Pope: Half-hearted Catholics Aren't Really Catholics At All

[Basilisa Marie]

Im not at all suggesting that the Church turn solely into a Charity institution with a foggy remembrance of their connection to God. I am suggesting that we can do more...and indeed the Pope agrees. He has called out numerous times for social change that would lessen the burdens of the poor. He has criticized the current state of the US and said that we need to do something. Is he at fault for leaning too much to one side of these categories?

 

Im not suggesting that the Church in Rome needs to redefine anything to say "Help the poor MOAR"..the church already tells us to do this. Im more speaking on individual scales. That as Catholics its our obligation to help. Its our obligation to make positive social change that is in line with our faith. The only reason I spew this ish all the time on here is because of my faith. 

For quite some time people were obsessed about stopping the spread of the Gay Marriage disease across the states, but they didnt care about other Catholic issues. Are they at fault?

 

Or would you rather see people discuss/debate these inconsequential "legitimate diversities"? Is time better spent there?

 

Are they at fault? Maybe. On one hand, no one person can champion all causes, so it's good that we have people who feel drawn to different issues. On the other hand, if we're collectively ignoring the suffering of some people because we're focusing all of our efforts on one or two causes, that's a problem.  

 

And at the same time, we DO have to worry about the status of individuals in the Church. That's the point of the Church, to help people to get to Heaven through Christ. Sometimes it can come off as trite or that we're trivializing the suffering of others (and many have, in the past), and that's not at all my (or the Church's) intention. But sometimes we can get so caught up in whatever we're doing that we forget the first and foremost point of the Church. 

 

Legitimate diversities aren't inconsequential. They're how people relate to the Church and live their relationship with Christ. 

What do you suggest we do? More people serving at soup kitchens? Volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul? Some people are called to live their lives in radical service to others, especially the poor. Is their work more important than the cloistered nun? Or is it just more needed? I'm trying to understand what your argument is. 

Edited June 6, 2014 by Basilisa Marie

[CrossCuT]

Are they at fault? Maybe. On one hand, no one person can champion all causes, so it's good that we have people who feel drawn to different issues. On the other hand, if we're collectively ignoring the suffering of some people because we're focusing all of our efforts on one or two causes, that's a problem.  

 

And at the same time, we DO have to worry about the status of individuals in the Church. That's the point of the Church, to help people to get to Heaven through Christ. Sometimes it can come off as trite or that we're trivializing the suffering of others (and many have, in the past), and that's not at all my (or the Church's) intention. But sometimes we can get so caught up in whatever we're doing that we forget the first and foremost point of the Church. 

 

Legitimate diversities aren't inconsequential. They're how people relate to the Church and live their relationship with Christ. 

What do you suggest we do? More people serving at soup kitchens? Volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul? Some people are called to live their lives in radical service to others, especially the poor. Is their work more important than the cloistered nun? Or is it just more needed? I'm trying to understand what your argument is. 

 

My response was more reactionary to a specific thing you said. 

 

I suppose my comments have little to do with the actual thread. Carry on.