2 Catholic Viewpoints

My fellow-Catholic Father Cessario proposes to explain why the Catholic Church (meaning its leaders) views itself as a moral “authority.” The problem is that his explanation is not based on reason, but on a faith (which I share) that the church (and by that I mean not just the church leaders but the entire body of believers) “is a sign of salvation and an instrument of the divine will.”

This, of course, can be neither proved nor disproved, but even if it be granted, it does not follow that Catholics must acquiesce in all that their leaders say, nor that they defend the punitive actions those leaders take against dissenters. The real nub of the matter, so far as Catholics or non-Catholics alike are concerned, is expressed in the familiar saying: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” Belief requires free assent, and if there is assent, no authority is needed to assure it.

In its long history, the Catholic Church has accomplished much good and much evil, and every era has had its blunders of leadership. So we Catholics listen to our leaders with respect, but with caution, as we hope all the world listens to them. We accept what we believe to be true, either exactly as it is offered or with modifications. For church leaders to expect more is to expect too much. Even more than in past generations, we are faced with complex problems for which there are no easy answers. But if church leaders are willing to work with the laity, we may at least correct some past mistakes and minimize our own.

FELIX DOHERTY

Bellflower