Re: Question for Catholics
[ QUOTE ]
Modern American Catholics (MACs) professed to greatly admire Pope JP II, but were highly critical of him for not changing Church doctrine on issues like abortion, homosexuality, birth control, etc., etc. MACs hate to see him go, but look forward to the possibility of a new Pope who will bring the Church more in line with their own views.
[/ QUOTE ]
These MACs are who Traditional Catholics (like myself) playfully refer to as "Ala Carte" Catholics...Catholics who pick and choose what they want to believe in the Faith. Many of these want the Church to accomodate, accept, and conform its teaching to their particular behaviors (e.g. birth control, abortion, and living together before marriage) The Church teaches what it does because She believes those teachings are firmly rooted in the Gospel, the teachings of Christ, and Church Tradition. It isn't the Church's job to change its teachings to fit a particular member's behavior, rather it's that member's responsibility, in wishing to remain in full communion with the Church, to modify his or her behavior to conform with Church teachings.
What is striking about the American Church is that the Faith in more conservative and traditional Dioceses continues to thrive in the way of Mass attendence, new members and priestly vocations (like Wichita KS or Lincoln NE) while it struggles in those areas in more "liberal" Dioceses like Los Angeles.
|