<<<”Witness the large numbers of Catholic legislators advocating abortion, voting for abortion, etc., yet kept on as members in good standing in the Catholic church.”>>>
Actually, these members of Congress are excommunicated until they confess their sins. They are to not receive the Eucharist but in doing so are creating another sin. I would doubt they are in good standing. Of course sin is personal and such things are not publicly broadcast by the Church.
<<<”Witness Catholic universities inviting rabid pro-abortion and other immoral speakers for commencement, etc. Not only are the speakers allowed, the inviters aren’t disciplined.”>>>
You will find that many of the Catholic Universities have become secular institutions. They have been secularized for many, many years now. You will also notice that many of their Presidents and Chancellors are from the 1960s era when their educations were influenced by liberals in the Church.
<<<”Witness the fact that as a new Christian I wandered into several Catholic churches and partook of mass with no understanding of what on earth I was doing. No one questioned me, asked me where I was from, anything. I was just served.”>>>
The Mass is not a social gathering. Those I know who were interested in the Mass asked the priest to discuss the Mass. There normally are greeters at the entrance and I have met several who come to the Church and ask for help. We must remember that the Mass is solemn and I believe most of the attendees minds are on the sacrifice.
<<<”In short, there is little if any church discipline in the Catholic church. They have some high moral standards but do not hold anyone to them.”>>>
Not correct. The Church has strict discipline but unfortunately, the Church is made of sinners with free will.
Whether a person obeys these discipline is another story.
<<<”In my Protestant church, no one takes communion without being screened by the elders. No one is publicly supporting abortion in any way. The only speakers we have are in compliance with church standards.”>>>
I am director of our pro life group and associated with the Pennsylvania Pro Life Federation. I unhappy to say that several Ministers of our local Protestant Churches are woman and they support abortion. I have to say none of these pastors and their parishioners have partnered with our priests in our prayers for the unborn.
The Lord be with you!
I am just speaking of my personal experience and observations.
“Actually, these members of Congress are excommunicated until they confess their sins.” I have heard for decades the complaints of faithful Catholics about the leaders of the pro-abortion movement, from Tip O’Neal to Nancy Pelosi, being given communion at their churches and kept on the membership rolls.
I endorse the Catholics’ position on abortion. I just think it would be more effective if it were enforced.
Certainly liberal Protestants have feminist abortionist pastors. But at least they are consistent. It is their official belief that abortion is a noble and wonderful thing.
If the Catholic church opposes abortion, it should not allows vocally pro-abortion leaders to take communion. I know they can’t peek under every doctor’s door to see who secretly aborts. But these “Catholics” like the open “Catholics for Free Choice,” should not be allowed communion. When the laity sees that this behavior is not disciplined, it creates a lax mindset in them. The church errs in this.
If there is a vocal pro-abortion “Catholic” who has been denied communion or stricken from church membership rolls, name her/him. I’d be glad to hear of it.
As for little know-nothings like myself wandering in and taking communion, perhaps your parish is better run. Here in San Francisco anyone wanders in and does as they like. I have observed that in every RC church I visited, and I visited many when I first became a Christian.
This criticism is meant in a constructive way, as my answer to the question posed: Why do so fewer Catholics adhere to the moral tenets of their church as opposed to conservative Protestants?