“Today, Catholics are so blinded by one issue that they don’t see their chance
to make history again.”
Somebody needs to tell David
McCarthy (Pitt News) that the Catholic Church isn’t merely a sports team one roots for.
To vote for someone just because they are a self-professed Catholic is irresponsible
even when the person demonstrates informed obedience to Catholic moral teachings.
Kerry doesn’t even have that going for him.
As my sidebar bio says, I have traditionalist and neo-traditionalist sympathies. We traditional types must always guard ourselves from succumbing to Pharisaic tendencies. It's easy for the pious and overly-devotional (POD) to look down their noses at the progressives sharing the pew with them. This Sunday's gospel reading gave me an idea for a modern retelling of a parable for Pharisaical Catholics. Wisdom! Be attentive!
This is parable is for some who trust in themselves that they are righteous and despise others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a traditionalist and the other a progressive. The traditionalist stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, ultra-feminists, pro-choicers, divorcees, or even like this progressive. I go to mass seven days a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the progressive, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
There was a very interesting Marty Minto show recently. His Catholic producer, Shaun "Powerball" Pierce, received a booklet by R.C. Sproul called "Justification by Faith Alone". In it, Sproul examines what justification is according to Scripture, compares the Roman Catholic and evangelical stances on this core doctrine, and discusses the relationship of faith and works–all to show why "by faith alone" is so essential. As Sproul puts it, "The crucial issue of infusion versus imputation remains irreconcilable. We are either justified by a righteousness that is in us or by a righteousness that is apart from us. There is no third way." Pierce’s Catholic sensibilities were offended and a two-page response was the result. I’ve obtained his permission to reprint it here. I’d like to hear your reactions to it.
This reminds me a little of Promise
Keepers:
THE founders of a new movement in Brisbane [called Men Alive] believe they are awakening one of the Church’s ‘sleeping giants’ – men.[…]Men Alive uses the words of St Ireneaus as its inspiration – ‘God is glorified when men are fully alive’. The group says the movement was founded ‘in response to a great need evident in the hearts and lives of men and a great need in the life of the Church’.
Jay, from "Living Catholicism", has answered my call for a Catholic Carnival. 🙂
Basically, this is a Catholic-oriented version of the Christian Carnival (example here) that occurs weekly. It’s a great way to attract new readers to your blog – – and you’re likely to discover some Catholic blogs you haven’t heard about.
[T]he carnival will be a roundup of Catholic posts from the last seven days. You submit your favorite post (along with the info below) and you’ll be included (as long as the post subject is of a Catholic nature). It’s a great way to find new readers. I also ask that you consider hosting the Catholic Carnival one week on your blog – it’s work, but rewarding work. 😉
Those that would like to participate, email the following to jay@LivingCatholicism.com:
Site Name
Site URL
Post Name (posted between 10/19 and 10/25)
Post URL (Permalink)
Post descriptionPlease get it to me by 10 PM EST on Monday evening – I’ll post the Carnival on Tuesday. I’ll send out an email with a link when the Carnival is up. Let your friends know as well.
God bless,
Jay