Because I
do preach the hard truths of Roman Catholicism, there are some who are most anxious to label me as "rigid." But adherence to the Magisterial teaching of the Church does not constitute rigidity. It demonstrates fidelity. It is intrinsic to the Catholic religion, that before one can become a member,
he must satisfy himself that the answers to all questions of faith or morals are
contained in a Deposit of Faith which has been
revealed by God and
entrusted to a Custodian established by God Himself and endowed with infallible
protection against any change or error.
Since the only reason
for believing any of it is God's promise that it is all infallibly true, it is
all or none.
Oscar Romero, the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador, once said: "A preaching
that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel.
A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they
are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospels call...A preaching
that awakens, a preaching that enlightens - as when a light turned on awakens
and of course annoys a sleeper - that is the preaching of Christ, calling: Wake
up! Be converted! That is the Church's authentic preaching."
While there
are so many good and faithful priests who do preach on the reality of sin and
the need for reconciliation, there are those who have no love for the souls
under their care. As a consequence, these priests neglect the souls entrusted to
them and make no attempt to stress the reality of sin and the need for ongoing
conversion.
When Jesus began His public ministry, He did so with the word
"repent" (Matthew 4:17). And He advised the woman caught in adultery to "sin no
more" (John 8:11). Likewise, in the case of the man cured at the Pool of
Bethesda, Jesus advised him to "sin no more lest something worse befall thee"
(John 5:14).When queried on the subject of how many would be saved, Jesus
replied "few" because the "gate" to Heaven is "narrow" (Matthew 7:13-14). And
while no one can pinpoint the precise meaning of the word "few," still, it is
sobering that Jesus chose the image of a narrow gate.
Jesus is likened in
the gospel to a stern master who has lazy servants flogged and murderous ones
put to death (Matthew 21:41; Luke 12:47). And while it is true that Jesus is
Mercy, He is also Justice. And for every parable illustrative of His mercy,
there are three or four threatening divine retribution.
The Judgment Day
is always described as a day of wrath and never as a day of rejoicing (Proverbs
11:4; Zephaniah 1:15; Sirach 5:10; Romans 2:5; Revelation 6:17). Why is this? If
everyone (or even a large segment of mankind) is headed for Heaven, why does
Sacred Scripture refer to the Judgment Day as a day of wrath?
The smug,
self-satisfied "we-are-all-saved-already" attitude found in so many Catholic
parishes is the result of the sin of presumption. Because there are priests who
are betraying Jesus by refusing to preach on the reality of sin and the reality
of Hell, a spiritual dry-rot has infected much of the Church. This is why nearly
everyone receives Holy Communion at Mass but nearly no one goes to
Confession.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has this to say about
presumption: "There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his
own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high),
or he presumes upon God's almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his
forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit)." (CCC,
2092).
The words of Sacred Scripture remind us that such an attitude is
very, very wrong: "Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. Say
not:' Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive.' For mercy and anger
alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath." (Sirach
5:5-7).
If we are living a sacramental life, confessing our sins and
receiving Jesus in the Eucharist as often as possible (at the very least on
Sundays and Holy Days, which is our obligation) while praying each day for His
grace and mercy, we have nothing to worry about. This isn't presumption. This is
confidence in God's mercy as we strive every day to conform our will to His
divine will. But God will not be mocked. He can neither deceive nor be deceived.
I will continue to preach the hard truths which today's counterfeit Catholic refuses to embrace. I will continue to warn those who are accepting of "gay marriage," contraception, abortion, and the like "You're going the wrong way" even though it means I am excluded from the life of my diocese and prohibited from discerning a vocation to the ministerial priesthood.....After all, what doth it profit a man.....you know the rest!
