Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: cantfindagoodscreenname
Years ago, I asked why it is that so many people who call themselves Catholic and don't live by the doctrines of their church and who don't even AGREE with those doctrines (birth control and abortion, to name a few) continue to stay in the Catholic church.

It's a matter of history. For centuries, the Catholic church was the center and fulcrum of life in a community. Everything revolved around that. To leave that would imply ostracising oneself from the community, not just a matter of going to the church on the next block.

Further, the Catholic Church teaches about the primacy of the conscience, when that conscience is properly formed. Unfortunately, a lot of Catholics understand fully the first part, but not the second part. When, in the mid 20th century, it became important to think for oneself and to be more "American" than "Catholic," it became very stylish to subscribe to current popular culture than the teachings of the church. People's consciences got perverted by the media and pop culture. They didn't consider the importance of guarding their consciences against those kinds of attacks.

Finally, the Catholic Church has not done a very good job of catechizing older youths and adults. Unfortunately, there are a number of clergy who do not do their job properly (there are also a lot of good and holy clergy members as well, but they are not universally present). So the poor catechesis is often reinforced.

Sorry that you got a disrespectful answer earlier. Hopefully this one helps you out.

170 posted on 04/04/2007 4:19:36 AM PDT by markomalley (Extra ecclesiam nulla salus CINO-RINO GRAZIE NO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies ]


To: markomalley

Pretty much the reason why a lot of people stay in a church they were raised with. Because it is a cultural/social home. And some, like in many other churches, stay in it trying to make it what they want it to be.

This is life everywhere.


186 posted on 04/04/2007 7:10:24 AM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies ]

To: markomalley

Thank you for your informative reply. Being concerned about ostracizing oneself from the community makes sense particularly.


191 posted on 04/04/2007 8:03:26 AM PDT by cantfindagoodscreenname (Is it OK to steal tag lines from tee-shirts and bumper stickers?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson