4Real Forums: Why Catholic?

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Topic: Why Catholic?

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donnalynn
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Posted: Feb 06 2009 at 11:23am \| IP Logged

MaryM
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Posted: Feb 06 2009 at 11:43am \| IP Logged

I feel your frustration, Donna. I see from the link that this program is affiliated with the Renew program. We were involved in a similar small church communities program at a past parish about 15 or so years ago.

The Catholic Culture article you linked to above had this comment - "...and if the leader has the wrong agenda it can veer off into heresy." This was our experience and was the start of the path that led us to join a different parish. From what I have heard and seen I do think it is wise to be discerning with programs affiliated with Renew because there are issues with fidelity to the Church.

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Martha in VA
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Posted: Feb 06 2009 at 12:42pm \| IP Logged

Catholic Culture has a review here if that helps at all.

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sarahb
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Posted: Feb 07 2009 at 8:21am \| IP Logged

Like anything else in life, it would all depend on the people involved. While I can understand reluctance to participate if you just plain do not care for the people involved or their agenda, I cant understand the attitude that such a program is inherantly bad because some people you may not agree with participate.

Anyway this is something our parish offers and Id quite like to participate but cant figure out when Id possibly have the time.

Quote:

Philip Blosser provides a perfect summary when he worries that the program is "designed by revisionists whose devious aim is to use their small group approach to refract ecclesial focus, to undermine magisterial authority, to democratize the Catholic message, to continue the AmChurch decentralization of Catholic Church in America, to continue the process of protestantizing and revising the Church and detaching her from the only moorings she has in her own traditions. . . ."

We completely agree and recommend that you avoid Why Catholic.

Such a harsh judgement. Is that really teh spirit of unity the Pope is calling for? What is Catholic Culture's agenda in delivering such a commentary on catholics who are merely trying to learn about and deepen their faith? And I see Renew has been approved by the USCCB, if not Catholic Culture.com. Personally, I'll follow the bishops and not the web on this one until I see with my own eyes that this is really the evil Blosser would like us to see it as.

As for the blind leading the blind... We are all called to evangelism, as imperfect as we are. So while we may not have the academic credentials to lead such a group and some of us may not have the personality to do so, it seems to me that real discussion of faith and the Church with our neighbors is essential and to be commended. If something false is put out its an opportunity to say no, that's not it. If somethin unorthodox is brought up, its a chance to descibe the Church's true teachings. The church isnt only a set of rules and the priests who officiate at the Mass, its also the people who attend and their thoughts and ideas and etc. The church is the living body!

donnalynn
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Willa
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Posted: Feb 07 2009 at 10:35am \| IP Logged

donnalynn wrote:

My original intent in asking about the program was whether anyone here participated and found it a rewarding experience.

Yes.... I think this is the best way to approach it. Also, Donna, you asked whether it could be done as a family. I don't have any experience with that but maybe someone else does.

I see Sarah's point that Pope John Paul did call for these types of small faith-sharing lay groups and that they can have benefits. At the same time, it's definitely true that some of these parish programs have had some issues in the past so it makes sense to approach with a degree of caution and discernment.

But that discussion could get divisive and is not really within the scope of our focus. The bottom line is that everyone needs to discern in their own community what will be helpful for their own faith and family.

Some links have been shared already and there is also a discussion of the programat the Catholic Answer forum that looks fairly balanced.

So let's keep this thread focused on how involvement in the program can be made a rewarding experience if a family or person does want to get involved.

You mentioned, Donna, that sometimes you feel pressure to "get involved" in the church community, in various activities that go beyond our liturgical and sacramental participation. I understand that feeling since I know people in my area that feel that way, too (I don't so much because I'm a slacker

). But really, the Church doesn't REQUIRE these extra activities (talking about the extra activities and devotions beyond the precepts and recommendations of our Church). While lay study groups can be wholesome and beneficial the heart of our liturgy is our Eucharist and the sacraments and liturgical practices focused around those. ... the ones you mentioned, like Way of the Cross and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I was just reading this Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy which says:

Quote:

For the liturgy, "through which the work of our redemption is accomplished," [1] most of all in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, is the outstanding means whereby the faithful may express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.

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