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Categories
Featured Articles (Click on any main category or sub category to start browsing)
Crown of thorns and a large iron nail, symbolizing suffering and sacrifice of Christ

Christianity
Surgeons in the operating room

Medicine
Wooden bridge crossing over a path in a garden with blooming flowers and greenery.

Personal

Religion
A man in military attire holding a baby while another child is being carried by a woman nearby.

Social & Cultural
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Speaking Truth to Power

Christianity

Dunce Cap boy at blackboard

An all-too-common “defense” for Catholic representatives who are pro-abortion is the “I’m a good Catholic, but I disagree with the Church on this issue.” In 2007, Bishop Thomas Tobin responded and recommended that the Rhode Island representative Patrick Kennedy be denied communion on this basis, opening a can of whoop-ass on the congressman on his “I’m pro-choice and a good Catholic, too” shtick:

“The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.” Well, in fact, Congressman, in a way it does. …

There’s lots of canonical and theological verbiage there, Congressman, but what it means is that if you don’t accept the teachings of the Church your communion with the Church is flawed, or in your own words, makes you “less of a Catholic.”
But let’s get down to a more practical question; let’s approach it this way: What does it mean, really, to be a Catholic? After all, being a Catholic has to mean something, right?
Well, in simple terms … being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.
Congressman, I’m not sure whether or not you fulfill the basic requirements of being a Catholic, so let me ask: Do you accept the teachings of the Church on essential matters of faith and morals, including our stance on abortion? Do you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish? Do you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly? Do you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially?
In your letter you say that you “embrace your faith.” Terrific. But if you don’t fulfill the basic requirements of membership, what is it exactly that makes you a Catholic? Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural heritage?

As you can imagine, this raised the predictable firestorm from the usual suspects. But bravo. Look, if you’re pro-choice, fine. But spare us the hypocrisy of claiming to be a “faithful Catholic” and pro-abortion at the same time. That dog won’t hunt, and it’s long past time our vaunted political leadership got called on it.

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