Editor’s note: I’m including an excerpt of a recent email that I received from Paul, who is a European Catholic. Things obviously appear somewhat different to him, than they do to many U.S. Catholics.
Rather than replying to Paul or to me via email, I suggest you use the comment feature attached to this post, so that everyone can benefit from your feedback.
Here’s a portion of Paul’s comments:
…I am dropping you a possible counter argument to (Real Catholic TV’s) latest installment (click here to see the post).
I hope it does not offend, but it is my observation (with a few highlights) of what I think is wrong with that group! Perhaps it is a European perspective and maybe I am too harsh, but here goes.
With regard to the Five Dollar (Anti) Contraception Kit from Real catholic TV:
…Contraception (or rather “artificial contraception” … which is not the same thing) has been frowned on by the Authority of the Church as being merely the substitute of pleasure over fruitfulness. In Catholic thinking, sexual acts are believed to be God given delights within a family orientation and therefore, to interfere with such an act by artificial means, so that sexual pleasure for its own sake may be obtained, have traditionally been disliked.
Whether or not Catholic families rigidly adhere to the advice however, has always been a matter of debate. Pressures from society generally may affect individuals decisions and may come about more likely from an economic view rather than an anti-catholic one.
Whilst it is true that in the past Catholic thought has frowned upon artificial contraception, with the advance of sexually transmitted diseases especially the AIDS virus the Church has started to come to terms with other possibilities.
This will not however mean the Church splits nor that moral degradations shall destroy Catholic belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It may mean however, that the Church moves in a new way. And it is up to the faithful to accept this and understand that the notion of the Rock does not mean the Church is ever stagnant.
…Without love we are indeed in a sad state and worthy of pity. Our Catholic identity will mean nothing, and any cry before the Blessed Sacrament will remain unheard.
Yet the term is couched here in a carrot and stick terminology … as in warning of moral degradations tearing at the heart of the faith … and destroying Catholic belief in the soothing embrace of the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist.
Many will read it and without thinking, send their donation to support the originators of such claims, thinking this a service within the Church. It is not. Indeed it remains a grotesque distortion of the real Church and the presence of Christ.
Hearkening back to a time when Catholics presumably lived in the articles of the faith they have since mysteriously forgotten? Hearkening back to a golden age that quite frankly never existed.; hearkening back to some time when Catholics were in control of society and the woes of contraception, abortion, euthanasia, etc. were simply acts of back street sinners … who were destined for eternal damnation, anyway.
Instead such absurdities should be banished … and the real answer of humility and charity towards the neighbour be brought to light.
Basically, there is no easy answer to contraception or to any of the declared woes … and perhaps it is a problem with this “quick-fix society” … that we want there to be one.
In the Church, there can never be a simple remedy … and no simple response to a divided society … but there is the notion of peace and prayer … both of which call the faithful to calm, and to reflection.
Love is not just sentiment, nor can it be a Catholic attitude of superiority. The answer is in charity of word and deed … not in spitting “the truth” at one’s sinful neighbour.
The trouble is that some in the Catholic world have come to despise their neighbour … be they engaged in pre-marital sex, or have had an abortion, or are homosexual, etc. They declare their own love for Christ openly, on the altar … but it is not Christ they adore, because it remains our altar … not somebody else’s. It is our Christ, and his way is our way … or more precisely … MY way.
The desire to attack … if not stomp … opposing views into oblivion … is rather gung-ho, to many European eyes. It is not the will of Jesus, nor is it to the Glory of God that such pride flourishes.
Rarely for example, is contraception taken as a moral wickedness, but rather as a prevention to unwanted pregnancies. People do not take contraceptives, nor are they homosexual, because they are simply evil. Nor do some mistaken doctors, etc. advance euthanasia because they have been corrupted by the use of contraceptives, and are therefore evil.
What is evil is the notion that some Catholics choose to condemn their neighbour as being evil … and to insist they are glad of their own salvation because they believe in the Real Presence in The Blessed Sacrament.
Like the Pharisees of old, they are whited sepulchers … and their pride has made them useless to the work of grace.
What is annoying is that such wickedness is often presented within good and holy text, and given applause by the unsuspecting. Evil is best seen not in opposition, but couched in terms of faith. But this tends to destroy the central principle of what it means to be Christian.
War against anything is rarely desirable … and it often destroys faster than peace can build.
The church continues to grow, though much of its history is tragic and sin-filled. It has come to the realization that its heart must be one of love and tolerance in an intolerant world … and to bear with self awareness the wrongs committed against it … and sometimes by it.
The object is to become Christ at Calvary, and be inspired by his Passion; but it is a long hard road still. We should travel along the road of peace and compromise … rather than seek division and discord … and never follow the quick fix to sin … no matter how brightly it is presented.
Many thanks and God bless,
Paul
February 7, 2011
Categories: Books & Publications, Events, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics . Tags: Catholic-Church, charity, contraception, Jesus Christ, Michael Voris, Real Catholic TV, real-presence . Author: Hosted by Doug Lawrence . Comments: 1 Comment
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