Reply #49: The Church is alive....if not "well" [View All]

[mapatriot]

Like you,I grew up under the tutelage of great nuns and priests. I'm still an "occasional" catholic.......I go to mass eight or ten times per year, confession every couple of years, receive communion when I go, etc. I'm betting that my struggle and level of participation is representative of most catholics in this country today. Pretty sad.

I, and I think very many of us lapsed (not fallen) American catholics, am guilty of the sin of sloth.....aka laziness. I consistently use the priest scandal as an excuse not to actively participate. I'm torn by the political activism emanating from the pulpit on the issue of abortion. I KNOW abortion is a grave sin......but is it really the church's role to dictate policy in a secular society? Isn't it enough to influence by our caring and compassion? Mother Theresa didn't impose her beliefs in the halls of government or with fire and brimstone from a pulpit. She gave over her entire life to help the poorest among us. I'm convinced that's Christ's central message to us...."do unto others".

The catholic church is the "body of Christ" ....us. If we fail to participate, if we fail to work toward social change, if we fail to reach out to the most needy among us than it's our failure ...MY failure, not the church's.