Any other church going Catholics confused as to what to do?

[Peregrine Took]

I definitely feel like, over the years, the Church is pulling me (us?) through a knot hole. In the 50's we were so strict and "by the book" with the fasting and confessing every week and family rosary saying every night and all. Then after John XXIII and Vatican II we relaxed about all the rules and regs a tad and learned that God is love and it was almost impossible to commit a mortal sin as it would require such an effort of the will to do absolute evil.

JPII started drawing things up tight again but in a fatherly, albeit quite conservative way and now with Benedict ("Ratzinger!!") - it seems ever since he took over its been one right wing misstep and misspeaking after another. Now with the child abuse scandal back with us again in spades and leading right to his door! What to do?

I really don't even want to go to Easter Mass as I look on even my parish priest as a co-conspirator. How dare they talk to me about sin or going to Confession with what they've been up to or may have looked the other way about?

I know I'm not giving one red dime until something really significant is done to try to right this abuse situation as much as can be done and I don't mean apologies or panels like last time - something huge and revolutionary. My husband says that will never happen as the Church has survived all these years through many scandals and will continue to do so. He quit many years ago in disgust with its politics among other things.

I'm sure the hierarchy is hoping the whole thing fades away from page 1 to page 21 and then out of the news altogether and maybe that will happen but, in my mind, the Church will never have a hint of a good name again until a total purging goes on. I'm actually ashamed to be seen going into my Church these days.

[hedgehog]

1. I reaslly feel sorry for a lot of priests who were trapped by the failure

of their bishops.
I'm getting ready to drive 15 miles to Easter vigil at a parish guided (not ruled ) by a priest I respect. Look around, those parishes are out there and I think they will be picking up the pieces sooner than anyone thinks.

[demosincebirth]

2. Born and raised Catholic and will never leave it. Not over a few cretin priests and Bishops.

During my lifetime I have known many superb clery in the Church that are just as heartbroken as many of us here. I just pray to God that this Pope is not directly unvolved with this curent mess. I try to attend Mass every Sunday and try to love one another, even those anti-catholics and athiest on this board...its hard, but I try.

[CBHagman]

3. I can understand how you would feel that way.

I wouldn't presume, however, to tell you what to do.

For what it's worth, I have a great many issues with the church and have for a long time, and the way the American bishops behaved during the health care reform debate (i.e., by choosing to reserve their most public and emphatic actions for the abortion and gay marriage issues, rather than the issue of universal health care itself) crossed a line that can never be uncrossed.

That said, I don't care to punish the many for the actions of some, and moreover I feel I might wrong someone else in doing so. So I have not stopped attending mass or giving a modest amount to the church. And I have always seen priests, nuns, deacons, and laity as individuals, not as monolithic. Over the Easter weekend I had a chance to talk to a couple of nuns about what they've been doing, and believe me, these women had their priorities in order and their heads screwed on right.

But this is a highly personal matter, and each of us has to find his/her way. Do you have anyone within your faith (or another, for that matter) with whom you can talk this over at length?

[47of74]

4. I'm still here

Despite an upstairs that hurts the church with every breath, word, and action I'm still here. I sometimes wonder why I bother with the church anymore. Then I interact with the parish I'm a member of and I feel better about our little corner of Catholicism, enough that I keep sticking with it.

I'm not leaving over those cretins in the Vatican nor their enablers throughout the world.

[Matilda]

5. Like you, I had a difficult time throughout Lent this year.

I felt a great deal of anger with the hierarchy - for the abuses of the many who have suffered, for their
mishandling of the fallout, for their shameful treatment of women, and for their smug complacency.

I often take part in dramatised liturgies and readings, but this year I didn't put my hand up because I wasn't sure
I had a right to be taking part, feeling as I do. I was asked anyway, and agreed, and I was glad I did play a part,
because it gave me back something I thought I might have lost.

It came to me at the Holy Thursday celebration as the words of the beautiful "Ubi Caritas" sounded softly through
the church. I thought "this is what it's about, and they can't take that from us, no matter what they do".

Thank the Lord, that feeling stayed with me throughout the Triduum.

Now, we have to get back to the fight - and it is a fight, one that we all need to take part in, until the Church
has cleaned up its act.


"Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est" ("Where there is charity and love, there is God")