Why I Stay: A Parable From A Progressive Catholic

Of the fate of contemporary Catholics, Flannery O'Connor once said that we must suffer at least as much from the Church as for it. Certainly, the past weeks have been a cause for suffering for Catholics of all political stripes, but the suffering takes on a particular flavor for progressives. We are deluged by questions from those who think of themselves as our colleagues and comrades. Actually, only one question: "How can you still stay in the Church?"

When I answer, I insist that the terms be defined properly. It is an error of vocabulary to assume that "the Church" is a direct synonym for "the hierarchy," "the bishops," "the Vatican." Those of us of a certain age remember traveling abroad during the Vietnam years when we would be asked, "How can you still call yourself an American?" Our answer was: we are not the White House. We are not the Pentagon. We are the people protesting; America is larger than your words suggest. Why must I believe that the church is Pope Benedict and not the courageous nuns who took real risks to defy the American bishops on health care in the name of the poor whom they serve? Some say we owe the passage of health care to these brave women; their position would not have been so effective if they had been speaking not as nuns, whose lives had been dedicated to the Church, but, say, as a group of nurses or social workers. The Church has a very long history; this history includes a fair share of scoundrels; it also includes those whose heroism was achieved despite the opposition of the official Church: Joan of Arc and Oscar Romero, to name only two.

(parable available here on Huffington Post) snip...

How do some of us stay in the Church? In grief, in sadness, with a resolve not to be shut out by those who say they are speaking in the name of the Father. We just don't believe them. The Church is not an institution; it is the people, people who are now wounded and scandalized, not only by the sexual crimes of priests, but more important, by the cover-up by those in power. In 1959 the election of Pope John XXIII was a surprise, a kind of miracle. It happened once. It could happen again. We wait, in stubborn hope, for the return of miracle. We want to make sure some of us are at home when it happens.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-c-gordon/why-i-stay-catholic_b_526812.html

because of all the good works that my parish and diocese do.

Or funding efforts to abolish SSM in various States, or refusing to dispense emergency contraceptives in emergency rooms of Catholic Hospitals for rape victims. Not to mention the many decades of covering up for pedophile priests and bishops, a criminal conspiracy, no less. How does it feel to fund and support all this?

put up, at last count, north of $500,000 and 10 volunteer doctors towards Haitian relief efforts.

so we put our time, treasure and talent where our mouths are.

as to the other things, I am guessing you didn't read or understand the difference between the individuals who make up the Catholic faith and the hierarchy of the Church.

Unless you belong to one of those diocese that broke with Rome completely, some money from it goes to funds things as I stated, your parish doesn't exist in a vacuum after all.

at our next meeting I will say that Cleobulus says that we should break with Rome and the local diocese because he doesn't like the Catholic hierarchy...I am sure that they will take your sage advice.

Those who give the Catholic Church money are supporting "the hierarchy," "the bishops," "the Vatican," and the cover ups.

And yes, that DOES have a double meaning...

And that is all it is. Those who pay for the crap done to the rest of us by this set of slander mongering thugs are culpable, and no 'parable' or delusions of 'miracle Popes' will make it otherwise. I find this to be vulgar and self serving in the most extreme possible way. The person who wrote this is a bad person who harms real people for the sake of a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
I feel dirty having read the words of this Gordon person.

I grew up Catholic and, at times, was even pretty devout. It wasn't the cabal in Rome that mattered, it was the teachings and beliefs each person held dear. Non-Catholics simply cannot understand what some things (i.e. "Sacraments") mean to Catholics.

With that said, I do think Catholics who are sickened by this (and I'm hoping that's all of them) would with-hold funds. Catholics can practice their faith quite effectively without bringing filthy lucre into it. And buy that would send one loud and clear message.

Julie

where was the Miracle for the victims then?

:puke:

The US or the church are too large and have been around too long, to judge just on the negatives. Any other country or church has negatives, too.

That is the internal debate I am having as a catholic.

Every dollar that goes into the collection plate benefits the Vatican and allows for the hierarchy to continue with it's corrupt and criminal behavior. Be religious all you like, but to support this by remaining a member of that institution, yes, it is an institution, means that you are complicit in it's corruption and criminal activities.