Here goes the latest rant.
As we speak, the Conclave in Rome is taking place, with a hundred something Cardinals taking two votes a day in the process of selecting a new Pope as leader of the Catholic Church, and as Vicar of Christ on Earth.
I was inspired to write this by a young friend who also has a blog and has expressed her feelings quite well about the bashing of the Church which is taking place in the mainstream media. I have had enough of this. If someone in the mainstream media dared to bash Muslims, there would be an outcry like none other. While I know there are good and bad people in all religions, I am particularly tired of hearing all the 'pedophile' and 'child abuser' jokes and tasteless excuses for 'humor' especially on facebook.
I have stopped watching TV about it, and cannot bear to read comments or editorials about the Church, or the Conclave. I'm tired of hearing people preach about 'oh they should let priests marry' or 'oh they should have women priests' or 'they should loosen their restrictions on whatever'. Get over it, people, it's NOT happening. The priests will not marry (and I don't want any arguments about it), and there will be no women priests, not now, not ever. I am tending to take the media's criticisms very personally. Here's my opinion like it or not.
The vast MINORITY of priests and clergy have ever done anything unethical or unlawful to any child or adult. And I don't believe all the accusers are being truthful. That doesn't mean for a second that I condone bad behavior by any priest. But like all walks of life, a few bad apples make the bad name for the majority. I'm just sick to death of this though. I've had it.
My Catholic faith was instilled in me first by my parents and grandparents, and then by the good sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and further by the seven different orders of religious who taught me at West Catholic. My faith is rooted in my heart and soul, and is very dear and VERY important to me. It is not dictated by the actions of any human. It has gotten me through some stressful and sad times in my life. It continues to sustain me to this day. I believe that prayer is important, whether it be the formal prayers taught to me in my childhood, or plain language prayer, which takes awhile to master. I believe in the power of prayer, and have seen that power in action.
Please don't get the idea that I'm a 'fanatic'. I refuse to sit in judgment of anyone, and believe firmly that God is the Ultimate Judge of what a person does or does not do here in this short life. And please don't get the idea I've always been so religious. (I do prefer the word 'spiritual' vs. 'religious'.) Though I was raised in Catholicism, I drifted away in my early working life, and didn't venture back until the early 1990s. I was away from the Church for more than 25 years when I was inspired to return. I thank my neighbor, Anita, and the Pastor Emeritus of my parish, the late Fr. Joseph Dougherty, for the initial 'kick' back into my Church.
I was scared to DEATH of going to Confession after that long, but Fr. Dougherty made it painless, easy, and wonderfully uplifting. He was a wonderful homilist, and a great priest. I miss him greatly. I am glad he's not around to see what's going on now, in the parish, and in the world. (Even though I'm convinced he's watching from above.)
So, anyway... I know I'm very free with my opinions, and they are usually, as the title of the blog says, Not Sugar Coated. And I realize that others are entitled to their opinions of the faith and the Catholic Church, good, bad or indifferent.
But that won't stop me from saying I despise some of those opinions, which I feel are based on the actions of a very few men. I also believe this is a bad reason (and a COP OUT) for saying you 'don't believe' in God, the Church, or Christianity in general. Grow up. There are a few bad people in all walks of life. Not all people are bad, not all priests are bad. Get over it.
In closing... may God bless the Cardinals, and may the Holy Spirit guide them!
I'm glad you liked my post!
ReplyDeleteOf course priests in the Eastern Rite can be married. It's not dogma one way or another. But I think celibacy is best for a priest. That's what lets us call up our priests any hour of the day or night without worrying that we're disrupting their family time. Just last weekend our priest was kind enough to meet with us for over an hour on a Saturday, just because we asked him to. I wouldn't have dreamed of imposing that way on a man with a family to think of. It does mean we have fewer priests, because not everyone is able to vow celibacy for life. But it means they are, on the whole, amazingly self-sacrificing men.
Yes, I forgot about that Eastern Rite thing. I often thought about the married priest issue. It is difficult to visualize for me. But you are very lucky to have a priest who had the time and willingness to meet with you. I agree they are amazingly self sacrificing men, especially in a parish like ours, where there are only two priests to 1800 families. We can only hope and pray for more young men to answer the call.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration and feedback.