Raise your hand if you’ve had someone say this to you recently: “You’re still Catholic? Really? After all the Church scandals?”
Well, in my case, the answer is simple. Yeah, I’m still Catholic, despite all the Church scandals. In a way, you could say I’m still Catholic BECAUSE of all the Church scandals. Let me explain.
Well, in my case, the answer is simple. Yeah, I’m still Catholic, despite all the Church scandals. In a way, you could say I’m still Catholic BECAUSE of all the Church scandals. Let me explain.
One of the key doctrines of Christianity is that people are sinful. St. Paul could not have been more clear in his epistle to the Romans: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And when Paul wrote “all,” he meant ALL, y’all.
Because every human being was born with the stain of original sin (except Jesus, if you’re Protestant; and except Jesus and Mary, if you’re Catholic), mankind desperately needs a Savior. It’s the basic story of Salvation history: 1) God created the world good. 2) Things went bad because of sin. 3) Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. 4) If we put our faith in Him, we will be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven.
It’s quite a spectacular and exciting saga. It’s the classic “good-bad-good” structure of some of the most compelling stories in literature and film. But in this case, of course, the tale of Salvation history is not a fable; it’s what actually happened in human history.
A key part of this amazing story is step #2, the fact that God’s good creation went bad because of sin. Can anybody really deny this? The history of humanity on this planet is a tragic narrative written in blood. Think of the relatively brief existence of our nation, and the history books we read (or didn’t read) in school. Most of the key milestones are wars: Revolutionary, Civil, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. It seems that trying to kill our fellow man is all we do.
By the way, a lot of people nowadays claim the Church’s emphasis on sin is harmful. They say people are basically good, and once in a while someone will do a bad thing. However, reality is pretty clear: people are basically selfish, and once in a while someone will do a good thing.
Because every human being was born with the stain of original sin (except Jesus, if you’re Protestant; and except Jesus and Mary, if you’re Catholic), mankind desperately needs a Savior. It’s the basic story of Salvation history: 1) God created the world good. 2) Things went bad because of sin. 3) Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. 4) If we put our faith in Him, we will be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven.
It’s quite a spectacular and exciting saga. It’s the classic “good-bad-good” structure of some of the most compelling stories in literature and film. But in this case, of course, the tale of Salvation history is not a fable; it’s what actually happened in human history.
A key part of this amazing story is step #2, the fact that God’s good creation went bad because of sin. Can anybody really deny this? The history of humanity on this planet is a tragic narrative written in blood. Think of the relatively brief existence of our nation, and the history books we read (or didn’t read) in school. Most of the key milestones are wars: Revolutionary, Civil, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, etc. It seems that trying to kill our fellow man is all we do.
By the way, a lot of people nowadays claim the Church’s emphasis on sin is harmful. They say people are basically good, and once in a while someone will do a bad thing. However, reality is pretty clear: people are basically selfish, and once in a while someone will do a good thing.
I’m certainly not trying to be negative. I’m not trying to insult humanity as a bunch of sinful losers. But have you been paying attention to the news lately? Things are not going all that well. And it’s not because people are overly kind to each other. Just sayin’.
So, the Church scandals during the past couple of decades prove a key Christian doctrine: people are sinful and need a Savior. Now, am I saying that I’m glad so many leaders of the church committed horrible crimes against children, and that far too many bishops and cardinals act like narcissistic and power-hungry politicians? No, of course not. Each one of these crimes inflicts terrible damage on the victim and does great harm to the Church’s divine mission.
The bottom line is this: I’m not about to stop being Catholic because some Church leaders turned out to be creeps, anymore than I’m about to renounce my U.S. citizenship because some politicians turned out to be creeps.
The Church is a fallible institution, precisely because it’s populated with imperfect people. But the message the Church proclaims IS perfect: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So, the Church scandals during the past couple of decades prove a key Christian doctrine: people are sinful and need a Savior. Now, am I saying that I’m glad so many leaders of the church committed horrible crimes against children, and that far too many bishops and cardinals act like narcissistic and power-hungry politicians? No, of course not. Each one of these crimes inflicts terrible damage on the victim and does great harm to the Church’s divine mission.
The bottom line is this: I’m not about to stop being Catholic because some Church leaders turned out to be creeps, anymore than I’m about to renounce my U.S. citizenship because some politicians turned out to be creeps.
The Church is a fallible institution, precisely because it’s populated with imperfect people. But the message the Church proclaims IS perfect: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The world needs the Church, more than ever these days. That’s because the world needs the Good News. The world needs to know the amazing good-bad-good saga of Salvation history. The world needs Jesus, and the Church has been the institution that has been spreading that message for 2,000 years.
The Church is not perfect, but the Gospel message is. And that’s why, yeah, I’m still Catholic. Despite all her faults, I’m sticking with the Church that Jesus founded.
People are basically good. Very good. When they are not a quick background check will usually reveal serious emotional damage done to them.
ReplyDeleteRuth O'Keefe
And, by the way, harm to the victims is what matters.....harm to the church's "mission" does not. They are not equal concerns....at all.
ReplyDeleteRuth O'Keefe
You say: "reality is clear, people are basically selfish & once in a while somebody does a good thing".... then you say "I'm not trying to be negative or insult humanity as a bunch of sinful losers" In actuality you are being very negative & you are being condescendingly insulting. You are also wrong.
ReplyDeleteRuth O'Keefe