Yielding To The Truth

+J.M.J.+

By Monsignor Charles M. Mangan
Catholic Online

A November 11, 2005 Catholic News Service (CNS) article entitled "Mass absence--Poll reveals most American Catholics believe Mass attendance not obligatory," published in Catholic Online, reported on a recent national survey of Catholics in the United States. The result of the poll? 76 percent of the respondents maintained that "they could be good Catholics without fulfilling the weekly Mass obligation."

And that is not all. "A majority also said that a person could be a good Catholic without obeying church teachings on birth control, on abortion and on divorce and remarriage."

The CNS text goes on to describe how Mass attendance compares between older and younger Catholics as well as to mention various other topics from which many of those polled freely dissent.

One could spend much time debating the findings. Who were the participants? How were the questions stated? Did the inquirers demonstrate a bias?

Although those are legitimate concerns whenever evaluating a survey, perhaps our time would be better spent if instead of arguing as to whether the majority of Catholics in the United States adopt such positions, we acknowledge that evidently--whether a majority or not--quite a few seemingly do.

This realization is both disappointing and sad to me, but very real nevertheless. I am painfully aware that countless Catholics in our country choose their "own way" in accepting--in effect, rejecting--the fullness of the Catholic Faith.

Witness the recently concluded Nomination Hearing of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to the Supreme Court of the United States. Four self-described "Catholic" members of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary--Patrick J. Leahy (Vermont), Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts), Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (Delaware) and Richard J. Durbin (Illinois)--forcefully conveyed their opinion that abortion-on-demand should remain in place in our nation, notwithstanding the clear, binding and time-honored doctrine of their Church that innocent human life, including that still in the womb, must always be defended.

This discouraging fact of public dissent from the authoritative and monolithic Teaching of the Church, agonizing as it is, does not diminish in me the esteem with which I hold the proclamations of the Magisterium. Christ Himself, Who is the basis for all of the Church's doctrines, spoke the "difficult words," particularly in the famous "Bread of Life Discourse," even when He knew that some of His followers would abandon Him (cf. Saint John 6: 60-71)

More than ever, we must pray and fast for those Catholics who, for whatever reason, spurn the Church's mandates. Furthermore, we must make a pointed effort to know what the Church teaches and to embrace it, convinced that when the Vicar of Christ speaks in specific matters, it is the Voice of Jesus that we hear. "Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me." (Saint Luke 10:16)

Finally, we confess that by virtue of our Baptism, we are teachers and evangelists. Our words and actions can sway other Catholics to adhere anew to the Teaching of the Church. Should we be ridiculed for standing up and promoting the Truth, we will take solace from the perennially comforting words of Our Savior, Jesus Christ: "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in Heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Saint Matthew 5:11-12)

O Mary, Mother of the Church, help us and all Catholics to obey your Divine Son as He presents the Truth to us through the only Church that He founded.

Contact

Mary's Field
http://www.catholic.org , VA
Monsignor Charles M. Mangan - Official, 390 66616-1125

Email

fathermangan@catholic.org

Keywords

Jesus Christ; Catholic Teaching: Magisterium

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,718

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• »