COMMENTARY--The Catholic Problem(s)

There is a Catholic problem. Well, more properly, Catholics have problems. That is my conclusion, and these conclusions are shared by a lot of others who have had the opportunity to observe over the years. These comments, however, are restricted to Catholics in the United States, the most influential society and the most powerful country in the world.

Catholics don't know their own religion. They are ignorant in the Faith. They are not catechized. That is disastrous for the Church and for society at large. If members of an organization do not know what they are about, what their purpose or mission is, then not only will they meet with failure, but they will easily go off track and be used for the purposes of others. This is a recipe for disaster and ruin for any human group or society. When you factor in the reality which is that the Church is here to shepherd souls to heaven, that ruin takes on eschatological overtones since souls are lost.

Catholics have no authentic leaders. The Bishops in the United States, charged with teaching the Faith and shepherding the flock, have not done their job. There are several reasons for that. One is cowardice. Another is lack of faith themselves. Then there is stupidity. Finally, there is a collaboration with the culture of death by many of the prelates in the United States. Since Catholics have always been hierarchical--i.e., we have been taught to follow the priests, bishops, cardinals, pope--this state of affairs is tragic. One young man once told me, "It was a stroke of genius to neutralize the Catholic Bishops. For once the leaders were no more, the rest were clueless." Evil genius.

While the bishops no longer either stand up to the culture of death nor do they offer any real resistance to it, there are apparatchiks of the dominant culture/society who run around in the name of being Catholic to support the systems and processes of dominion and destruction. For example, Michael Novak who recently came to the University of Notre Dame to espouse the sick idea that capitalism is some sort of divine plan and, reading between the lines, that greed is good (a 1980s refrain) and Catholic and moral. What Novak ignores is the tradition of Heinrich Pesch and Amintore Fanfani--the idea that economic systems are meant to bring all along on the way to heaven. Some call it distributism, it is referenced in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and discussed by Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI. Instead of justifying the economics which is broadening the gulf between rich and poor, Novak should have been explaining how the ideas of the Vicar of Christ, and the teachings of Holy Mother Church should be implemented to provide all with the material goods and the security we need to be able to focus on leading virtuous lives. You see, virtue to Novak and others like him is the name given to the slaves' mentality--the rapacious capitalistic system in which we all live can only exist as long as the slaves are honest and obedient and uncritical.

Authentic Catholic leaders are those who know the Faith, and work to implement the teachings of the Church and of the Holy Fathers in this society. (By the way, here are Roman Catholic Report, you'll start to see a few authentic Catholic leaders develop.)

Catholics, as a result largely of the first two points, have internalized the value system of the dominant, destructive culture. So, what that means is that Catholics have come to accept as normal or proper a selfish, self-centered, individualistic, materialistic lifestyle. Which is justified by giving to certain causes which really have no impact on much of anything other than to make the donor feel good. Having inculcated this view of life and adopted this way of life, despite all the rhetoric, writings and preachings to the contrary, Catholics will be unable to change anything in the United States or its society. Abortion, poverty, contraception, injustice of all kinds, pain, suffering, misery will all continue without any hope of relief. The Church will be, and is, unable to do its mission. This salt has lost its savor. And is of no use. Now what remains is that it will be thrown out.

As a result of the above, Catholics have no sense of identity or uniqueness. Any feeling of being Catholic is beaten down time and again with a false idea of ecumenism and with the dominant culture's values of not wanting to upset anyone.

Catholics have been turned against each other. Those who speak up for the truth and the Truth are attacked by others who call themselves Catholic. And, so there is a distinct, though understandable lack of courage throughout the community.

Unsure of who they are, leaderless, ignorant, divided, those who call themselves Catholic in the United States are not capable of doing much, most importantly, saving their own souls.

The answer is to return to the basics--teaching and living the Faith, raising up authentic Roman Catholic leaders, suffering for the Faith, building communities of Faith, and knowing that the purpose of life is to reach heaven upon death.

You've come to the right place.

posted 101505

JMJ

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COMMENTARY--The Catholic Problem(s) by: David A. Wemhoff There is a Catholic problem. Well, more properly, Catholics have problems. That is my conclusion, and these conclusions are shared by a lot of others who have had the opportunity to observe over the years. These comments, however, are restricted to Catholics in the United States, the most influential society and the most powerful country in the world. Catholics don't know their own religion. They are ignorant in the Faith. They are not catechized. That is disastrous for the Church and for society at large. If members of an organization do not know what they are about, what their purpose or mission is, then not only will they meet with failure, but they will easily go off track and be used for the purposes of others. This is a recipe for disaster and ruin for any human group or society. When you factor in the reality which is that the Church is here to shepherd souls to heaven, that ruin takes on eschatological overtones since souls are lost. Catholics have no authentic leaders. The Bishops in the United States, charged with teaching the Faith and shepherding the flock, have not done their job. There are several reasons for that. One is cowardice. Another is lack of faith themselves. Then there is stupidity. Finally, there is a collaboration with the culture of death by many of the prelates in the United States. Since Catholics have always been hierarchical--i.e., we have been taught to follow the priests, bishops, cardinals, pope--this state of affairs is tragic. One young man once told me, "It was a stroke of genius to neutralize the Catholic Bishops. For once the leaders were no more, the rest were clueless." Evil genius. While the bishops no longer either stand up to the culture of death nor do they offer any real resistance to it, there are apparatchiks of the dominant culture/society who run around in the name of being Catholic to support the systems and processes of dominion and destruction. For example, Michael Novak who recently came to the University of Notre Dame to espouse the sick idea that capitalism is some sort of divine plan and, reading between the lines, that greed is good (a 1980s refrain) and Catholic and moral. What Novak ignores is the tradition of Heinrich Pesch and Amintore Fanfani--the idea that economic systems are meant to bring all along on the way to heaven. Some call it distributism, it is referenced in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and discussed by Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI. Instead of justifying the economics which is broadening the gulf between rich and poor, Novak should have been explaining how the ideas of the Vicar of Christ, and the teachings of Holy Mother Church should be implemented to provide all with the material goods and the security we need to be able to focus on leading virtuous lives. You see, virtue to Novak and others like him is the name given to the slaves' mentality--the rapacious capitalistic system in which we all live can only exist as long as the slaves are honest and obedient and uncritical. Authentic Catholic leaders are those who know the Faith, and work to implement the teachings of the Church and of the Holy Fathers in this society. (By the way, here are Roman Catholic Report, you'll start to see a few authentic Catholic leaders develop.) Catholics, as a result largely of the first two points, have internalized the value system of the dominant, destructive culture. So, what that means is that Catholics have come to accept as normal or proper a selfish, self-centered, individualistic, materialistic lifestyle. Which is justified by giving to certain causes which really have no impact on much of anything other than to make the donor feel good. Having inculcated this view of life and adopted this way of life, despite all the rhetoric, writings and preachings to the contrary, Catholics will be unable to change anything in the United States or its society. Abortion, poverty, contraception, injustice of all kinds, pain, suffering, misery will all continue without any hope of relief. The Church will be, and is, unable to do its mission. This salt has lost its savor. And is of no use. Now what remains is that it will be thrown out. As a result of the above, Catholics have no sense of identity or uniqueness. Any feeling of being Catholic is beaten down time and again with a false idea of ecumenism and with the dominant culture's values of not wanting to upset anyone. Catholics have been turned against each other. Those who speak up for the truth and the Truth are attacked by others who call themselves Catholic. And, so there is a distinct, though understandable lack of courage throughout the community. Unsure of who they are, leaderless, ignorant, divided, those who call themselves Catholic in the United States are not capable of doing much, most importantly, saving their own souls. The answer is to return to the basics--teaching and living the Faith, raising up authentic Roman Catholic leaders, suffering for the Faith, building communities of Faith, and knowing that the purpose of life is to reach heaven upon death. You've come to the right place. posted 101505 JMJ