Say you worked for a car manufacturer. How much confidence would you have in its CEO if he issued a company-wide letter in which he wished he knew how automobiles were made. Say you taught at an elementary school, and the principal announced she wished she knew how the curriculum for her school was determined. Would that make you say "Huh?" Or better yet, say you worked on a politician's campaign team, and he stated he wasn't sure how this whole government thing worked. Would he still get your vote?
I'm wondering what the members of the Michigan chapter of Call-To-Apostasy are thinking after receiving their quarterly newsletter, in which their former Regional President, Sr. Beth Rindler, wrote this "reflection" (my comments in blue).
“Where did you learn about Jesus? God? I first heard of him by way of my family. Everyone in my family, aunts, uncles, cousins were all Catholic (Roman Catholic). We went to church every Sunday, received our First Communion, went to Confession, etc. When I became a Franciscan Sisters of the Poor I cannot say I was able to know Jesus better until the time following Vatican II (that would be a different Jesus? Wasn't Jesus pre-Vatican II?). I was glad to hear the prayers prayed in church in English instead of Latin and I could read the Scriptures for myself (always could, Sr. Beth!)instead of always hearing some one else’s interpretation of the texts (that "some one else's" is the Church's, and She offers relatively little authoritative interpretation anyway). Even though the prayers were not prayed in English in church, I can honestly say that frequently I did not understand what I was saying or what the priest was saying. Somehow I learned that these words were holy (they were said during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, after all. That should have been a big clue) and that they were my connection with God. Even to the simple prayers of the Our Father and the Hail Mary, I did not know completely what they actually said or meant (was this before or after you were "allowed" to read Scripture for yourself?), but I still considered them as prayers that somehow was pleasing to God.
Now when I hear the term dogma or doctrine, I am not clear as to what this is all about(check your Catechism - it's pretty clear there). I have come to know that scholars known as theologians (you mean 'scholars known as crackpots and heretics, don't you) need to be careful (because they are crackpots and heretics) when they write about theology in my Church (you mean "Christ's church"). Sometimes I wish I understood better the specifics that the men in the Vatican (those would be bishops, cardinals, the Holy Father - you know, those men) are talking about when they criticize the writings of some of these theologians (it's not hard to do - if crackpot A writes something contrary to Church teaching, it gets criticized). When I hear the use of words like “ambiguity’ or that these writings can cause confusion in the minds of the faithful, I wish I knew what these concepts were that they are talking about amongst themselves (it seems that you've proved your own point quite well). In the past I tended to distrust or fear the writings of these theologians because of my trust in the opinions or thoughts of the men in the Vatican (see my crackpot A statement above). However, as I have pursued studies myself in the world of philosophy and theology (in other words, trying to rationalize your assumptions and pride)I wish I knew specifically the reasons as to why there is disputation between some theologians and some men in the Vatican (you know the reasons - it's called the Truth, remember?). I often wonder why the men in the Vatican do not speak more clearly and publicly as to what specific issues are in dispute (ummm, they do. Contraception, women's ordination, homosexuality - some pretty clear statements have been made the past few years. And if I can understand it, anyone can....well, maybe not anyone, obviously).
Being able to read the Scriptures rather than having them always interpreted for me has given me a very different image of Jesus (you mean an image that makes you comfortable). He is a person I admire very much (being the Son of God is pretty admirable, I'd say). I am most impressed as to how he lived his life when he was here as a human being as recorded in the Gospels (you mean like dying for your sins, giving us a Church and the sacraments). It might seem strange to hear me say that I felt that in a sense I could imitate him (keep working on it! You haven't been too successful up to this point, but there's still time!). I am thinking of the ways in which he expressed his love for others (especially by dying on the cross). The poor and social outcasts never seemed beyond his embrace (sinners too. Don't forget the sinners!). This give me much food for thought and prayer (pray for humility, like the saints did).
Of course, I know there won't be a collective "What the...?" by the Call-To-Apostasy members upon reading this. They all think this way - they think it's insightful and open-minded to not be sure of the answers. That way they can't be held accountable for "not knowing". Well, good luck with that, because there will come a day when their beliefs built on wishes will crumble, leaving hay and stubble. And the Truth will be evident and obvious.
So will Call-To-Apostasy and the other Wandering Tribes ever come to realize the errors of their ways?
To quote Sr Rindler, "I wish I knew....."
Instant "Acts"ess
