"Of all the major religions, Catholicism may be the most a la carte." ___________________________________________________
That may be how practicing Catholics in the U.S. treat the religion, but I would dare say that the Church would disagree with such an approach. In Catholicism, more than other religions, there seems to be schism, at least in the U.S., between what the hierarchy says the "rules" are (for lack of a better word), and how the laity responds to the "rules." It reminds me of the relationship between a parent and a teenager. The parents knows that the teenager is not precisely following the rules and the teenager knows that the parents know, but everybody pretends that it is not going on. Doesn't sound very healthy to me or the basis for a strong and thriving institution. Jonathan A. Cass Silverman, Bernheim & Vogel Two Penn Center Plaza, Suite 910 Philadelphia, PA 19102 Tel: 215-636-4435 Fax: 215-636-3999 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This electronic message contains information from the law firm of Silverman Bernheim & Vogel which may be confidential or privileged. This information is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify use immediately by telephone, 215-569-0000, or by e-mail reply. -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth F. Campion [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 3:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [UC] RE: Catholicism Of all the major religions, Catholicism may be the most a la carte. The wonderful Catholic dictate is Free Will and the restorative is Confession (aka Reconciliation or Penance). If one commits a small (venial) sin, one must repent (apologize and confess) and attempt to make compensation (prayer or an act of contrition being options where there is no complete or direct solution) and modify future behavior to avoid repeating the same offense. For really big (mortal) sins the stakes are higher. A mortal sin is one that is serious enough to subject the sinner to damnation; "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." Murder is graver than theft. Violence against parents is worse than violence against a stranger. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent." It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God's law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin. Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of moral law. Passions can diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest. Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. In researching this answer, I was very dependant upon this web site: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/gravity.html And, I was reminded how seriously the Catholic church takes gossip and libel. http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/mortal_versus_venial.htm It makes the separation of Church and State quite handy at times. Can you imagine giving the Death Penalty to libelers? Reducing gossip is beginning to look like a New Years resolution for our time and place! For myself, I need the good will and grace of my parish. I luxuriate in the beauty of our space, built by Irish Immigrants in the early 1900's and repainted by Vietnamese immigrants in the late 1900's. It was built one brick and one statue at a time, through free will offering and hand labor. It was not the result of a bond issue or eminent domain. I treasure the music and attend every Sunday. Sometimes I think the Choir and the Organ; Cecilia's voice and Bruce's playing are the real draws. But, deep down, I know that the Lord's prayer reminds me to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. I see communion as a link to everyone else in the line for a wafer. And I filter it all through the memory of being in church, with my parents and my siblings. Attending Mass is something that ties my past, present and future together in a comforting package. Sometimes it is a chore. But always, for one hour on Sunday, I am in touch with people who cared (and still care) enough to give the gifts of music, art, flowers, incense and their presence in a common ceremony of uncommon beauty and belief. I don't agree with many of the dictates of my church, but trust that if I conduct myself in ways that do not feel shameful, than I will be on generally safe ground. I can fight for change, from within. And I believe the final judgement is not mine nor that of the priest-du-jour. I believe in a higher power who loves me and wants me to perform at my best. I believe the suffering on the cross is mirrored in the suffering of those with serious Illnesses (such as Aids and Cancer) and that the sacrifice of self and son parallel choices some of our finest have made. This Sunday, from 2-4 PM, everyone, from any belief system, is invited to a Gala Christmas Concert. The Atheist can wonder why so many immigrants invested so much for such dramatic architecture and exquisite illumination and fabulous music. Recovering Catholics might want to bring a parent and let holiday gratitude triumph for two hours. Lapsed Catholics may want to give their own babes a brush with the best of Christmas music of the last five centuries. It is a free concert, hopefully there will be sufficient free will offerings to make it an annual event, and hopefully it will be a sampler that encourages people to visit again, and buy a ticket for the Bel Canto Concert in the Spring. And for Ross's Act of "Contortion" (contrition)... Well, he makes me laugh, so how can I not "forgive" him. But, I am just one Catholic, others may have more wicked designs on Ross's contortions. Best! Liz On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 13:17:39 -0500 "Jonathan Cass" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > "As a [somewhat] practicing Catholic and member of the de Sales > community, I > feel that people think it's okay to make fun of Catholics." > > I would agree that Catholicism is the brunt of many jokes (and based > on > recent developments, probably deservedly so), but I would posit that > this > humor is not so much directed at Catholics -- meaning the > individual who is > a member of the Church -- but rather at the hierarchy that controls > the > Church (the "Church") and whose actions, or inactions, have created > the > current problems. > > I am curious -- how do practicing Catholics reconcile the Church's > official > position on certain issues (women in the priesthood, birth control, > for > example), when one's own personal position on these issues differ? > Can you > be a "good" Catholic (as defined by the Church) and still pick and > choose > those aspects of Catholic theology that you choose to follow? > > Jonathan A. Cass > Silverman, Bernheim & Vogel > Two Penn Center Plaza, Suite 910 > Philadelphia, PA 19102 > Tel: 215-636-4435 > Fax: 215-636-3999 > E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > This electronic message contains information from the law firm of > Silverman > Bernheim & Vogel which may be confidential or privileged. This > information > is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. > > If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, > copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is > prohibited. > > If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please > notify > use immediately by telephone, 215-569-0000, or by e-mail reply. > > In a message dated 12/10/2003 9:57:07 AM Eastern Standard Time, > Benseraglio2 > writes: > > > Hi, I'm not a "Catholic" myself, but I think I can speak for all > Catholics > when I say that I believe you owe an apology to the Pope and all his > Cardinals for your weird and negative catholic-bashing. And perform > some > acts of contortions -- the *real* catholics on this list could > probably > suggest some. > > Just sayin > > > > > > Ross Bender ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
