…for the wrong reasons.
In the last few months, I’ve stumbled upon a number of blogs and combox participants who lament the Catholic Church they’ve found since becoming Catholic. Some of them even appear disillusioned. I’ve also read a number of posts by Protestants who are adamantly opposed to conversion on the grounds that there are two Catholic Churches: the one you read about and the one that actually exists.
I want to respond to these problems with a few observations. First, I should say that I was lucky enough to be exposed to nominal, heterodox Catholicism very early in my journey. In fact, my first experience in RCIA was devastating to my wife’s journey. I won’t go into details, but will only relay that had Catholicism been measured by that experience it would be found drastically wanting.
The problem, though, with judging the Catholic Church on such an experience is manifold–and a casual reader would even feel the force of admitting it. For starters, you don’t come to the Catholic Church like you come to a Protestant sect. You are not looking for an über awesome local church that “feeds your soul” and gives you chill bumps. If you become Catholic for that reason, you would have become Catholic on accident. A Catholic journey is one where you are looking for the Church Christ established. She is not the sum-total of one parish, because she is not some evangelical mega-church.
Second, a mere perusing of the New Testament will quickly lead you to the conclusion that while Christ established a Church, it was a Church full of humans. Bickering brothers, a hot-headed leader, and 8.3% (1/12) followers of which are guaranteed to sell their soul to the devil. If you think you will find something different in the Church Jesus Christ established, think again. It’s the barque of St. Peter we are sailing in, and there’s all kinds of animals on board.
Lastly, stop looking for the ideal which is mostly just some form of the “American dream” church. The “American dream” is the left-overs of Manifest Destiny smoking the pipe of modernist industrialism, all the while pining for an inhuman Romantic ideal grounded in our European sensibilities. Some people want to fall in love with an angelic Church. Unfortunately, you will have to die to get into that one–so stay tuned. The Catholic Church is made up of people like you and I, and the last time I checked…
So, I can hear my objector saying, “So, what’s the difference between the Catholic Church and another Church. Brent, you are basically saying the Catholic Church isn’t perfect, but neither is my Protestant church. So what gives?”
The difference is in the ontological reality. In other words, if I tell you my wife isn’t perfect and then tell you your wife isn’t perfect, it doesn’t mean that I’m just as well off to go home with your wife tonight. Poetry about the beloved will always be grandiose, and an evening cleaning up around the house with the beloved–her hair up in a do–might lead someone to consternation over the paradox between poetry and reality. Of course, this only shows the the interpreter’s failed grasp at all the contours of love.
Moreover, at the centre of our faith is the Eucharist, and ultimately a belief in the abiding presence of the divine Paraclete (helper), the Holy Spirit, who we ask to “come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us: the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Like bread and wine, we are simple. Yet somehow in the mystery of God’s eternal plan, He has sent His Spirit to be with us until the end of the age, to lead us into all truth, to fill up His Body–the Church: the ground and pillar of truth. We believe that about the Church he established so we don’t leave her–in spite of ourselves.
So, be Catholic for a good reason, with faith in the Triune God and not some romantic idealism.
Peace to you on your journey…
Like what I had to say? Hate it? Check me out at my blog where I discuss why I’m Catholic and other things about that @ www.almostnotcatholic.com
10 thoughts on “Don’t Be Catholic…”
Great post! We cradle Catholics should keep it in mind, too, as we’re tempted to hop from parish to parish (on the same mission to find perfection where it doesn’t exist).
Also, note from a compulsive copy-editor: the second half of your second full paragraph is a repeat of the first full paragraph.
Wonderful perspective. I am of the John 23rd-JPII generation. Born in the 1950’s, raised as a Baltimore Catechism. Wandered away in the 70’s. Came back in the 80’s. I have a son who is 23. He is kind, he is virtuous, he is being distracted by the current culture, academically, socially, spiritually. I hope he appreciates your website/ministry.
God Bless
Anna,
Fixed.
Gordon,
God bless you and your son.
This is excellent. I especially love your second point. Thanks for sharing. I think my husband, who is a convert, will love it. 🙂
A year after my entry into the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, I was confronted with the reality that we are all sinners whom God is calling to be saints. To know this truth intellectually is one thing, to experience it and remain steadfast is another. My initial response was horror, and instead of seeking the Lord in prayer I gave way to anxiety which lead to depression and despair. I walked that dark road for four years until I respond once again to the voice of the Lord. On that dark road, I knew one day I would be forced to choose between the Lord and His Church or to continue to walk the path to complete and utter darkness. Thankfully, God’s mercy has reclaimed me. We are all called to have a Marian response to God’s call to holiness. Her fiat was not once for all, but lived every moment in faith, hope, and love. May God grant us the grace to enter into his Divine Mercy that we might be the light of the world. For it will only be in becoming like our Lord, through his grace and mercy, that others will see the light of His Church.
Love the caption on your Luther picture! (It’s not behind this door… let’s try door #2!)
But you make some great points. I agree with Anna – cradle Catholics need to keep these in mind too!
Great observation.
B says, “a mere perusing of the New Testament will quickly lead you to the conclusion that Christ established a Church”.
The problem with that statement is that Christ did not establish a capital “C” church, as in “ROMAN”, to be the fount and apex of all truth. The word “church” (“little c”) is mentioned over 100 times in the N.T. and simply means “body of believers”, which the author knows darn well. RC apologists are always betting on the biblical illiteracy of their readers to fall for their terribly weak arguments; but real students of the Bible know that absolutely no where do we read of a monolithic religious superstructure with headquarters in Rome.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ categorically rejected the idea of a monarchial dictatorship in Matt 20:25-26; not to mention the fact that the apostles were still wondering who was the greatest even after the Matt 16 episode (which of course proves they did not embrace petrine primacy). All of this militates against papal claims, and once again proves that the Roman religion is a system forever searching for biblical back-up, but which is doomed to failure.
Mr. Spammer (Leo),
You are doing what I have said I tire off, or namely, continue to repeat your irrelevant dribble ad naseum. I will let this one pass, but I’m going to spam you on this website as well. Your obsession with my posts is over the top (borders on obsession).
Christ did not “categorically reject” monarchy anywhere in Scripture, but He did reject those in authority lording their authority over others. Pope Benedict is the servant of servants, and while he does have authority, and that authority to you may seem imposing, he nowhere lords it. In fact, it seems like folks like you are complaining all the time about how most Catholics don’t just “fall in line” or how the Pope really blew it with this scandal or that, never “laying the axe”. Hmmm…
So you want it both ways do you?
Regarding the “Church”, the capital “C” is used to differentiate it from churches who are NOT the Church founded by Christ. Even if it only meant “body of believers” in 99 of the 100 times in the N.T., that would not necessarily exclude the Catholic meaning, for we too use it in just that same sense many, many times. When Jesus said he would “build a Church”, he wasn’t saying he would “build a body of believers”. The Church is the fulfillment of the kingdom, not some ethereal, vaporous, docetic, invisible “group”. Moreover, all of your comments just beg the question if we cannot first establish sola scriptura, for as you know, the Tradition in the first and second century is full of the concept of “Church” and (gasp) “Catholic”.
That’s it for you sir or madame (whoever you are).
Not to beat a very dead horse, Leo, but what about St. Peter’s prominent place throughout the Acts of the Apostles? What about the hierarchical structure in heaven illuminated at the beginning of Revelation? In Matthew 20 Christ does reject dictatorship, but you’ll notice that he in fact implies a hierarchical structure in which the leaders are the servants (which, as Brent points out, is demonstrated in the Pope’s role as the servant of servants). Your assumption that Catholic apologists (and Catholics) are intentionally ignorant of the Bible is, well, ignorant. Open a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, look at the footnotes, and you’ll see where every Church teaching has its roots in the Bible. Brent’s closing statements about the Eucharist should not be glossed over, because they truly are the strongest argument in favor of the Roman Catholic Church’s role in carrying out Christ’s teachings. May God bless you and all of us with open minds and hearts to discern His will for us.