime, there's a lot of hedonistic pleasure to be had! Why not try to chip away at all of those pesky moral laws from within? And if that doesn't work, well, there's always hope for a deathbed reconciliation, after we've had it our way and it no longer matters. Keep one foot in both worlds, that's what it seems like many of us are trying to do. |
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