The Pew Research Center released a report, America’s Changing Religious Landscape, documenting the precipitous decline in the number of Americans who identify as Christian. The study highlights the large number of American Catholics who have left the Church for other religious denominations. This story, coupled with the recent defection of Canadian author Michael Coren from Catholicism to Anglicanism primarily because of the Church’s teachings on sexuality, prompted Catholic author Elizabeth Scalia to issue the following challenge to those of us who remain in the Church: “Explain why you remain Catholic.”
My response begins by echoing the words of Peter, “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
Thinking With the Catholic Church
My decision to remain within the Catholic Church does not hinge upon whether or not I understand or agree with the Church’s teaching on marriage, contraception, sexuality, Mary, the Eucharist, or any other dogma. The foundation for my choice to remain Catholic is far more basic than that.
Essentially, I believe the Catholic Church is who she says she is: the one, holy, catholic apostolic church founded by Christ. I trust the words of Christ when he declares that He will found his Church upon the Rock of Peter. Peter and his successors hold the keys to the Kingdom. That which they pronounce bound on earth will be bound in Heaven. That which they pronounce loosed on earth will be loosed in Heaven. (Cf. Matthew 16:17-20)
Seeking truth is not about finding a church tailored to one’s own personal opinions, preferences, or comfort zones. Such an approach treats every individual as a “magisterium of one”, the sole arbiter of goodness, truth and virtue. Those who want to pick and choose among the teachings of the Church, accepting some while rejecting others, arrogantly claim for themselves the authority Christ gave to Peter and his successors. They want to form God and his Church in their own image, instead of striving to “think with the Church” (sentire cum Ecclesiae) and to conform themselves to the image and will of God.
Swimming with the Cultural Current
Many people will bristle at the idea of ceding personal authority to the doctrine of Catholicism. In a 2006 interview, Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, claimed that Catholics are anti-intellectual because they have well defined precepts of faith. She intimates that Catholics behave like sheep, blindly following their shepherds with nary a question. Nothing could be father from the truth.
In fact, it is far easier to rely on one’s own feelings or intuition, or swim with the cultural current, than to rationally question the veracity of the current groupthink and delve into the theology, philosophy, ethics and history which undergird Church teachings. Such intellectual sloth permeates the justification of many who leave the Church. For example, Michael Coren repeats the canard that the Catholic Church effectively excludes those who are gay. A quick look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church contradicts such an accusation:
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. (CCC 2358)
Like Christ, the Catholic Church welcomes sinners of all stripes. Like Christ, the Church also calls each of us sinners to conversion, to “go and sin no more”.
Growth in Faith
The Fathers of the Church traditionally spoke of three stages in the development of the spiritual life. The first is the purgative stage. One can think of our faith at this stage as being very child-like. Why do we believe what we do? We believe because our parents said so or because the priest said so or because our peers said so.
This stage is comfortable and requires little intellectual rigor on our part until the teachings of Church run counter to our desires. At that point we have two choices. We can behave like a rebellious teenager and reject the teachings with little thought other than convenient rationalizations. Or we can approach the conflict with maturity and look closely at the roots of our desires and the roots of Church teaching. Such an honest and open evaluation will usually move us to the second state of spiritual development, the illuminative phase.
In the illuminative phase we may not have completely wrapped our head around the teachings of the Church but we are beginning to appreciate the wisdom of the Church. We start to recognize the flaws in our thinking when we act contrary to the Church precepts. While our desires may not always conform to the Church, our will is to discipline our behavior and seek a greater understanding of God’s will as revealed by the Church. We read, study, discuss, contemplate and pray, always seeking the grace to move our understanding forward.
Finally, there is the unitive phase. At this point through the grace of God our understanding has been perfected to the point that our desires naturally shape themselves to conform to the will of God. St. Augustine said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. In the unitive phase, we are at peace because we rest in God’s will. We can utter the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done” without holding anything back.
On this side of Heaven, I do not think anyone is all unitive all the time. Spiritual development is often a winding journey with occasional wrong turns and backtracking. My own experience has been that if I am honest with myself and really consider the reasoning behind a Church teaching I find difficult, I always move from the purgative stage to at least the illuminative stage. I have done this enough times that I no longer feel combative when my will runs contrary to the Church. I am well aware that the problem is far more likely to be my understanding than an error in Church teaching.
In the Catholic Church I find truth that is anchored in a solid foundation established by Christ himself. I am counseled by wisdom that is inspired by the Holy Spirit and revealed through the saints throughout the ages. I am reconciled to God through the Sacrament of Confession and I am nurtured and sustained through the Eucharist.
How could I turn my back on such a treasure? To whom would I go?
14 thoughts on “Staying Catholic: “Lord, to Whom Shall I Go?””
The challenge that should be put to those who left the Church: explain why you are no longer Catholic. If they answer that challenge honestly, they will find the error is within themselves, not the Church.
Beautifully stated.
I absolutely love the way this article started. “My decision to remain within the Catholic Church does not hinge upon whether or not I understand or agree with [any specific] teaching … The foundation for my choice to remain Catholic is far more basic than that. Essentially, I believe the Catholic Church is who she says she is: the one, holy, catholic apostolic church founded by Christ.”
Wow. I’m going to memorize that one, for use when I’m asked (yet again), “What? Are you STILL Catholic?”
We are Catholic – not because of what she says, but rather because of who she is.
A Catholic must never forget that Jesus prayed for St. Peter and Jesus wants as to be one in Him, and so we must pray for our clergy.
I know it is so easy to focus on the storm before us and forget that Jesus is with us.
So let’s pray.
There are viable options, As with evolution, religions morph and evolve into a higher spirituality, all united with the Source, the Life Force., now and forever…check for the differences in the evolution from the religious to the spiritual … makes sense? At least to me,,,,,
http://www.the-open-mind.com/7-differences-between-religion-and-spirituality-1/
A false dichotomy. Religion and spirituality are not mutually exclusive nor necessarily opposed to one another. However, “spirituality” can be devoid of God, and therefore meaningless and useless.
It is not a dichotomy; these are separate concepts on a continuum (please read the URL) Spirituality is not, never devoid of God, The Source, The Creator, The Architect, and a variety of other names which refer to the same essence.
Phil, I am glad that you are here and I’m glad that you are asking questions. Keep asking, we’ll try to answer them. You are asking some of the same questions that I had just 8 years ago when I was following New Age spirituality, Deepak Chopra and the Course in Miracles. I was active in a New Age church for 15 years. It helped me a lot in setting me on a spiritual path, but deep down inside, I was still unhappy and unsatisfied.
When the church closed I just happened to switch on the Catholic channel EWTN for some spiritual imagery from paintings and sculptures. I had been virulently opposed to organized religion as old fashioned and unevolved. Well, little by little, I started liking some of the things the commentators said and in just 4 months I decided to convert. It just opened up an unfathomable new horizon for me. Now I can love and have faith in a person that I can relate to, Jesus. He suffered just like I suffer. And he forgave and said to love our enemies. What a joy, what a fulfillment. Now I have meaning and purpose in my life. And hope. Now I have an assignment—to love God, to love my neighbors, to me moral, and to spread this Good News that has given my life such completion, such hope and such genuine happiness even in the worst of circumstances.
Phil, bless your spiritual path. Keep asking questions. Keep with us. You are in the right place. And bless your family. I know you have it rough.
I had a severely disabled sister and at age 13, when I saw her having convulsions, I started hating God. Her condition really traumatized our family. But poor little Maxine’s suffering has brought out the love and compassion and heroic sacrifice in many others along the way. I am so sorry for your family’s suffering. I pray for all of you.
Jamey, as always thank you for your kind words and empathy.
I always search for meaning and maintain a unity with the my Source. It is that which enables me at a late age to care for a completely disabled son. I long ago move from religion. I was Catholic by birth, I was a member of a religious Catholic order for 8 years and living the “inner workings” of the Church.
After 67 years, I have found that many paths lead to the same source. For me union with the Life Force and sharing it with my son sustains life. I do not worship a God, he is with us at every moment, part of us, God is us. Even in your Catholic tradition John 10:34 ”
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?”
I fully respect you beliefs and you life. I also believe that human consciousness evolves …I reject notions of “New Age” as the are words created by simple minds to deny and reject traditions which are tens of thousands of years old …we just rediscover them. We re learn eternal truth, We learn to sustain the Life Force, the chi. This life is transitory…my son and I have shared many lives….it is that which sustains. That is something which religion does not teach, spirituality does. Religion relies on some authority which despite what people claim, changes.
Spirituality is accessible to all people; religion is accessible only to those who make a lifetime of reading theology, cosmology, epistemology, etc. The common man simply needs to live in union with the Life Force.
Very kind of you, Phil, and thanks for very openly talking about yourself. I was fascinated to learn that you were once in a Catholic religious order.
Isn’t is funny how our lives went in opposite directions? I’m glad that you found a belief system that gives you meaning, strength, and comfort. You obviously love your son immensely, and you sound like a good and heroic parent.
Since you were in a religious order you certainly know our belief about God. That He is the creator and we are the creature. Separate and of different substance. He is infinite, beyond existence, eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful. We are finite, although His spirit animates us and lives in us. That is why He makes the laws, and we don’t. Our spirits are eternal and he will resurrect our bodies when He comes again, just like Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Jesus is God who took on human flesh.
In the Scripture you quoted, Jesus was quoting Psalm 82:6. The Psalmist was referring to the Judges, who when appointed would “be gods.”
In the next verse, Ps. 82:7, he says, “Yet like any mortal you shall die.”
Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and he “was using the verse to prove that to those to whom the word of God is addressed can fittingly be called ‘gods.’”
And as for “religion is accessible only to those who make a lifetime of reading theology, cosmology, epistemology, etc.” I see a number of older folks and some young ones too in my church who don’t study these things. They just believe and go to church and pray and sing and try to spread joy and the Gospel, and live lives of virtue and charity. I just melt when I see them.
I think you try to live a life of virtue and charity and you sound intelligent. I admire the work you do for those with disabilities. I recently played the guitar and sang at a banquet at our church for people with disabilities and their caregivers. It was so inspiring. I think I got more fired up from it than anyone.
Bless your spiritual path, and let’s keep the dialogue going.
The picture and caption you posted presents religion and spirituality as opposing things. They need not be. And I’ve seen enough of modern, “enlightened” spirituality to know it often is, in fact, devoid of God. It’s self-centered, and self-idolizing, or making an idol of some other thing or creature, not God.
I suppose it all depends on how you define God…certainly defining god from an anthropomorphic perspective would be erroneous. God is Life Force, the totality of energy, chi…not some stoic bearded creature….God is pure essence.
What a gift this essay is, so filled with Truth! “Who do you say that I am?” If we believe Jesus is who He said He is, than where else could we be but in His Church? The Catholic Church is the gift of Jesus Himself given to us to bring us safely to Heaven. Nothing matters more than God’s Will and that we do as Christ taught us to do by example. Die to ourselves so that Christ can live fully in us that we may bring Him to others, too the whole world.
In the unitive phase, we are at peace because we rest in God’s will. We can utter the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done” without holding anything back.
This applies to all faiths. Insha’Allah