And yet, there are many pollyanna-like Catholics who just cannot read the signs of the times and who insist that anyone who speaks of chastisement or the consequences of sin is being "negative."
Such confused Catholics are drawn to the message of people like Norman Vincent Peale and the Chicken Soup books. The "I'm okay, you're okay" school of sacharrin-coated spirituality which avoids any mention of sin or at least downplays its seriousness.
Many priests and religious have succumbed to this "positive" feel-good spirituality. This is why they cannot muster the courage to speak out against sin and a culture of death which is envelloping our society.
As for me, I stand with the Catholic writer who said, "I find Peale appalling and Paul appealing." Amen. It is our vocation as baptized Catholics to take a stand against a society saturated in sin - institutionalized sin - and to be salt and light to a troubled and hurting world. The choice is ours: we can continue to live in denial and pretend that everything is "okay" and denounce those Christians who actually possess the Holy Spirit's gift of Fortitude and who are not afraid to stand with Christ and His Church or we can stand with the Son of Man and refuse to be ashamed of His Person and message.
The choice is ours. A meditation: Revelation 3:16.
Paul
I've seen this "pollyanna" approach around the Manchester Diocese. I can't remember the last time a priest gave a sermon on Hell or sin.
ReplyDeleteIt's been years.
The Diocese of Worcester has had more than its fair share of problems: sexual abuse of children, dissent etc. It's difficult to find a pastor here as well. A true shepherd who cares for souls.
ReplyDeletePop psychology is very popular these days but not eschatology, the study of the four last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why that is? As if I don't know. New Age psychobabble has replaced solid Christianity with its dogmas. The end result: widespread loss of faith, dissent, the sexual abuse of children by predator-priests and religious, abortion, contraception, sodomy, and a disbelief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
If this is the new "springtime" in the Church, it's going to be a sweltering summer!
Be of good cheer Lisa. The new springtime for the Church is just around the corner. But things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better. However, the seeds have been sown. The teaching of John Paul II the Great has begun to take root in the hearts of many, more and more priests are being ordained who have been formed by the teaching of this great Pontiff. So much so that Fr. Richard P. McBrien, a moral theologian and dissident from Magisterial teaching, has called them "John Paul II clones." He means this as an insult. Actually, it's the highest compliment he could have delivered. John Paul II is on his way toward being raised to the altars of the Church. I don't see this happening for Fr. McBrien...do you?
ReplyDelete