Even if most American Catholics ardently support abortion rights, contraception, gay marriage, and whatever else is fashionable this year, it doesn't matter. The Roman Catholic Church isn't a democracy, and it certainly isn't a consumer-driven religion service.
Catholics aren't in a "roll-your-own doctrines" church. What the church believes and teaches is based on
- The Bible
- Tradition
- The Magisterium
If someone doesn't like what the Church teaches, the door is open. Anyone who wants to leave, may do so. Just as anyone who accepts the Word of God, rejects sin, and is baptized, can become a Catholic. (1229) And, yes: I'm simplifying the process a bit.
Being perfect, by the way, is not a requirement. Let's put it this way: they let me in.
I Don't Like Authority - So I Converted to Catholicism?!
I may have gotten my general attitude toward authority from growing up in the sixties, or from my Irish roots.Which makes my decision to become Catholic seem odd. Maybe even a little crazy.
It makes sense, though.
I tend to be dubious about people who say this or that is so, or that I should do one thing, and not do another, just because they've got some alphabet soup after their name, or have a fancy title.
If they can back up their claims, that's another matter.
When it comes to God, I've learned to give Him the benefit of the doubt. He's earned titles like Omnipotent, Omniscient, and quite a litany of others. In short, He's large, and in charge.
And, when I found out that He (his Son, specifically) had given authority to Peter, who passed it down the centuries to the current Pope, becoming Catholic was something of a no-brainer.
Related post:
- "The Catholic Church: Authoritarian, Which Isn't Necessarily a Bad Thing"
(October 2, 2008)
No comments:
Post a Comment