Abigail Palmer has diagnosed the preeminent problem of American Catholics:
"American Catholics are the most spoiled Catholics on the planet. A Catholic in Baghdad just hopes that his church won’t be bombed this Sunday; Sudanese Catholics hope that they can face another day without brutal, unspeakable religious persecution. In many of the dioceses of the world, a roof on the church or running water would be nice. And we, in all of our prosperity, want more ease. We can go to church when we like, say what we like, do what we like. We want, if it’s even possible in this world, an easier life, a life less uncomfortable, and one that doesn’t involve explaining ‘arcane’ doctrines to non-believers. The idea of prosperous people sliding into laziness and insolence is not unheard of in history. The real outrage is that it is happening to a people who has received teachings that extol sacrifice, humility, fidelity, and love of the helpless and lowly. The excuse ‘But Zeus does it, too’ won’t work for us."
Go, GET THE STORY; don’t come back until you do.
Back, already? Then, for Exhibit A in support of this diagnosis, Dale Price of Dyspeptic Mutterings renders another brilliant fisking, this time of Fr. Charles Curran.
Is the conflation of separate things (e.g. dogma or doctrine and discipline or practice) by ‘these people’ intentional, or are they really so completely and utterly consumed by their hate and ignornace that they cannot view things rationally?
Dale P. pointed out the clear ERROR of the good Fr. regarding slavery, and it seems that examples of celibacy and meatless friday (practice) are constantly used to say “the Church can change policy (policy!) on sexual behavior x (or more likely, y)”
Ugh.
That’s…just sad. One of my friends preparing for conformation [his class] said a prayer to the spirits of the ‘four winds’…later found out to be from a satanic prayer book.
Go figure…and God help us all.
Amen Kosh.
That just shows how badly educated alot of lay people, and priests are educated in the Catholic faith.
But nonetheless, the 60’s were a pretty screwed up.
Can we give a cowboy hat tip to amy welborn?
Oh, man! I laughed till I cried at the brilliant fisking. Pope B16’s “heresy-crushing kung-fu grip” and “inquisition death ray” made my day.
And the quest for a life that makes no demands of them goes on.
Ted, if you’re referring to credit for the links, I didn’t find them on Amy’s site. I found them during my own Internet surfing. However, I do give a nod to Amy for having a great blog. 🙂
Sorry 🙂
Ambien today.
Ambien today.