The Catholic Church Is Not Attractive

Crossed the Tiber ^ | 9/17/2010

[markomalley]

As Pope Benedict was heading to the British Isles he was asked if he thinks the Catholic Church needs to change to be more attractive to an increasingly secular British culture.
This is what he said:

“A Church that seeks to be particularly attractive is already on the wrong path.”

I appreciate these words of the holy father as he states very clearly what Jesus had told the disciples. You will be hated for my name sake and persecuted. The church that seeks to become more attractive to present itself in a "new and different" light to be more acceptable to the changing society is not what Jesus had in mind. The early church was cursed and persecuted and thought to be cannabalistic because of its strange and counter-culture beliefs. The early church fathers didn't change their theology or practices to fit into the secular culture of the Roman world. The modern Catholic Church continues to be maligned because of its counter-culture beliefs and practices such as anti-abortion, anti-contraception and hetero-sexual marriage.
I think of the seeker-friendly churches and the mega-churches in our country that have done everything they can to emulate the high-octane, American entertainment industry in an effort to make their churches more "relevant."
I'm sorry but I don't want to go to a "relevant" church.

As GK Chesterton has said: "I don't want to go to a church that changes with the culture. I want a Church that changes the culture."

He also said :

The Catholic Church is the only thing which saves a man
from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age."

[Tax-chick]

Chesterton was a great man.

[SumProVita]

“As GK Chesterton has said: “I don’t want to go to a church that changes with the culture. I want a Church that changes the culture.””

Woooo Hoooo! An excellent quote!

[Le Chien Rouge]

Bring back the Latin Mass!!!

[Remole]

Another quotation from GKC:

"I do not want a Church that is right when we are right. I want a Church that is right when we are wrong."

[CitizenM]

The Catholic Church tried that. They tried to "modernize" it back in the 1970's. Catholic churches changed from reciting the Mass in Latin to having a Mass spoken in English (or the language of the country). They tossed out the beautiful alters and statues. The priests now stand at a table that faces the congregation. They made it possible to attend Mass on Saturday evenings and that now counts for Sunday morning attendance. Many other changes that made the Catholic services and church seem less traditional and "old."

More people left anyway...mostly feeling a loss of the spiritual quality of the Mass and the Catholic Church. Now it is changing back and so many are happier that more churches are offering the Latin Mass again. Many Catholics are very glad the Pope is steadfastly upholding the traditions of Catholicism. I think a good blend is what will result.

[Judith Anne]

I love the title. It reminds me of the scripture “He was despised and rejected of men,” and of Christ’s crucifixion, the ignominious death that is our salvation; the glory of the resurrection, disbelieved as a coverup for body-snatching, His victory over sin that is our only hope.

[MotorCityBuck]

The Latin Mass is where it’s at brother! Amen.

[knarf]

Bring back the blue law(s) and after the riotong has settled down ... and we survive ... Sunday across the land will return to Currier and Ives .. Norman Rockwell ... etc.

[MotorCityBuck]

"and after the rioting has settled down ... "LOL. I agree. I also get my drinkin’ in before church anyway!

[left that other site]

I really like that Chesterton Quote!

[knarf]

I was born and reared in Boston and my childhood Sundays were the most pleasant times of my life.

'Course, I had to get older to realize it, but returning to the days of, "Because I said so" would do a lot to reclaim America for her ideals.

After all ... what's an 'ideal' anyway, eh?

[tiki]

Oh yes, I was trying to explain to my granddaughter when she was asking me a question about keeping the Sabbath holy and that people used to take it seriously and how the religious Jews still do.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” - G.K. Chesterton

[Grunthor]

Do you know why Nyquil flavors it’s medicine?

[Grunthor]

But what if I go to a mass, it’s all in some foreign language and I can’t understand what is being taught? Why would I stay?

[dartuser]

Non-catholic here ...

What exactly is a Latin Mass? Is everything spoken in Latin or just certain key parts?

[narses]

Common Latin Mass questions here:

Grunthor wrote:
But what if I go to a mass, it’s all in some foreign language and I can’t understand what is being taught? Why would I stay?

And another:

dartuser wrote:
Non-catholic here ...

What exactly is a Latin Mass? Is everything spoken in Latin or just certain key parts?

Please jump in and help explain the enduring nature of the Latin Mass. Thanks!

[Grunthor]

“Please jump in and help explain the enduring nature of the Latin Mass. Thanks!”

Thank you for that, I am not looking to convert but I do love to learn.

[Claud]

Everything’s in Latin start to finish. Usually though the priest will reread the Gospel and Epistle in English.

Most people have missals with the Latin and English side by side so they can follow along. So you just start to learn Latin by osmosis. And since most of the Mass stays the same week to week, everybody learns the standard responses and pretty much knows what is going on.