As there have not been many contributions recently and as the site is now so much improved I am sending one now.

Perhaps one way to get a response is to write something provocative or outrageous, but always within the teaching of the Church. There are a number of issues that concern me recently. As you know I consider that in Catholicism in the US and Ireland there are many negative aspects, but many positive ones also.

I sometimes think that the disagreements I have with some contributors to this roundtable are due to cultural differences. We are not as outspoken usually nor as anti-Protestant as some US Catholics appear to be, in general.

1. I would like to ask for prayers for Senator Kennedy. The Kennedy family has been the foremost Catholic family in the US and in Ireland they are highly respected. Over 40 years ago pictures of the Sacred Heart, Pope John Paul II and President Kennedy were in very many Irish homes.

2. Some time ago I was watching Fr Corapi on EWTN. I know he is very popular, but I was very disappointed with his combative, tough style and his negative approach. You know that I am concerned that so many Catholics seem to be in the state of mortal sin. We have discussed this here. Very many Catholics miss Mass, are in unusual relationships, support contraception etc. However these people cannot be written off. We are all sinners and all depend on God’s mercy. It is not for us to judge whether anyone is damned or not. Does anyone else think Fr Corapi is excessively negative?

3. I am also disappointed with Archbishop Chaput of Denver. I read an article by him some days ago, in which he implied it was a mortal sin to vote for a democrat in the presidential election. The Church has had an unfortunate tendency to support right-wing conservatives, dictators, kings and autocrats as well as to to be hostile to democratic movements. Interfering in politics by clergy is not helpful. The Pope in Spain and the US did not get involved in domestic politics. The Catholic Church will be split in the US if all those voting Democrat are considered to be acting contrary to Catholic teaching. Excluding Catholics from politics would be disastrous.

4. US Catholics have too narrow a view of their religion. The Church is not solely an anti-abortion lobby group. It is all about Jesus, who came so that we might have life to the full. Locking up over 2.5 million people (over 1% of the population) in prisons, depriving about 60 million people from health care, and having the death penalty are all contrary to being pro-life.

5. Same sex marriages are not a problem, as they are a contradiction and cannot exist. The real scandal concerning marriage in the US is the fictitious and hypocritical use of annulments. The divorce rate among Catholics and Protestants in the US differ little. In many cases annulment is a fig leaf trying to hide Catholic divorce, being automatically granted to anyone seeking it.

These are a few issues.

If they do not get a response from someone out there I will conclude no one is reading this roundtable.
God bless,

Noelfitz.

noel-

Thanks for your continued posts and thought provoking ideas. Being of Irsih descent and living in the great archdiocese of NY, I understand your sentiments about the Kenendy's. I certainly join you in prayers for Sen. Ted Kennedy and his family during this time. However, in general I disagree with his politics for a number of reasons. I do disagree with his and other Catholic politicians who says they personally oppose abortion, euthanasia, etc., but they can't vote against it. I think this is a cop out. I also think that he and others have taken public stands against a major tenent of our faith. There are certain beliefs that are primary in imprtance-Life issues are one of these. Yes, I believe and support our belief to feed the hungry and clothe the naked-to take care of the poor. Does one party do this better than another? That is what elections are all about-I think both sides have this as their goals, but have different approaches to get there. However, there is no gray area or different approaches to take on the Life Issues. You either support Life or you don't. In general, with some very noticeable exceptions, the Democrat party does not support life. Does the Republican party support Life? I think in general they do, but again there are notable exceptions. I think it is important for Fr. Corapi and Bishop Chaput to clearly annunciate Catholic teaching-not to "punish" any individuals, but to teach and let all Catholic know what the teaching of the Church is on a subject. If an individual chooses to not listen or to willfully disobey the Commandments, it is the responsiblity of the ministers of the Church (and perhaps even us lay people) to gently, but firmly point out their error. In such grave matters as the state of one's eternal soul, I would hope that my priest, bishop and yes my fellow lay person would point out my errors and sins so I could mend my ways.

I am glad I do not have to make the decisions that a Bishop Chaput must make, but I trust he is doing this for the benefit of the individual.

Mreiner16

I am also grateful to you for your post.

Politics are important and serious issues arise. However for Catholics to be excluded from the public square and general debates would be harmful.

Could it be considered a mortal sin to vote Democrat? People make up their own minds. It is not for us to judge others. Perhaps this topic can be discussed again when we are all back in this roundtable.

To a certain extend the issue has already been discussed.

One of my hobby horses is that nearly all of us may end up in hell.

In the US 80% of Catholics reject the Church's teaching on contraception. Very many young Catholics live together outside marriage. Many Catholics for no valid reason miss Mass on Sundays and Days of Obligations. Many Catholics do not go to Confession and then receive the Eucharist, are they adding to their punisahments in hell?

I have raised these points before, they have been treated sympathetically by some, in a flippant way by others.

The answers are in God's hands. He is free to do what he wants. He is not forced to keep anyone out of heaven. Also he is the boss. The boss is always right!!

Regards,

Noelfitz.

PS You might like to look at http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/state_of_the_church_2006.html.