Many shades of Catholic embarrassment

As we have seen in real life, religions can spread deadly ideas faster and more efficiently than a virus can spread AIDS. By forbidding the condom to Catholics followers for so many years the Catholic Church has shown that it too can destroy life and whole societies, and do it with love...I no longer go to church because it offends my intelligence. It offends my intelligence to know that Jesus would surely mix and fuse all manners of decision-making tools, such as philosophy, logic, morality, science and theology to decide on, for example, the choice between a human’s well-being and a stupid fetus. Theology is but one pillar that holds the many dimensions of mankind’s spirit. Let us hope that one day we will not need it to understand and know and love God.P.S. Oh, I got if from God, he loves us all!

My Response to Mr. DoudFirst, visit with a priest concerned about the theology of the Church and its impact on the people, rather than the whimsical feelings of everyday people. Theology is not about how you feel about something. It is about SPIRITUAL TRUTH. OBJECTIVE SPIRITUAL TRUTH.Second, I would ask that you look into the idea of Relativism. I would consider it to be the modern day heresy. It doesn’t matter about individual opinions. The only opinion that really matters is what GOD thinks. If you happen to believe something different than God, may He help you.Third, Pope John Paul the Great was a fantastic theologian and a wonderful man. He cared as much for the souls of his flock as Jesus himself did. Remember that when you critique him. Quite simply, there is reason that he is going to be considered for full sainthood. He had an amazing mind, a great heart, and you can’t find that in many people.Fourth, there is no reason why our “Catholic theology by which dogma and moral teaching can be revised or brought up to date.” It shouldn’t have to be. You are not supposed to change truth to benefit you and your beliefs. You should recognize truth and finally form yourself to it. The Church has been proclaiming the same message for 2000 years, only the people have lost their way. It is time to make a theological renewal in the Church.Fifth, your comment on abortion and individual conscience is quite stimulating, but it is nevertheless incorrect. The Church has a very clear statement as to how one should apply the morals of the Universal Church, as well as God, to people who have differing consciences. The Church does say that it is all right to listen to your individual conscience; but if it is in disagreement with the Magisterium, it is your duty to find out why and fix yourself. GOD’S LAW CANNOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TO BE.The basic message that I have to send to this writer is that if you are truly a philosopher, you will do yourself a great deal of help and look into your philosophy. There is no such thing as a Liberal Catholic, just a Catholic. There is no such thing as Liberal Truth, just Truth. Realize that God’s Truth is the truth, and all of your life should conform to it. Trust in God to change yourself into a better person, and realize the full beauty of the Church to which you belong.

While I generally agree with Professor Dowd’s opinions about the current pope and the state of today’s Roman Catholic church, I have to say that I was thoroughly put off by an inaccuracy early in his letter.Dowd states, “Throughout his long career as secretary to Pope John Paul II, Ratzinger suppressed thought, opinion and open discussion.”Then-Cardinal Ratzinger was never secretary to Pope John Paul II. His role was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the latter-day successor to Office of the Holy Inquisition...Writers sacrifice a great deal of credibility when they cannot get the background facts straight.

As a priest, educator, retreat director of 35 years I share these sentiments. John Paul II and Benedict XVI are an embarrassment to thinking, reasonable, open-minded, dialogical human beings. They were and are repressive dictators...who preach equality to Muslim nations and yet practice discrimination in their own denominations by not ordaining women or validating same-sex couples.