I agree.

One of my problems is that I hate to be trivialized. I mean, as Catholics, don’t you ever feel that when you’re trying to express an opinion, everyone else is just like “Oh, they’re Catholic. Of course they think that” therefore “They only think that because their Church tells them to, so they’re opinion doesn’t matter”? I want my opinions to be my own.

Sorry, I didn’t mean you thought that, I just meant I knew a few Catholics who did…

“True Catholics CHOOSE to follow ALL of these teachings as opposed to “CAFETERIA” Catholics where they pick and choose what to believe.”

I agree with almost everything the Church teaches, and the things I disagree with I don’t disagree with because I think those rules or regulations are too hard to follow; I disagree with them because it goes against my experience and my own logic. And when I said I was thinking about giving up Catholicism, I didn’t really mean it. I only said that because I was irritated. Truthfully, I love being Catholic, but I don’t think that I need to agree with everything the Church teaches in order to be a true Catholic.

Em—

Speaking personally, I’ve always been strongly against abortion, but like you, I at one time had issues with the Church’s teaching against condoms and birth control.

Ironically, I didn’t begin to appreciate this teaching until a theology class my sophomore year of college in which my professor — a priest — openly expressed his disagreement with this particular Church teaching.

That’s what prompted me to investigate the Church’s teaching on contraception on my own volition. It was only then that I came to understand appreciate the wisdom behind it.

In recent years, many pro-lifers have become increasingly convinced of the link that exists between contraception and abortion. I touched upon this a few years ago here on the GFL blog.

In 2006, our parent organization, the Pro-Life Action League, sponsored a first-of-its-kind national pro-life conference in Chicago titled “Contraception Is Not the Answer” that featured a series of presentations that talked about the damaging effects that birth control has had on women and men, marriage, the family, teens, spirituality, and society at large.

I realize, Em, that we disagree on this subject—and in all honesty, I admire that you are so straightforward in acknowledging as much.

But I would like to ask if you would at least be willing to listen to what the various speakers at “Contraception Is Not the Answer” had to say. If so, we would be glad to send you a complimentary 8-CD set of the conference presentations. The sets are regularly $49, but if you’re willing to take the time to listen to them, we’d have no problem sending one to you at no charge.

If you would like one, please send me an e-mail — john[at]generationsforlife[dot]org — with your full name and mailing address.

Catholics CAN have different opinions from what the Pope/s say..I can accept that…

What I was referring to was following the TEACHINGS of the Catholics Church based on its Catechisms, doctrines and dogma.

True Catholics CHOOSE to follow ALL of these teachings as opposed to “CAFETERIA” Catholics where they pick and choose what to believe.

Sure it’s difficult..nobody said it was easy.

Practicing Catholics believe the teachings of the Church are the Total Truth. A lot of people have issues with certain teachings of the Church. I had a couple not too many years ago. I decided to go to Eucharistic Adoration at least once a week and pray about those things. I later found out more information on the issues and did more research and then finally I understood the Church’s position.

I would recommend trying Eucharistic Adoration yourself. God will give you the answers. If your having a problem with the Church’s teachings on condoms, you should read one of Christopher West’s introductory books on “Theology of the Body”. If you concentrate on these two things, you will be off to a tremendous start.

Mike

I don’t know whether I would be considered a “practicing” Catholic or not… I guess it depends on what you think defines a practicing Catholic…

“Hey, if you don’t like it… leave the Church…nobodys forcing you to remain Catholic.”

Haha, sometimes I consider doing just that… But gah, this is what really annoys me. Catholics who are just like “If you don’t believe every single word in the Catechism/every word your priest/the Pope breathes, we’re kicking you out.” Is it really fair to think someone can’t be a Catholic just because they disagree on one or a few little things? Like me, for example: I believe condoms are okay even though the Church teaches otherwise. But I still believe I can be Catholic.

It’s especially insane when Catholics think you must agree with everything the Pope says in order to be genuinely Catholic… The Popes have had differing opinions from one another, and I know some Catholics who changed their opinions with the Popes. Seems encredibly naive to me…

“But I think that if you were to totally convince someone of the truth of the pro-life message through reason alone, you would also at some time have to reason out that there is a God Who commands, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. So in the end it would all go back to God. ”

How would it all go back to God? I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m jumping on you, and I’m sorry if my last post was a little snappish. It just frustrates me that so many Catholics don’t seem to think for themselves, and that those same Catholics question my own faith.

We even believe that our God has given humankind natural law, so that even the person that does not know God will understand that it is wrong to harm another human being. (or creature for that matter). We could use this to our advantage. We could (and in my opinion ought to) base our movement upon the simple belief that it is wrong to harm another human being.

It complicates the issue at hand when folks who are not pro-life stand back and look at our movement and conclude that it is just part of our religion and religious beliefs, and that we would have to evangelize them to Christ in order for them to be pro-life.

There is a universal morality that we base the pro-life movement on. When we push our own Faith into the movement, we risk being seen as exploiting the movement to gain members of our Church.

I understand what you’re trying to explain here. You want to say that the pro-life message can be delivered purely with reason, leaving God and religion out of the debate, and that the pro-life message makes total sense without bringing God in. I can see how you would hold this opinion, and we do use a lot of reasoning in the pro-life movement.

But I think that if you were to totally convince someone of the truth of the pro-life message through reason alone, you would also at some time have to reason out that there is a God Who commands, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. So in the end it would all go back to God. It would all depend on God and what He commands. Now, since our priests and bishops are the representatives of God for us, don’t they have a responsibility and a duty to lead us in giving to the world the message of God’s command, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”?

I hope that this is helpful, and God bless!

I meant to say here:

“I really, truly, firmly believe that once we start acknowledging more of our God-given ability to use reason, rather than always placing our God-given gift of faith first to advocate an issue which is primarily in the public square amongst all faiths, that we will come to a solution to this issue that will be accepted by our friends in the pro-choice movement.”

Most Christians, and Catholics especially, establish their beliefs on an equal balance of faith and reason. Being that the pro-life movement fights for the most basic of human rights, we should expect folks from many faiths, and even those without faith, to join in our advocating for the unborn. Thus it is not necessary to use religion to lead this movement. I’m not saying it hurts, i’m not saying it shouldn’t be lead by religious leaders, all I’m saying is that one does not need to even believe in God to know that it is wrong to kill an unborn child.

I’m not even saying that we ought not evangelize, but I am saying that it’s probably not best to when representing the pro-life movement as a universal whole. Too often we fail to represent everyone in the movement.

Also, when we tie our religious leaders too closely to the “forefront” of our movement, then we open them up to the dangers of mixing politics and religion. (It’s bad enough some Bishops often seem to be advocating for the Republican party more than the pro-life movement at times.)

I really, truly, firmly believe that once we start acknowledging more of our God-given ability to use reason, rather than always placing our God-given gift of faith first to advocate an issue which is primarily in the public square amongst all faiths.

The use of reason is universal. But our faith is not known by all yet.

God Bless,
StudentFL

No I am not. I am saying that all too often our words divide, our actions show our bitterness and our obstinacy to reason, and our attitudes lend pro-choicers to believe that we are unwilling to work with them to solve this crisis.

“STudentFL….you’re kidding, right??”

No I am not. Instead of being factitious, why don’t you ask me to clarify on any points we’re not seeing eye to eye with, and we can find out if we really have a misunderstanding or not.

The percentage of Abortuaries closing down was at the same exact rate as the percentage of new 24-Hour Perpetual Adoration Chapels starting.

This completely amazed me!

Mike

If our Priests are strong (speak up on Pro-Life issues in Homily’s/show up to lead prayer at Abortuary’s/speak about the responsiblities of our own fathers which are all intermingled), our fathers will be strong.

There is a true correlation between our Holy Fathers & our fathers here on earth.

Our Priests are the bond between our Heavenly Father and our own fathers here on earth.

Mike

StudentFL,

Yes, our churches need to be involved in the pro-life movement.

The Catholic church is not made up of just priests and Bishops but
of the people in the church, the laity. Our Bishops and priests have the duty to guide us in the right direction so we can go into the world and bring our non-Christian/atheist brothers and sisters into the truth too.

You say:
“Until we start focusing on what’s important here, which is saving babies and pregnant mothers, instead of trying to make a crusade and battle out of it (by our words, actions, and attitudes) then we ought never to expect to solve this crisis in our midst”

Are you saying that we should not use our words, actions and attitudes? If you do not use these essentials (I would add prayer to the essentials), how will you save babies and pregnant mothers?

I commend this Bishop in Texas along with our other great Pro-life Bishops such as Archbishop Burke and Bishop Yanta. These Bishops are giving a wonderful witness being on the frontlines, not only to non-Catholics but even to their fellow Bishops. They obviously aren’t locking themselves in their churches but praying in front of abortion mills and succeeding.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

God Bless~

Secondly, regarding the blog entry… The pro-life movement is not Catholic. It isn’t even Christian. We have locked ourselves inside our Churches to fight this issue, all the while our non-Christian brothers and sisters are left out and end up not taking an active role in ending abortion.

Thirdly, is it any wonder why most bishops don’t take an active role in the movement? We make the movement out to be some kind of political battlefield, and most of the time we push other conservative issues as well. (just look at Jill Stanek)

Until we start focusing on what’s important here, which is saving babies and pregnant mothers, instead of trying to make a crusade and battle out of it (by our words, actions, and attitudes) then we ought never to expect to solve this crisis in our midst.

http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/06/stanek_on_benne.html#comments

Mike

True enough…but if you are a practising Catholic, you look to the Church’s Teachings and Doctrines on HOW you should act. The Priests and Bishops are the representatives of Christ and His teachings…so, naturally, we look to them for leadership in this sense.

Hey, if you don’t like it… leave the Church…nobodys forcing you to remain Catholic.