Dear Catholic Exchange:
In today's Words of Encouragement on Justice! [January 8, 2002] I found a terrible analogy:
“…and it's why we slap the hand of a two year old who punches his sister but imprison an abusive husband who punches his wife.”
Since when did Jesus advocate physical punishment on children? It occurs to me the reason the abusive husband punches his wife most likely is because he/she had their hand slapped when they were two, at which time all they learned from the 'slap' was that the stronger has the right/ability/power to control the situation! To discipline is to TEACH, not punish; to punish is to remove rights and privelges, not inflict pain or demoralize.
In Christ,
Dave
Dear Dave:
The purpose of my analogy was not really to “advocate physical punishment for children” (though, in fact, I think spanking is okay). It was to point out that we do, in fact, treat equals equally and unequals unequally.
It was Jesus, not the Marquis de Sade, who said that the one who does not know the Master's will and fails to do it will be beaten with few blows, but the one who knows it and fails to do it will be beaten with many blows (Luke 12:47-48). The point of His analogy, like mine, is that justice treats equals equally and unequals unequally. Jesus was not advocating for the beating of slaves just I am not advocating for the beating of children.
Thanks for writing!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
Dear Catholic Exchange:
Within a few days I've now heard of Catholics for a Free Choice twice [see Book Review: Catholics for a Free Choice—Exposed], yet never beforehand. This worries me in this day and age of so many Catholics losing their faith or having it stolen by other religions. Misinformation is the key factor to those who don't understand the faith and for those who oppose the faith.
Yet it seems that we (the Catholic Church) allow it far too much. It is time to not sit on the fence and say next to nothing about these dissenting groups. Maybe it's time for someone or group (with the Magisterium's authority) to go on public TV (60 Minutes, etc.) and succinctly state Church history and authority and that there is NOT liberal, moderate, or traditional Catholics, but instead one is either Catholic and follows the Church's teachings without fail (Pope and Magisterium included) or they are NOT Catholic. By doing this then maybe people will finally be forced to re-evaluate organizations such as the CFFC, as well as some of our clergy who are leading our people astray in their parishes.
This also leads to another important issue since many Catholics are weak in their faith here in the U.S. We NEED to revamp our religious teaching in Catholic schools, CCD, and RCIA programs! Most of us are in awe and dumbfounded when we listen to speakers such as Marcus Grodi, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Karl Keating, etc.. I attended Catholic school for 10 of my 12 years in school, and when looking back I see that what I learned was: some bible stories, what Catholics are supposed to believe; but not WHY we believe what we do, not the biblical basis for these beliefs, and not true bible study. So at adolescent, teen or adult age, we are NOT equipped to defend our beliefs to non-Catholics adequately, and therefore ripe for the taking or easily impressionable by those who seem more intellectual than us (CFFC, non-conforming priests, other religions, etc.).
Hopefully it doesn't seem that I'm making a mountain out of a
molehill. Maybe with the apologists that are available, some of these issues can be addressed with a plan and put a plan in action.
Thank you for your time, and God bless Catholic Exchange and all who work there.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rudy Mendoza
Gresham, OR
Dear Rudy:
The problem you describe is indeed a mountain, not a molehill. But the cross is bigger! Spreading the true Faith is central to the mission of Catholic Exchange.
Various Church leaders over the years have publicly denounced CFFC, and CFFC has been exposed as not a membership-based organization. In other words they are simply a front for pro-abortion forces who want to put a Catholic face on grave evil. No doubt they would also like to convince as many Catholics as possible that one can be a faithful Catholic and “pro-choice.”
I encourage you and all of our viewers to educate yourselves and those you know with what resources are available—Catholic Exchange and Brian Clowes’ book for starters. The writings of several very good apologists are available at Catholic Exchange.
May God bless you!
Sincerely,
Mark Dittman
Associate Editor
Catholic Exchange
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