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261. Catholics... have a heart,
please! I don't know if this is typical among Catholics, but several outspoken acquaintances of mine, all church-going Catholics, let out a barrage of criticism against the Holy Father for issuing the statement on Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church (June 29, 2007). (see bro. Fred's Reflections, #260). And that bothers me. If this is a typical response to any pronouncement that comes from the Vatican, Heaven help us. It is true that many people have a negative image of the "Magisterium" of the Catholic Church, probably because they do not understand who this group of people are. "By the Magisterium we mean the teaching office of the Church. It consists of the Pope and Bishops. Christ promised to protect the teaching of the Church : "He who hears you, hears me; he who rejects your rejects me, he who rejects me, rejects Him who sent me" (Luke 10. 16). Now of course the promise of Christ cannot fail: hence when the Church presents some doctrine as definitive or final, it comes under this protection, it cannot be in error; in other words, it is infallible. This is true even if the Church does not use the solemn ceremony of definition. The day to day teaching of the Church throughout the world, when the Bishops are in union with each other and with the Pope, and present something as definitive, this is infallible. (Vatican II, Lumen gentium # 25). It was precisely by the use of that authority that Vatican I was able to define that the Pope alone, when speaking as such and making things definitive, is also infallible. Of course this infallibility covers also teaching on what morality requires, for that is needed for salvation." Source: "The Magisterium or Teaching Authority of the Church" by Fr. William G. Most (EWTN) Not everything is Dogma or infallible, but the doctrine on the Primary of the Catholic Church is Dogma. The Second Vatican Council did not change this, so the Holy Father authorized the issuance of the above-referenced responses to keep certain theologians who overstepped these bounds, in line with Catholic teaching. Theologians, who interpret Catholic teaching have an obligation to stay within the limits of Dogma and Doctrine of the Church, and if they do not do so, they will be sanctioned as has been the case with several well-know theologians in the past centuries. Be thankful that we have a Pope and Magisterium willing to stick to doctrine. That's what makes our Church strong. And, despite everything, that's what makes our Church holy. We, as individual Catholics, do not need to worry about other religions, except pray for their well-being, perhaps. They have their faith-beliefs and that is fine. If they love God and their sisters and brothers as they do themselves, and if they lead a sound moral life, then they will get to Heaven also! For in Heaven is a God who loves us so much, and desires for us to love Him back, that it would be unfathomable that He would allow anyone to perish based on his or her religion. But by the same token, if such a person who is not a Catholic, would allow abortion to occur, or does not live a sound moral life, they would be liable for their actions vis-a-vis God same as anyone else. We are all responsible for our actions no matter who we are. And in another matter, that of the sad events in the past 30-40 years in the Roman Catholic Church. I am referring to pedophilia among some priests/brothers and some bishops. I have no misgivings about that situation, particularly since, as a former seminarian, and religious, I was aware in very general terms that this awful and atrocious behavior went on in our Church, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, at least since 1959. Acts such as these should be punished within the Church as well as outside of the Church. In USA that would mean the involvement of civil courts, and that is as it should be. We are all responsible for our actions no matter who we are, clergy or lay people! However, to condemn the Catholic Church for the sins of the misguided clergy/laity, is also wrong. Let us fully support the hundreds of thousands of dedicated clergy and lay ministers who work so hard to overcome the stigma bestowed on us by those who cannot control their emotions. I have spoken thusfar about the Leaders of the Catholic Church, that is, the Pope and the Magisterium: The Teaching authority of our Church. There is an analogy I would like to make even though it might be an unpopular one. Each country on this earth has a leader. We're talking about Kings or Queens, Presidents, Administrators, Premiers, etc. Just because we do not agree with the policies such a person makes, and this is very often the case nowadays, we are nonetheless obligated to obey the laws and doctrines of our country. Very simply, because if we do not, we have anarchy, and, we will probably end up in prison. The same is true for the United States of America. That is where I live, and most of my other friends. But I also have friends in some other countries. Many people in USA do not like the policies of our President and his government, but we still have an obligation to obey day-to-day laws and regulations. Freedom is a two-sided right. We have the right to free speech, but if we misuse that right (by threatening others, for example), we will end up in jail. The Catholic Church, however, is not a democracy. It isn't set up that way. It is not a republic crafted by men, but an institution established by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Perhaps because, as Americans, we are used to this freedom of speech, and we can exercise it, we cannot exercise this freedom of speech in the Church. Its Dogma and Doctrine so carefully guarded and maintained by the Holy Father and the Magisterium is not up for debate or endless discussion. In addition, it is not influenced by the "will of the people." These "grassroots" up-swellings seen in marches of large convocations to a nations' capital city, are hardly appropriate as a vehicle to change the collective minds of the Holy Father and the Magisterium. It is just not the way the Catholic Church works. When a people have a concrete idea, blessed by the Holy Spirit, through much prayer, to make some improvement, they go to their local Bishop, and if he agrees with them, he will, most likely, advance the idea to the Vatican to one of the appropriate departments. Or, the idea might be discussed at the annual meetings of many bishops. If a Catholic contacts the Vatican directly, the proposal will generally end up with the local Ordinary - that is, your local Bishop. And it can take a long time to get there, if it gets there at all. As individual Catholics we can talk to our priests, and Pastors, and they will give you good advice. And if they don't, believe me, it is for a good reason. So, dear Catholics... have a heart, please. Don't get excited about so many things that we cannot do much about anyway. Excitement of this nature ends up in stress, and there is enough stress in the world. Obey the Ten Commandments, and the Precepts of the Church, try to curb sin in your life as much as you can. Don't say "Everyone sins" and then forget about it, as if it wasn't possible to sin less or if you cannot be bothered to even try to sin less. You CAN sin less. Jesus is particularly grateful if you make the effort to sin less. Needless bickering about the Dogma and Doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church is a way to avow disobedience of these Laws, don't let Satan talk you into this behavior. It hurts only YOU. Instead, defend your Faith, and God will take this as a sign that you love Him very much. God has asked us to love our sister and brother as we love ourselves. Jesus is our Brother in the truest sense of the word. If we do not love Him because we do not curb our sin, then we do not love Him as we love ourselves. It's that simple. We can argue about our Faith, the Pope and the Magisterium or we can obey Our Lord by obeying the Teaching Authority of the Church. May the expression of your Faith be guided by the Holy Spirit, I pray. God bless you, and keep you well!
Fred Schaeffer, SFO
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