It's just too hard. It is not triumphalism, but rather, profound respect which leads me to make a conscious choice to avoid the occasion. I know enough theology to carry some semblance of sympathy for almost every non-Catholic Christian position you can name. I love so many hundreds of people in other communities, it seems as though my heart would burst if it were not kindled with divine Love, like the bush that was not consumed. It was that Love which drew me gradually toward the Church, toward a peace I could not begin to fathom. No sexual attraction could touch this. No charm can replace it. I won't date you because I love you too much to lie to you.
Holy Mother Church always teaches with truth and love, by virtue of her special gifts, despite the failure of her children. Chief among them is me. That said, when she hits back, she hits back hard. You don't get back up again, theologically speaking. But her love is like a good jab that blinds to the overhand right behind it. You drop your gloves, thinking you are out of range. And then you are down. The Church doesn't have to win every argument. Any one person you talk to won't have inside knowledge of whatever tradition is being discussed. But she defines her terms rather well; she never denies your right to believe whatever seems right to you. But she challenges the basis of those beliefs.
Do you realize that you'd have to raise your children Catholic? You'll have to at least accept every moral teaching of the Church. If you honestly believe the Catholic Church has distorted the gospel and placed extra heavy burdens on Christians--permit me a chuckle at that one--you can't even dare lie to your children, and teach them what you regard as a false gospel, can you? If you have the gospel, and that good news you wish to give them pure and undefiled, you'd better decide right now if your feelings are more important than Jesus Christ, whom you claim to love above everything and everyone else.
The Church won't back down. And neither should you. If the love of Christ is drawing you toward this Catholic person, know that He is also drawing you toward Himself and toward us. But no one is a project. If you honestly believe the Catholic Church is wrong, then say so, and stand by it. But we believe the opposite. And we're not ashamed. Nor are we afraid. If you care, then respect. Assume the best. Listen. And when it's all done, if you still think we have another gospel, then the only honest thing to do is walk away. Because a real Catholic won't deny Christ and His Church to make you happy, and vice-versa.
I'll never please everyone. They'll have their pick of unprincipled, emotional, primal reasons why I sought full communion with the Catholic Church. Heck, I'll name them off myself, if you want. But they'll miss the real reason: Because it is the Church that Christ established. The ecclesiastical authority of the bishops in union with the Bishop of Rome. Same one. They say I read the wrong books; they say I wasn't fair; they say lots of things. But I know better. I do know that I wouldn't ask a woman to deny her faith for me.
Forget feelings. I've had such strong feelings every which way so many times, I scare myself. In fact, if you are unmarried, female, and not my sister/cousin, (and are an adult) there is a 97.2% chance that I have been, or am now attracted to you. Just sayin.' But there's more to marriage than that. I owe it to everyone to be honest, and to give my best self at all times. Lord, have mercy for my failures! But I am nothing if I forsake Christ for my own desires. When I have worried, He has said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom, and all these things shall be added unto you." And so it goes.
Holy Mother Church always teaches with truth and love, by virtue of her special gifts, despite the failure of her children. Chief among them is me. That said, when she hits back, she hits back hard. You don't get back up again, theologically speaking. But her love is like a good jab that blinds to the overhand right behind it. You drop your gloves, thinking you are out of range. And then you are down. The Church doesn't have to win every argument. Any one person you talk to won't have inside knowledge of whatever tradition is being discussed. But she defines her terms rather well; she never denies your right to believe whatever seems right to you. But she challenges the basis of those beliefs.
Do you realize that you'd have to raise your children Catholic? You'll have to at least accept every moral teaching of the Church. If you honestly believe the Catholic Church has distorted the gospel and placed extra heavy burdens on Christians--permit me a chuckle at that one--you can't even dare lie to your children, and teach them what you regard as a false gospel, can you? If you have the gospel, and that good news you wish to give them pure and undefiled, you'd better decide right now if your feelings are more important than Jesus Christ, whom you claim to love above everything and everyone else.
The Church won't back down. And neither should you. If the love of Christ is drawing you toward this Catholic person, know that He is also drawing you toward Himself and toward us. But no one is a project. If you honestly believe the Catholic Church is wrong, then say so, and stand by it. But we believe the opposite. And we're not ashamed. Nor are we afraid. If you care, then respect. Assume the best. Listen. And when it's all done, if you still think we have another gospel, then the only honest thing to do is walk away. Because a real Catholic won't deny Christ and His Church to make you happy, and vice-versa.
I'll never please everyone. They'll have their pick of unprincipled, emotional, primal reasons why I sought full communion with the Catholic Church. Heck, I'll name them off myself, if you want. But they'll miss the real reason: Because it is the Church that Christ established. The ecclesiastical authority of the bishops in union with the Bishop of Rome. Same one. They say I read the wrong books; they say I wasn't fair; they say lots of things. But I know better. I do know that I wouldn't ask a woman to deny her faith for me.
Forget feelings. I've had such strong feelings every which way so many times, I scare myself. In fact, if you are unmarried, female, and not my sister/cousin, (and are an adult) there is a 97.2% chance that I have been, or am now attracted to you. Just sayin.' But there's more to marriage than that. I owe it to everyone to be honest, and to give my best self at all times. Lord, have mercy for my failures! But I am nothing if I forsake Christ for my own desires. When I have worried, He has said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom, and all these things shall be added unto you." And so it goes.
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