I haven't always been a practicing Catholic. Yes, I played with fire and was outside the Church for some time, knowing full well the state of my soul, but never doubting the Church. If there was ever a point when I disagreed with the Church, I would've pack my bags and headed for higher ground. Why stay and rabble rouse? I wouldn't join PETA and then try to convert their members by inviting them over for a BBQ.
Which brings me to a friend of ours. His wife is very "civically involved" and would like her husband to be too. She pretty much gave him an ultimatum to join some sort of organization.
He considered the Lions, but couldn't join them because he would have some problems with it conflicting with his being Catholic. I have no idea what problems there are with the Lions, but will take his word for it that membership in the Lions doesn't mix with membership in the Church.
Next up were the Knights of Columbus. Couldn't join them because of another conflict...he's pro-choice.
I KNOW!!!
Then he considered the Masons. But, couldn't join them because of the same problem with the Lions and membership with them being in conflict with the Church.
Ok, let's review. You've placed yourself outside the Church, albeit quietly in your heart, but you don't have a problem with that. The rub is when others might fraternally correct you because of the public scandal you create?
Why is the appearance of membership in the Church more vital than actual communion with It?
8 comments:
Not that it's any of my business, [so I'll ask!],
why in Hades does his wife want hubby to "join something?" Does she just want to get him out of the house at least one night a week? Whatever happened to bowling clubs?
Or why not be honest with himself and join some protestant group since he's "pro choice."
May as well join the universal unitarians or whatever they're calling themselves these days. I understand belief in God is optional.
Karen
One of our priests calls this "cultural Catholicism" and refers to the people as "cafeteria Catholics". I got into a discussion with just such a person one day several years ago when she was complaining about all the silly rules the Church has concerning a wide variety of topics. I calmly attempted to explain that as Catholic we have a core of beliefs that are central to our faith. She promptly told me that she didn't believe in all of them (I doubt she even knew what they were...) because they weren't "reasonable". I explained that if you don't truly accept these doctrines of faith, then you really can't call yourself a Catholic. Not that I don't question some of the Church's teachings myself on occasion. I may have lost a friend on that day, but maybe I got some people to think about their faith!
In simple words it's not!
there's already an organization that's pro-choice, pro-whatever you'd like...
It is about themselves and selfishness, and I think, ignorance.
Same thing when non-practicing Catholics go up for communion.
Swissy: Great question. If your heart is not in it, why bother? But, then, I wonder if in the deep of their heart they can just hear God calling them. They may deny it.It's subliminal. But, it could be there.
In my continual lack of charity, I struggle to understand this. I've decided I need to work on myself first. Not that evangelization is not important but I can't know their heart. I can only really know my own.
He considered the Lions, but couldn't join them because he would have some problems with it conflicting with his being Catholic.
I'm not prepared to take his word for it.
My father was a Lions and his best friend, a devout Catholic, deacon in the church, got him in.
Beyond being founded by a freemason about 100 years ago, there doesn't seem to be anything anti-Catholic about the Lions these days.
See here: http://www.catholic.org/hf/mbs/story.php?id=23283
Thanks for the comments everyone!
Don't know much about the Lions and don't want to give the wrong impression about them, just illustrating my friend's strange thinking when he's outside the Church by his admission about his own beliefs but not wanting to outwardly appear to be outside the Church by membership in another organization. Maybe my sarcasm doesn't come across sometimes :)
Karen:
Will send you a comment on Facebook.
Excellent post! I love your PETA and BBQ comparison. Some people are so blind to their own absurdity.
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