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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Is a strong Catholic identity snobbery?

First, let me offer a disclaimer. I am very much in favor of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue. The Church asks us to honor the faith of other people and not proselytize those who do not wish to have the Church's complete truth proclaimed to them.

With that said, though, I do believe there is a "true" ecumenism and a "false" ecumenism. The true ecumenism of the Catholic Church recognizes that the Church that Jesus Christ founded is the Catholic Church headed by the Christ's visible vicar on earth, the successor to St. Peter, the Pope. As such, the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth. The Catholic Church also safeguards this truth, what is called by many as the "Deposit of Faith." As such, we see all validly baptized Christians as members of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Depending on their status in the line of the denominations that evolved after the Protestant Reformation, they are more or less in communion with us, but not in full communion. Again their status depends on how much of the Deposit of Faith they accept and the degree to which their sacraments are either valid or invalid according to the mind of the Magisterium.

False ecumenism believes that all Christian denominations are more or less equal.Many would even refer to the Catholic Church as one among many different denominations. It really doesn't matter which one you belong to as long as you believe in Jesus and try to follow Him as your conscience directs you. This is especially tempting for Catholics who are the minority in the communities in which they live or are in "ecumenical marriages." We don't want to offend the religious sensibilities of those who are close to us, so we tend to buy into a false egalitarianism.

We must be clear, though, that the Catholic Church is precisely that the Church. Eastern Orthodoxy can also be viewed as a Church not a denomination. Protestants, though are denominational. In the technical sense they can only call themselves the "Church" only in reference to the Church they separated from, the Catholic Church.

Three areas that many Catholics today are susceptible are "the cult of the personality" of the priest or minister and the power of inspirational preaching and the strong bonds of fellowship that many Protestant denominations are quite good at developing. If a preacher has a pleasant and winning personality, knows how to speak from his heart and to touch the hearts of those who listen to him combined with a powerful sense of friendship and fellowship among fellow worshipers, Catholics may think that their needs are being fulfilled. This is especially true if their own Catholic parish lacks a charismatic priest, who is deficient in preaching and personality and the congregation is cold and unfriendly. Why not then join a denomination that satisfies?

The three main reason not to leave the full communion of the Catholic Church that are relevant here:

1. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and He said the gates of hell would not prevail against her. Why in the world would a Christian intentionally join another denomination founded by a mere mortal, like Martin Luther, John Calvin or the vast variety of non-denominational congregations founded by individuals who turn it into a corporation in which they are the CEO and power is handed down to family members? It is a family business in other words.

2. The validity of our Sacraments. For most Protestant denominations, they have only two valid sacraments, Holy Baptism and in some cases Holy Matrimony. Since the Sacrament of Baptism is essential for Church membership and thus salvation the Catholic Church has always taught that in an emergency a lay person can baptize if they use water and the correct formula, "I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Catholic Church recognizes the baptism of Protestants if done according the criteria above. Since marriage is a divine right if there are no impediments, the marriages of two baptized Christians who are Protestant is a valid sacramental marriage as it is not dependent on the one who witness the marriage for its sacramentality. However, with few exceptions, Protestants do not have any other valid sacraments including first of all Holy Orders (deacons, priests and bishops) the latter two necessary for the valid celebration of the other sacraments including the Mass or the Most Holy Eucharist, not to mention Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders. Why would anyone give up the Sacramental system of the Church that Jesus Christ Himself instituted for a simulated sacrament or no sacraments at all? Leaving the full communion of the Church means no Holy Communion and if it is celebrated by the Protestant denomination it is only a symbol or simulated sacrament. It is not valid.

Thirdly, if one departs the practice of the Catholic Church for a denomination that is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, one must also divest themselves of many other teachings such as the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Communion of saints, Purgatory and the finer nuances concerning dogma and doctrine.

Who wants incomplete Christianity when the complete package is available in the Roman Catholic Church? Only those who do not think there is any difference amongst the various Protestant denominations and that all religions are equal.

True ecumenism does recognize that God's grace is present in these Protestant denominations and that what is lacking in them can be made up by God and His grace. Certainly good preaching, a love for the Scriptures, lives built upon the moral principals of the Bible are all signs of God's grace actively bestowed upon the well-intentioned and good of heart. As well friendly congregations, great fellowship and social activism are signs of God's grace freely given to these denominations that at times puts us Catholics to shame. So we do not disparage the gracious love that God bestows upon those denominations. While deficient in so many essentials of the Church, God nonetheless enables them to experience an abundance of good will and love.Where ever two or three are gathered in the Lord's name, Jesus is there! In terms of ecumenical dialogue, we can learn much from their fine preaching, their fellowship and working with them in serving the needs of the poor rather than competing in this arena.

Your thoughts?

6 comments:

Gene said...

That was very well stated. My experience is that most accusations of snobbery are based upon either "sour grapes" or a desire to be dismissive of something or someone with whom we want no meaningful discussion.

-Brian said...

Why would anyone give up the Sacramental system of the Church that Jesus Christ Himself instituted...?
I know of 7 essential reasons; to wit:
“1. Regarding the nature of man:
Man is totally corrupt.
Hence there arises the tendency to limit religion to matters of sin and justification: repentance, conversion, making a decision for Christ, bewailing one’s sins, condemning as evil what common experience and Catholic doctrine teach to be good [see Gn. 1:31]; self condemnation easily translates into seeing evil in one’s own society and governmental policies when such condemnation is not justified.

2. Regarding the nature of grace:
Grace is totally extrinsic.
This follows from No. 1, for if man is totally corrupt then grace cannot be intrinsic to him, for then he would be transformed into something good and no longer corrupt. The Blood of Christ covers over the sins of man, hiding them from the sight of God, but man remains as corrupt as before. Thus is undermined any motivation to strive to overcome vices and imperfections in one’s self or in society. Indeed, the notion that man is totally corrupt and its corollary that grace is only extrinsic stem historically from Martin Luther’s despair in trying to be chaste.

3. Regarding the nature of salvation:
Man is saved by faith alone.
The way you get the Blood of Christ to cover your sins it by believing that it does. Hence comes Luther’s adage, Sin strongly but believe more strongly. When one breaks through to the conviction that, despite his inability to change, one is absolved from all responsibility, the ensuing exhilaration is the conversion experience, and the tendency is to teach that one is not saved unless one has this emotional high. Some go so far as to deem one’s salvation lost if this state of excitement cannot be regularly repeated.
That man is saved by faith alone also means that good works are unnecessary and merit is non-existent.

4. Regarding the nature of the Church:
The Church is solely an invisible society.
The Church consists only of those saved by the Blood of Christ. But these are only those who believe that they are so saved. (See no. 3.) But belief or faith is invisible. Therefore the Church is purely and only invisible. Therefore a visible hierarchy and also sacred images are contrary to the true faith, and the tendency is to see them as coming from the devil, with the visible (i.e. Catholic) Church being the Whore of Babylon and sacred images being idols.

5. Regarding the nature of the priesthood:
The only priesthood that exists is that common to all the faithful.
Hence both the ministerial priesthood and the sacrifice of the Mass are denied. Since everyone in the community is hierarchically equal, the faithful have the right and indeed only they have the authority to select and ordain their ministers; ordination is merely the community’s commission and does not in any way impart a new character or status on to the recipient.

6. Regarding the nature of revelation:
Rule of faith is Scripture alone.
Hence both tradition and the authority of the Church to interpret are denied.

7. Regarding the nature of Scripture:
Scripture is subject only to the private interpretation of each individual.
Hence man is seen as in immediate contact with revealed truth without any mediating agent other than the words of Scripture themselves. Hence both reason and the Church are rejected as proper channels of true interpretation. The view that man is not in need of mediation regarding the interpretation of Scripture leads to the position that man needs no mediation in any aspect of religion. Hence not only the priesthood is seen as an intrusive interference but also the role of the angels, saints and Mary -- even though Luther himself retained devotion to the Mother of Christ.” ~ Fr. de la Torre
I don't think that is elitist or snobbish, no?

Who wants incomplete Christianity when the complete package is available in the Roman Catholic Church? Answer: The sick, the lame, and the lazy.

Anonymous said...

Very good, Father! A strong Catholic identity is definitely not snobbery! My thoughts are included in this linked article that I wrote two tears ago under a pseudonym for “The Defender”, a Catholic newsletter.

http://www.thedefender.org/What%20Ever%20Happened%20TO.html

REGINA DÉCOR CARMELI, ORO PRO NOBIS!

Anonymous said...

Do Protestants look upon Roman Catholics as religious snobs?

Do Roman Catholics look upon the Orthodox Church as snobs?

Robert Kumpel said...

In Mortalium Animos, Pius
XI stated:

"So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it. To the one true Church of Christ, we say, which is visible to all, and which is to remain, according to the will of its Author, exactly the same as He instituted it. "


and

"We humbly beg that He would deign to recall all who stray to the unity of the Church!"

THAT is ecumenism. I tend to agree with those concerned about Vatican II's vague and often abused statements regarding ecumenism. There are no new dogmas defined by Vatican II and our own Holy Father and others have repeatedly stated that the council was merely "pastoral"--not to mention the growing evidence that the original intent of the Council was hijacked by internal enemies of the Church, desiring to change the Church. There were certainly no new, definitive infallible teachings made by the Council.

It is not snobbery to love your neighbor enough to tell him the truth. It is uncharitable to offer him anything less.

Finally, it is not snobbery to refuse to settle for anything less than the Catholic faith and persevere in protecting your Catholic identity and fighting false ecumenism or anything else that would compromise that identity. As Bishop Sheen said, "We do not need a voice that is right when everyone else is right. We need a voice that is right when everyone else is wrong."

Kim said...

You obviously are delirious if you think the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ...he was NOT catholic, read your history booksAND the Bible!