Contraception and Church Epistemology

Ephesians One:

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit....

...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened... 

And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church,  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (vs.7-11, 13, 17, 22) 

Summation: Christ lavished upon His Body, the Church, His wisdom to unite all things. 

Within this first chapter of Ephesians, the great epistemological question is answered for all and for eternity. He has made known to us the mysteries of wisdom and salvation and knowledge and enlightenment and gave these things to His Body, the church.

Upon this rests the infrastructure, the first cause, the heart and core of how Catholics and Protestants differ in their thinking. Catholics have always read Ephesians one (and all of the New Testament) in the context of the church being visible, organized--one that is catholic and apostolic.(1)

 For Protestants this concept of a visible church organization, started by Christ that continues to today, is alien and utterly rejected. The body is an invisible group of believers.

I offer this post, not to convince or proselytize, but to clearly contrast the understanding of Catholic and Protestant world views. The way we imbibe the truths of Ephesians one will point out the differences in how Protestants and Catholics experience God. For the very way we experience God and Truth differ. For both of us it is richly multifaceted.

How We Experience God

Protestant(2) Perceptions: 

The Holy Spirit draws us to God through the beauties and complexities of nature, through other Christians in socialization and corporate worship, through divine instruction of scripture and through prayer. For Protestants the most intimate and immediate of spiritual connections with Christ for is through a direct relationship in prayer. The physical link for a Christian to Christ is a book, the Bible. It is the historical “paper trail,” the object, the evidence, the substance that attaches a reader to the author (God). 

Catholic Perceptions:

Catholics would not diminish the Protestant way of experiencing God but add to it a new dimension with the sacraments. Catholics most intimate spiritual connection with Christ is directly partaking in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist (Communion Service) as well as in prayer. The Church itself is the physical link that attaches a Christian to Christ. The Word of God in Flesh instructed the Apostles who transmitted His teachings to their successors by speaking and writing. Both are infallible records of the Truth. Catholics “paper trail,” the object and evidence that attaches the believer to the source is the Catholic Church itself (The Bible being an important part of her paper trail).

Catholic rites, rituals and prayers unify us with ancient worship. Through the Liturgy, we feel the blood of the early church coursing through our veins.

How we experience Truth

Protestants: 

The Holy Spirit guides the Christian in interpreting scripture and in gleaning from the trusted sources of Christian scholarship. The fullness of truth is entrusted to the believer’s conscience convicting him of good and evil. 

Catholics: 

The Holy Spirit guides His Bride in interpreting scripture and teaching the fullness of truth. The conscience must be formed by God’s Word passed down by the Apostles through the Catholic Church.

For the Protestant, this means of transmittal of truth is invisible, for the Catholic, visible. Analogies might include that Truth is received for the Protestant more like Wifi, the Catholics firewire. For the less computer savvy, Protestants use cellphones while Catholics use land lines or perhaps Protestants use Star Trek transport beams while Catholics use train tracks.

Here’s a better, but more extensive metaphor:

Protestants see themselves as little tributaries being fed by the rain from heaven. Coming together they create a great river bringing Truth to the world. Catholics see the great Truth river as the Catholic Church fed by God’s rain. They are the trees planted by it, absorbing its waters and producing fruit. Truth is received by drinking.

Does that mean the Catholic church thinks unless you drink from her river you have no truth? Absolutely not. The rain of truth falls on the just and the unjust. It is freely given to all and you can find truth in pagan cultures, in atheists, world religions and everywhere. But the fullness of truth is not in a droplet or pond. God gave the river of truth to the Catholic Church. 

Protestants, of course, protested that claim, hence their name. Having been a Protestant the vast majority of my life, I can see how that claim comes across arrogant and totalitarian. I will not attempt an apologetic here, rather I think it necessary for both sides to understand each other and their way of getting to God and His truth.

To understand Catholics you need to see where they find the source of Truth. They see the fullness of Truth not directly implanted into our hearts and minds (via Holy Spirit inspired Bible study) as individuals, but given to the Apostles to hand down, infallible, pure and unadulterated within the structure of a visible organized church.

For unity sake, the Catholics would say that though Christians have the Holy Spirit bringing us truth, God never promised that each would have all, the entirety, of truth. Rather believers have a piece of the puzzle and only together as a Body of Christ will the whole be seen perfectly. That limitation is supposed to brings humility and harmony. 

So, let’s step out of philosophical worldviews and into a current tangible example of what I am describing.

Most Protestants interpret scripture in a way that does not oppose contraceptives, so their consciences are not violated by using them. They would also dismiss as dictatorial a church attempting to impose such a view. 

The Catholic Church can point to certain passages in scripture that reinforce what they teach, however, the Bible is not the source of their knowledge, but its proof. They received the information verbally by Christ, their Head and Groom. It was transmitted to the church by the Apostles and some of what they learned was put in inerrant, God-breathed written form--the New Testament.

Catholics claim that Christ instructed His Apostles that contraception is a grave moral sin and they are obligated to pass on that information. Catholics do not invent or formulate their dogmas, they believe they received it and then are required by God to pass it on. Catholic dogmas and doctrines are not their opinions and can never be changed by a pope, a magisterium, by democratic vote, etc. When people tell the church it needs to update its doctrines, they do not understand Catholic thought. The doctrines were never theirs, they were commissioned only to preserve them and teach them, they can’t change them.

When a new problems such as cloning and in vitro fertilization arise about which Christ didn’t specifically teach, the church doesn’t take an opinion poll, it doesn’t take the pulse of the cultural norms, they don’t even ask the pope and let him decide. When the Catholic Church today makes disciplinary statements they convene the magisterium who then do mountains of research in the church archives learning what all the church fathers passed down in order to follow the spirit of the written and oral Word of God.

The Catholic Church recognizes that no personal interpretation of scriptures is infallible, so the church studies the situation in the context of what the 2,000 years of inspiration and call upon the promise the Lord made to His church, that the gates of hell cannot prevail against her and that whatsoever she binds will be bound in heaven, and then the magisterium follows the Holy Spirit’s guidance in teaching about faith and morals. 

Protestants will of course disagree, but this is what Catholics truly believe and teach. 

The Catholic Church believes that Christ gave Truth to His Bride to unify and not divide. Wisdom and insight was lavished upon us “making known to us the mystery of His will.” That in the fullness of time He gave the church, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Eph. 1)

In today’s climate, it is important for the government and Protestants to understand how the Catholic Church thinks, that we might have a better understanding and respect for each other.

1. Which would include the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

2. It would be impossible to describe each Protestant denomination's beliefs, so this is a general statement.

The Joys of a Good Confession

I think people hold a lot of guilt inside them, even after they have privately confessed to Jesus on their knees. Coming from a Protestant background, it is wonderful to simply throw yourself on your knees within seconds of having watched something you shouldn't have, or said something disrespectful or vulgar, or whatever temptation you fell to and ask for forgiveness. 

However, from my observations, even after that there is something that begins to build up inside--as if we painted over  the top of a rusty old metal shed, instead of sanding it down first. Like plaque in your arteries, sin layers in your subconscious leaving your heart restless, even if, through faith, you know God has forgiven you. 

Sin weights on us. And I hate to have to write this down, but I think it true enough to just plunge in and admit--I think we need to feel the scrape of the sandpaper against us as we get rid of the rust. We need to experience the wound of sin even if just a moment of it.

I think men in particular. 

Christians need to grieve our sins. There is something alien to the baptized soul who has been born into a new life that falls into the mire and there is no rite nor ritual in which we can grieve this unnatural defeat.

Even for Catholic priests, I have noticed that they downplay sins in their attempt to be merciful. Like a mother, they want to coddle and coo with us and make us not feel guilty anymore. And indeed we shouldn't when we leave, but there is a sense of something is missing when you gain the courage to enter the confessional booth and you are told to brush it off. In a way, it is like a bit of a letdown, for you are going in there to violently expunge this horror that has grasped you and you feel a huge spiritual fight about to erupt and then all of sudden, the battle is over.

Our psyche hasn't caught up with the announcement and it felt more like a white flag than a real win.

Something inside us cries out for sin to be made a big deal of.... even if we are terrified of anyone knowing and we want to have the battle somewhere in a deep closet where no one knows.

We need to feel the blow, we need to feel as if we have fought back, and often (as a female anyway) I need to cry about it--grieve the sin.

In my personal opinion, priest need to continue the love (for they are all loving beyond belief!) but do not trivialize the sin. 

For instance, when I became a Catholic, God unveiled for me how much He hated birth control. I was in shock. Having been a Protestant I had always used it thinking I was being responsible. The weight of the children I should have had, those little lives I never bore-- my heart cried out for,  those babies were never to be because of my husband's and my sin. I needed to grieve, for my sorrow was great. 

I have spoken to several priests about it and none understood my need to reach out to God in the confessional and grieve WITH Him about it. Emotion seems to unnerve us, but rather I think we would all  be better off if we covered ourselves with ashes and sackcloth for our sins. 

Our little evils are a big deal and the evil we see in our society is an incredibly big deal. Sin is incompatible with our Christian heart and should alarm our conscience. We should recoil at the monstrosity of wickedness and rejoice at the miracle of the deep healing of confession. 

When no one acknowledges the authenticity of the spiritual battle that wages within us, there really isn't a reason to glory in a victory.... and in each confession... there is a true victory. 

Just look at a crucifix.

Lavish Love

Receiving Lavish Love

You have seen those big, innocent eyes look up at you while handing you some adorable gift of love, weather it be a crayon scribble or a dripping peanut butter sandwich a five-year-old made for you. All over his or her little face is unqualified, unbounded love. 

Unfortunately, many people learn to restrict that emotional, uninhibited expenditure of love, because it is not appreciated, it is refused or deflected by the recipient. We may feel terribly uncomfortable in the presence of lavish love and we cannot accept it. Our hearts are teflon and compliments slide off. Generally, we mask our inability to accept such touching and heartfelt praise behind a pseudo humility which responds, “Give the glory to God” or “It’s not big deal.”

Without realizing it, in our uncomfortableness in embracing other’s praise, we hurt and insult those who have expended the emotional effort and vulnerability to give us such a gift. Inadvertently, we are being very selfish by demeaning other’s offering to us. At those moments, it takes effort to stop our automatic response and  accept the gift of love with an attitude of appreciation. When we do that, when we are excited about the gift of love, we are actually complimenting the person back. We are saying to them, “Wow. A gift from someone as precious and I value as much as you! You have made my day!!”

It’s a win-win situation. 

Giving Lavish Love

Giving love via compliments can feel at times like giving blood; we are pouring out, sacrificing and sometimes even depleting our inner emotional resources for another. There are reasons we at times do not give unreserved love; we will measure our compliments.

An older generation taught us that you will fill someone with vainglory and pride if given unreserved compliments. Rather, perhaps, we should think of it this way. All of us are wounded by life and pride is really a parasitic creature that feeds off of insecurities. True, lavish love given unconditionally, actually pours upon the soul and washes away that parasite. Love heals.

Regrettably, we live in a culture that tends towards a self-conscious judiciousness when we give love, as if this shows how level-headed we are. We will always add a contingency to our compliments such as “You are so smart! Now, that’s not to mean I don’t ever disagree with you, but all in all, your a smart person.” “Keep that up and your bound to be pretty good some day.” “You cleaned this kitchen very well, and you don’t always do that.”

Christians are especially worried that if we compliment someone living in open sin they will get the idea that our words somehow sanction and approve the sin. This is where we go very wrong. Just because you tell your son he is the kindest husband you have ever witnessed doesn’t translate into his brain as you now approve his pot smoking.

What the person hears is measured love and measured love leads to pot smoking, not unmeasured love. Love covers a multitude of sin and heals it. Unconditional love is what all sinners need, not just from God but from us. Lavish love is powerful enough to change, even without our caveat of qualifying words. 

Another problem with unmeasured compliments is that it is exhausting. There is just so much of ourselves we can give and then we are spent. So we disburse our compliments, ration them, out of expediency. 

However, I am learning that the more we are connected to Christ, the more we pray, He renews our cup of love to overflowing and then, all of a sudden, there is no need to budget our compliments. Lavish loves begins to overflow on to others. Our source of love becomes the eternal fountain and therefore is everlasting.

If your feeling stingy in compliments, if you moderate your praise and thankfulness towards others, do not feel guilty; do not condemn yourself, for often we need a little gentle praise ourselves! Go to Christ for some deep hydrotherapy of lavish love, drink deeply of His tenderness and be washed in His cleansing water of affection and you will be refreshed and ready to go out and flow out His love upon others.

READ IN TODAY'S MASS!

From the Diocese of Raleigh, Office of the Bishop, January 30, 2012

Italics are my commentary. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write regarding a matter of grave [usually that word in Catholic-speak means of salvific nature as it kills grace in our souls!] concern which strikes at our fundamental rights as Americans to religious liberty and freedom of conscience. On January 20, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [run by treacherous and CATHOLIC Kathleen Sebelius betrayer of her God, her faith and her church. May God have mercy on her soul] issued a ruling requiring most employers, including Catholic employers, to include coverage for sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception in the health insurance provided for their employees. With rare exception, health insurers will also be forced to include coverage in health policies they provide. Additionally, nearly all individuals will be forced to buy coverage as part of their health insurance policy, even if this payment for such coverage is contrary to their religious beliefs.

In making this ruling, our government has denied Catholics the fundamental freedom afforded to us by the Constitution of the United States, which secures our religious liberty. Under directive, we will be compelled either to violate our on science or to drop health coverage for our employees and then suffer penalties for doing so.

And the letter goes on... and signed Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh.
----------------------------

So many thoughts.

1. We should have seen this coming. Late, but not too late. Now we are discovering that elections have consequences.

2. PROUD and THRILLED my beloved Bishops are taking a stand now. I will stand with them to jail if necessary--and beyond......

3. Okay, so, we have to ask ourselves, why now? Why would the Obama administration float this right now when there is an upcoming election? What is the strategy?

BISHOPS better wake up and smell the political campaign coffee. Everything in DC is political strategizing. NO GULLIBILITY CAN BE CLAIMED after this.

My guess is the Obama's campaign strategy is that he wants to see what response Catholics will give. How big a deal are they going to make about it? Will the Catholics support their bishops? If not... as one bishop said it, "to hell with the Catholics" and then who cares if the healthcare law is constitutional or not. No pushback, more power for the administration. So long Catholic rights-of-conscience.

But if their IS a huge backlash....

Hmmmm.... I predict that before the election a "last minute deal" will be made with Obama, he will promise that he will add a conscience clause and gets to be the heroic Dudley Doright coming to the rescue of his Christians brother and sisters. And voila President Obama--another four years.

Will the conscience clause do any real good? Naw... Because offering an agenda of death to a culture of death is easy.

Either way, Catholics... better make in impact now to stop this, or.... I don't know, is Poland still Catholic?

Actually, this is what my brother told me, so I can't take credit for his political savvy.

The Joys of the Bible seen Through Catholic Eyes

The Bible is so Catholic! 

As a Protestant, I thought I knew the Bible. After all, I had been reading it since I could read. When I was twelve years old I started collecting Bible translations and even spent my birthday money in 8th grade on a RSV pocket Bible I could carry around in my purse.You see, I love and have always loved Jesus and to me the Bible has always been the infallible, precious, God-breathed WORD! I never placed anything on top of it. I carried it everywhere I went. It was my physical connection to my dearest and best friend. I have worn out several Bibles from reading and underlining them. 

Yes, I did indeed know the words written on the page. I understood the historical context and knew the Protestant scholar's commentary as well as had my lexicon and study books all around me as I studied scripture. Since 1997, I arise at 5:30 am each morning to have my special time with Jesus. I even began wearing a veil over my head that year in obedience to Paul's command that women have their heads covered in prayer. I loved obedience to His Word.

Now that I am Catholic, I am humbled by what I read (and what I thought I knew!) --- I was seeing correctly, but I wasn't seeing it all. Like some kind of magic eye picture, I knew what was printed on the page, but it was only when I became Catholic and I was taught how to read scripture that the amazing picture blossomed in front of my eyes and I could see the picture that the words were trying to get at--the meaning and form. 

For example, this morning I read I Corinthians 4 in response to a Protestant's argument of sola scriptura and found things I had never seen before. What they don't see, and I wouldn't have seen as a Protestant is this chapter in actuality is imbibed with Catholic theology. This chapter is so Catholic. Lets look at it: 

1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.  (Here we see that not all things were written down. Some people were entrusted with the secret things of God. Not all of us are chosen to be the shepherds. God chose some men to be His authorities.)

2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (If you are entrusted to be His authority, you are not allowed to slide and live in a presumption. As God's authorities, a faith-alone belief is not enough. You must prove faithful!)

3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. (This is a very interesting passage. Paul, as God's chosen authority is not worrying if others see him as God's authority. He doesn't even judge his worthiness and faithfulness as God's authority himself. He is relying upon a different system than individual or civil judgments.)

4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. (What? Paul says that his conscience is clear but he cannot trust EVEN HIS OWN CONSCIENCE!!  Our consciences can deceive us into thinking we are innocent, but in fact we are not! So, if he cannot trust himself, or others who will be be trustworthy and how can any of us know?)

5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 

(Again, this is confusing. Paul is saying that the Corinthians are not to judge the faithfulness of God's servants until the final judgement? So then how do we know just who is God's authority? If I can't trust my own conscience to judge, if I am not to judge as an individual then who gets to judge and know if a person is God's faithful servant? This is terribly confusing in a world where preachers claim to teach the Word of God authoritatively each week at the pulpit. We can't judge them and they can't judge themselves? But I thought we were supposed to judge them by their fruit? )

6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." 

Note: This is extraordinary in that Paul is not quoting scripture here. He is perhaps quoting from an oral tradition, not necessarily even a Jewish tradition! He may be quoting the pagans. Scholars are unsure as to whom Paul is quoting! So Paul is going outside scripture to say that we should not go beyond what is written. And we are not even sure about which "written" works to which Paul is referring as the quote is not explicitly referring to scripture. And this verse cannot be speaking of the Bible since the New Testament was a couple centuries from being codified. Paul wouldn't be saying don't go beyond the Old Testament or that would be saying that the letter he was writing to the Corinthians would be technically "beyond scripture."

Now this is either a deep irony and Paul is contradicting himself by doing just what he says not to, or he is saying something--not about sola scriptura but about pride! 

The entire letter to the Corinthians is urging unity and not pitting Christian leaders against each other. Paul is telling his audience that he and Apollos have applied the test of faithful Christian authority to themselves. Because they are the leaders they have remained faithful for the benefit of those to whom they preach. 


In the end, Paul is saying to take Paul's word for it. He and Apollos are faithful authorities, not because of what they themselves think or even what the regular church members think (his audience.) Paul considers himself the authority because God, through the Apostles ordained him--even though he doesn't explicitly say that here. (Although he had already taken the time to explain this in the first two chapters of his letter to the Galatians.)

They are NOT saying to the audience, "go to scripture yourself and interpret it--then don't do anything beyond what is written." That is far from what Paul is saying as he is actually saying quite the opposite. He is saying that when you listen to us--WE ARE TEACHING YOU the meaning of the saying "don't go beyond what is written."

The meaning of the quote is being learned not from scripture itself but from the life and teachings of Paul and Apollos. You as sheep are learning from the shepherds --they are the examples of it and you then follow the shepherd’s example! The shepherds are to be an example of not going beyond what is written. It is not taking away our shepherds, but our shepherds are supposed to show us what it means. 

This text is by not pitting sola scriptura against church structure and church authority, in fact, it supports it!

The context is pride--pridefully pitting one shepherd against the other--Paul against Apollos. To pit God's appointed shepherds against one another is what is beyond what scripture teaches! It is not saying that everything God's shepherds teach must be written in the Bible and it is not setting up the doctrine of sola scriptura or that the Bible is the final authority. 

Of course we know the Bible is an authority to God's leaders--for Paul says so himself to Timothy. (II Tim. 3: 16) But this passage cannot be used to prove sola scriptura. He will continue to back up his own authority as we continue the chapter.

Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 

Don't have sects....

7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 

The sheep received it from the shepherd! No one can brag that they received it themselves either from their own imagination or directly put there from the Holy Spirit or even from a book!

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings--and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. 14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 

Here Paul is taking on father role! He is the father of his Christian children. This is not pointing to the Bible as usurping or removing his position as leader.

15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 

Why we Catholics call our priests "father."

16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Does this sound as if Paul is authorizing sola scriptura? No, Paul is not sending a book to lead them but a man. Paul gives the church leaders the authority. How can he do that? Because God appointed Paul and anointed him through the apostles. Paul wasn't self-appointed, but God appointed through the established church. 

__________

As I read scripture, I now see that at every turn it supports Catholic teaching. This example is a daily occurrence--seeing a deeper and broader, a more historical and logical approach to scripture. Not on my own, but through the teachings of the church. After all, they are 2000 years old and we have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of theological giants. The view is so much clearer from here!

PRO-LIFE!

FATHER, most glorious creator of Life, may we, in union with your sacred heart and your Mother Mary and all the saints in heaven and on earth, fall on our knees in repentance for this most deplorable wickedness--abortion.

Change us father, each of our hearts so that we may love life, love your precious gift of life in our babies.

Give our fathers courage to be fathers and take on the responsibility of their seed.
Give our mothers mercy upon the fruit of their wombs.
Give those of us who know the depths of this sin to speak bravely.

May we place our right to happiness at the feet of your Cross and sacrifice that we may become holy.
Amen

Calling All REAL Men to the Catholic Church

Michael Voris is brilliant. I have to admit, I have been talking about this very topic for years, so of course I would say that. But it is time someone have the guts to say this. Bravo!! I for one, as a very feminine and happy woman, would love to see men become masculine again. Take charge, take responsibility. I like men to be men. And God needs men to be men. Let's let them recapture the quest, the epic, combative struggle to become men!

This is a series of five episodes of the Vortex, here are the first four:

We'll Join the Jesus Vs. Religion Fun!

Okay, here's the original.  This sincere young man who has found a great relationship with Christ, now is using his zealotry to bash religion. Who can blame him? But I love his passion and I am praying that with some spiritual maturity he will not pit God against His Bride. In the end, we need to talk about this stuff, so glad he brought it up.







Turn this one way up as it is hard to hear...


Untitled from John Hollowell on Vimeo.


This one is a little slow but I love chanting.....




Other responses:
http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/
http://youngandcatholic.net/2012/01/why-i-love-jesus-and-religion/
http://catholicdefense.blogspot.com/2012/01/jesus-v-religion.html
http://opinionatedcatholic.blogspot.com/2012/01/catholics-look-at-why-i-hate-religion.html
http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=24948
http://www.stjohnsstockton.org/?p=292
http://shrove.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/ill-communication-about-religion/