Please Don’t Claim to Be a Good Catholic

by Ron Quinlan on February 28, 2012 · 5 comments

It seems that people have mixed up the Church with a political party.  I can join either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party and disagree with many of its positions.  If enough people join the party with a certain belief that party will change its position.  That is obvious looking at the history of the two parties.  The Democratic Party was at one time the party to which slaveholders belonged and it was the Republican Party responsible for freeing the slaves.  Now the parties are very different.

It is good for a political party to change with the times and people’s opinions but the Church is radically different.  It has only one person to please, God.  It is called to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus and to lead people to God.  Jesus didn’t tell the Apostles to take a poll to see what people thought.  He told them to preach the Gospel and part of that Gospel says in Matthew 7:14 “narrow is the way that leads to life.”  What the majority of people think isn’t going to get people to heaven which is the primary role of the Church.

It doesn’t matter what people think; the Ten Commandments are still the Ten Commandments; the Bible is still the word of God.  God’s opinion on what is right or wrong hasn’t changed only what we want to hear.  The Church has preached the same message for two thousand years and will continue to preach the same message.  We haven’t always heard that message.

The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit not the polls or elections.  The Church is created to serve God and lead people to God.  The Church has to speak out for the helpless.  The Church has to speak out against sin and falsehood.  Throughout its history there have been those who felt and claimed they knew better than the Church.  The result has been heresies, schisms and the formation of new denominations.

The Church cannot change the truth to fit the times. It is to proclaim the truth in every generation come what may.  It may be rejected or persecuted but that is nothing new.  Every century has had its martyrs.  We are called to stand for the truth and risk all if necessary.  There are far worse things than being out of office.  Look at what happened to St. Thomas More, the patron saint of politicians.

Being Catholic has never meant changing the truth to fit in.  It has never meant that we let the world change us.  Rather we are called to change the world by our example and courage.

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By Ron Quinlan

  • easyal71

    I agree with the above article.  Just one note, there aught to be a period after the words
    “regardless of the teaching of the Church.”  It all comes down to free-will. I  think abortion is wrong.  But it is not my responsibilty to alter ones abitlity to make a free-will decision.
    I can’t make people stop going to McDonald but I can stop going myself. Free-will is the basis of the decisions made in the Garden of Eden by ADAM & EVE.  God did not interfere then and we shouldn’t interfere now.  We don’t have to support it or pay for it.  That is my stand. My concern is why the Church has not been more vocal against the mentioned politicians for their lack of commitment to the Church in these social issues.
     

  • chaco

    Hi easyal71,  I understand your concluding that it’s as easy as leaving such a choice up to each person’s free will; because the violence of abortion is not as visible as violence to someone outside the womb.  But Truth is Truth and a person is entitled to their own opinion but not their own Truth. You and I began as a zygote and no one violated our opportunity / right to grow from that beginning [Lucky us, right?]  The only way around this Truth is to change the subject (“It’s my body”) or yell louder than the Pro-lifers. God who is Truth / Integrity itself will not be fooled. Pity those who avoid this Truth because they have a “Monkey on their back” that consciously or subconsciously pesters them until judgment day(and beyond if they don’t seek mercy) or until they turn to the Mercy that scares the monkey away and soothes their hurting heart. Heaven has given us the “Recipe” to lasting peace (Fatima); “Make reparation for the outrages committed against   the Immaculate Heart of  Mary” (console her for how we offend her Son). When we make God’s / our Mama smile, it greatly pleases him and his favor / Grace falls on us .”Rejoice Queen – Mother, your son our God has ventured into the depths of darkness and illumined it with the Victory of Divine Mercy. It has penetrated the hardness of our selfish vanity & softened our hearts into praise & thanks for God [who longs to share his Glorious Love with us."]   Sweet – Holy – Healing Mercy

  • Marie Coppola

    My sentiments exactly - thank you for sharing yours.   In addition, there are also Democratic and liberal websites with the name ‘Catholic’ in them who are pro-abortion.   They claim they are called ‘Catholic’ meaning Universal.   Catholics somtimes think these websites are legit.   Check out the contacts and who represents these websites before you believe what they are saying.  

  • charlie

    Do these Catholic politicians take God for a fool? Apparently they do. Or I guess they are so full of them selves that they figure judgment and damnation only pertain to ,you know the uneducated Catholic. Intrinsic evil choices without seeking forgiveness win Hell. God is not the fool they are.
                                     Charlie

  • bronwyn

    I have never met a “good” Catholic. We are all sinners.

    We should pray and fast for the politicians and perhaps write/email how they are misguided by the world’s standards instead of being transformed by God’s love. How can you love your neighbour if you allow him or her to be led by lies and stagger in darkness? It is our duty as Christians to lead them to the Way, the Truth and to Life!