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PDF versionPracticed Catholics
by Eugene Cullen Kennedy on Apr. 16, 2010
If you want to make a monsignor smile or a bishop nod sagely, check the box that marks “practicing Catholic” on any questionnaire or form handed to you. “Practicing Catholic” is a phrase as smoothly worn as St. Peter's sculpted foot in St. Peter’s Basilica by appreciative hierarchs and pastors who know what they are looking for in Church members.
“Practicing Catholics” are not your “Once a Year at Christmas or Easter” parishioners; they are rather the steady army awaiting orders as they patiently carry the colors of Catholicism across the modern world.
Your “practicing Catholic” is your Bill Donahue kind of guy, a saloon fighter ready to throw a chair or a punch at anybody who seems to speak ill of the Catholic Church.
“Practicing Catholics” are loyal followers who warm hierarchical hearts by tossing their envelopes in the plate as if they were dropping logs into a hungry fire. People who long for the return of the pre-Vatican II Church are actually pleading for pastors like the one who, in infallible tones explained to me long before Vatican II convened, “Your ‘practicing Catholic’ is your ‘contributing Catholic.’”
Pastors, bishops, and others burdened with administrative responsibilities should pay attention now to another kind of believer, one, in fact, whom some of them neglect, abuse, or demean on a regular basis. This is the “Practiced Catholic,” the one who is thoroughly, indeed, reflexively Catholic from long committed experience in the Church. Such believers are not rebels or revolutionaries but they are theologically sophisticated and they can instinctively tell when Father up there in the pulpit is feeding them from a spirit filled heart or from a microwave memory that heats up leftovers that leaves them hungry.
Practiced Catholics, for example, know how to read and do not need the pastor to review the parish bulletin for them before he begins Mass. Such pastors love to talk and often give, but hardly out of devotion to the Trinity, three sermons, one a warm-up on the bulletin, followed by a ponderous sermon after the Gospel, all this topped off with another set of reflections before he lets anybody out of the Church.
The beginning and end of Mass are the alpha and omega of the faith for these self-indulgent preachers. They warn people about the hazards and near sinfulness of what, in their judgment, constitutes “coming late” or “leaving early.” I have heard pastors tell people that they have missed Mass if they arrive after the priest has begun the Mass and that they have also missed if they leave before the priest has left the sanctuary and departed.
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“Practiced Catholics,” however, know the three parts of the Mass are the Offertory, the Consecration, and the Communion, and they ignore priests threatening them with damnation. They are also practiced at ignoring letters from the bishops that are read at Mass. Their intuitive Catholicism guides them as they sift the wheat of pastoral communications. They learned in grammar school that the principal parts of the Mass are the offertory, the consecration, and the communion and, as adults, they understand that when the priest proclaims, “Go, the Mass is finished,” it is in the imperative voice and that they can take him literally and head for the parking lots.
Practiced Catholics have been around since the beginning of Christianity. The early theologians referred to them when they urged Catholics to follow the “sensus fidelium,” or the feelings, as we might say, of the faithful believers. These are the Catholics who provide a reliable sense of what the Church teaches in the way they pray and he way the live.
Practiced Catholics offer a rule of thumb for belief according to the venerable insight that, if you want to know what the Church teaches or what is right, ask what the “sanior et major pars fidelium” believes or does. That means it is always safe to follow the path of the “larger and healthier portion of believers.” Had the Church handed the problem of sex abuse over to a group of practiced Catholics, it would have been resolved many years ago.
The Church prides itself in its “munera” or “gifts.” One of these is given only to practiced Catholics, the Gift of Reception. By this special guidance of the Spirit no teaching can be considered Catholic unless it is received by that same healthy majority of the faithful.
Yet it is practiced Catholics who are often criticized, ignored, told how to vote, or refused permission to have their speakers on Church property. These are the Catholics to whom the hierarchy should pay more attention. There is an old saying that we should “feel with the Church.” The only way you can find that out is by asking these abused and neglected but triumphantly faithful Catholics what they feel about the Church and what is going on in it these days.
[Eugene Cullen Kennedy is emeritus professor of psychology at Loyola University, Chicago.]
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Congratulations to the NCR
Congratulations to the NCR for sponsoring such a lucid and popular author! Gene Kenndy is among the very finest!!!
The Liturgy of the Word is
The Liturgy of the Word is also a principle part of the Mass.
By official definition, it is
By official definition, it is not. Maybe it should be.
you rather missed the point,
you rather missed the point, didn't you?
Dear Anonymous, yes liturgy
Dear Anonymous, yes liturgy of the word is a principal part, but if a person misses this part she/he has not missed Mass. Again - differences between "practicing" and "practiced" Catholic. We both know the rules and are can follow them to the letter. Recently the pope referred to a "dictatorship of conformity". In the liturgy example it appears that practiced catholics mentally resist a conformist modus operandi whereas practicing catholics don't.
A hearty Welcome to Eugene
A hearty Welcome to Eugene Kennedy. This first column is so
"right-on". I pray that the 'Powers that be" may experience
a second Pentecost* that will create or revive their Jesus-modeled
human spirit. (and me, too...I know I'm "not done" yet).
*I still have a copy of an interview with Cardinal Suenens where he said"
"I do not pray for a Vatican III, I pray for a Pentecost II."
This is what I've been
This is what I've been waiting and hoping to read! Thank you, thank you, Dr. Kennedy!!!
Thanks, More and more it's
Thanks, More and more it's less faith and more laws or what bishops think are right. In our city, a bishop is against any religious of Sisters advertising in any "catholic" paper or bulletin for vocations to their orders because they stood up for the poor,women and the abused and neglected and fought for Health Care. It has always been the Sisters who have lived the Beatitudes in schools, hospitals, safe homes for abused women and children, soup kitchens, senior centers children in need and education. Where would the church be without them. We need more than a sermon and casino nights. The Church seems to forget the Sermon of the Beatitudes and Jesus loved the poor and unwanted first. He, also, left his apostles to do the same. It is sad buildings have become more important than faith.
Yes -"Practiced Catholics"
Yes -"Practiced Catholics" are thinking Catholics who do not always accept the dictates of their bishops! Many of these bishops are trying to put them back into the box of "Practicing Catholics," but it's too late for that!
AMEN to Dr. Kennedy's
AMEN to Dr. Kennedy's description of "Practised Catholics." When we were children, we spoke as children, we acted like children .... and now that we are adults, talk to us as adults.
Thanks Theresa for a very
Thanks Theresa for a very good point written in a clear and concise way. The only thing I would add or change is that "When we were children we were spoken 'to' as children". Small change, I know, but I do feel it is an important one in making your point. Again, thank you. Peace and prayers.
At last a title that I can
At last a title that I can acknowledge without thinking that I am lying.
Go Eugene! How about
Go Eugene!
How about starting a real revolt and ask every "thinking" Catholic to write their Bishop and demand they stop all this fidelity to "Rome" and pay attention to what is really needed with the fides! And it is not condemning homosexuality or questioning if someone had an abortion or denying Eucharist to politicians! It is what Jesus wanted: An end to Religious Oppression and the discriminating laws that negate the rights of the poor and marginalized. Jesus' rage was with the hierarchy of his day!! And so is ours!!
What a lot of sanctimonious
What a lot of sanctimonious and prideful rot.
I was with an Archbishop from out west a few weeks ago. Years ago he was attacked in the pages of National Catholic Reporter for refusing to reassign a homosexual priest who had been accused of sexual contact with a young man. The only thing you folks are practiced at is not Catholicism but dissent. This is why your Church almost destroyed The Church and why your Church is passing away with the last pant-suited "Nun."
My Church is passing way with
My Church is passing way with the last pant-suited nun? I wouldn't count on it if I were you, Austin.
And absolutely, WELCOME BACK, EUGENE!
Austin: ...and in what
Austin:
...and in what century did that happen?
Just what the NCReporter
Just what the NCReporter needs, another dissident to feed their elderly readers misinformation about the truth and teachings of the Catholic Churc.
So many of the young orthodox
So many of the young orthodox supporters only see the clear lines of distinction of the pre vatican ll church. I can understand why this appeals to them, as it does to me as well. However, they don't see that repression often was a price that came with that sense of each existing in what was defined as his/her own place. I don't think that the Holy Spirit would want me to ignore what I have experienced, what I have heard and what I havae been shown, even if it would make my life easier in doing so. Neither the young or the elderly have all of the answers, nor does truth lay with only the conservative or the liberal. It may be wise to listen to the stories of each. I think that is the difficult task that the Holy Spirit is calling us to do. I pray that more will be willing to do it and that I won't shrink from the difficulities of it.
Peace and prayers, John David
WELCOME BACK, EUGENE!
WELCOME BACK, EUGENE!
Note from a "practiced
Note from a "practiced Catholic": It is time for those members of the clergy, including hierarchy, who include themselves within the "practiced Catholic" cadre, who experience the "sensus fidelium" and recognize the "odium plebes" to "come out". Women religious, in their majority, are already there. They have evolved in decades to where it has taken us centuries to even approach. They are in many respects leaders of this movement; threatened in their vocation, their mission and their rightness.
The involvement of clergy and hierarchy is needed not to create a scism but rather to prevent one. The gulf is widening and the gulf will grow to a chasm, an unbridgeable gulf of increasing solidarity within camps, empty wasteland in the middle and mutual antipathy.
The solidarity of false obedience and obiessance must be broken. Hierarchy and other clergy who tolerate the extremism of the fundamentalist right in their public lives and quietly, even secretely offer a reasonable, realistic pastoralism are not helping. Actually they do a disservice to the church of Jesus Christ. They "keep the lid on" for the extremists. They might satisfy the pius and the menable discontents. In truth they live a quiet cowardice that fails the women religious, the torn in conscience who cannot, will not, pretend that the local parish (if they are fortunate) is the "real" church and that the vaticanal leadership and institutional structure can be ignored. For example, the supporters of women in the church who see reciting "Hail Mary" during the mass as keeping the issue of women alive in these "dark ages" are fooling only themselves. In fact they are "flack catchers" for the uber-traditionalists.
If a reasonable number of hierarchy and clergy, in addition to the few whose names are and have been associated with "dissent", begin to acknowledge, speak and demonstrate the need for and discuss the direction for change the nature of the debate will change. It will evolve as it is enjoined. A new middle-ground will emerge where the tone of the debate - respect, humility, the Jesus of message and sacrament, are paramount. Yes the self-rightious patriarchical domination of the "what is" will remain but become the useful but irrational fringe. Yes, the feared proportionalists and ultra-liberal anarchists will remain but they too will become the useful but impractical fringe. Common guys...if the women can do it you can too. We need you.
The ones who need the
The ones who need the practice are the ecclesiastics who have forgotted why they are in their roles and how to be pastoral.
Eugene Kennedy helped me as a
Eugene Kennedy helped me as a seminarian studying at Catholic University back in the summers of the 60's. I served Mass for him in the crypt church. I have followed him through quite a number of books and articles. It's a pleasure and affirmation to hear his thoughts now. He left Maryknoll a long time ago. I left the Priests of the Sacred Heart and priesthood in 2007. I'm actually much happier now not representing the Institutional Church. Good Health Gene and looking to read your future columns. Dave Jackson
Seminarians and seminary
Seminarians and seminary professors from the 60's leaving the priesthood and the Church? You don't say. If only more priests educated in those days would have left before ordination we would be spared with the majority of the dissent crisis and the homosexual abuse crisis. Those are the facts, not an opinion. The data speaks to that.
Once again, what you present
Once again, what you present as "facts" are at best incomplete, and certainly more opinion than "fact." No such "data" speaks to that. You seem to have a need to take raw data at face value, do not analysis (objective) of it, and draw conclusions that are based only on your own attitudes. You are one big cognitive distortion!
Anonymous, you can´t build a
Anonymous, you can´t build a solid argument by spectulating about what would have happened if something other than what happened, occured. There are not "facts" to support that, it is speculation. One can speculate and discuss what might have happen, but it is still not "facts", it is still speculation, no matter how much you insist otherwise.
David, I am saddened to hear
David, I am saddened to hear that you left the priesthood: it seems to me we lost something quite valuable in 2007. But I am glad that you are happy in you choice, just as you must have been when you entered religious life and seminary.
Frankly, I do not understand
Frankly, I do not understand the distinction between a "practicing" and a "practiced" Catholic. It seems artificial.
I can be a progressively intelligent person and still be a "practicing Catholic." Given my age, 70, I grew up with the Latin Mass and remember the three parts of the Mass: the offeratory, consecration, and communion. However, since Vatican II, there are now two parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Falling back on what one learned in Catholic grammar school is not necessarily a virtue. A progressive, thinking faithful Catholic needs to be open to new developments.
Church today!!!!! This was
Church today!!!!! This was interesting, fun to read and so valued. WE ARE THE CHURCH, but I don't we believe it. I left that other church about 8 years ago. I am really Catholic now and very excited about what church is or can be. YES WE CAN!
I agree with much in this
I agree with much in this article; I'm 27, and I certainly fit the description of a "practiced Catholic." However, I would never want to reject or deride the label "practicing Catholic"; I proudly/humbly embrace it. I can be extremely critical of individual bishops and popes, but that doesn't at all preclude me from being fiercely loyal to and protective of the Church, from believing what is taught infallibly, etc. I'm sort of a "liberal traditional Catholic" or a "traditional liberal Catholic" (not "conservative"), a la Flannery O'Connor, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, etc.
About Bill Donahue -- yes, he makes me wince over many things, and there are many criticisms I could make of the Catholic League, but I would not want to draw such a sharp line separating myself from him; there is a lot about him and the Catholic League that is good and well-intentioned -- none of us are perfect. I think an organization like the Catholic League is as necessary (well, perhaps not QUITE as necessary) as the (Jewish) Anti-Defamation League -- even though the Catholic League does not always do the best job, etc.
Bravo... ...wise and generous
Bravo...
...wise and generous for your years...
You are a real sign of hope.
The column was arrogant and self-righteous...something the authori seems to have worked on perfecting in the nearly 50 years that seperate you.
Strength and Peace to you
Brendan, I very much like
Brendan, I very much like your discription of your faity. It seems that you live a faith that seems to be strong, rooted and understanding of much of what I think it is to be Catholic. Yet, I can't say that I see that the Catholic League has been of any benefit to The Church. They have such a consistant knee jerk reaction to any criticism. To me, they always seem childish with very poor arguing skills, too defensive and possessing a mean-spirited, cult like response to any critic or criticism. I believe they have done more harm to The Chuch in some of the very areas that they claim they defend.
I learned in grade school
I learned in grade school that there were three principal parts of the Mass, and that you had to arrive before the offertory to fulfill the obligation to assist at Mass on Sunday. However, as a "practiced Catholic" I continued learning, and the post Vatican II liturgy makes it clear that there are two prinicpal parts, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, each important to the life of the community. Of course, when the Word is poorly read rather than proclaimed and the homily is a sermon about the same old things every Sunday, rather than an insightful reflection on the readings of the day, it's difficult to appreciate the Liturgy of the Word.
In any case I enjoyed the column.
Any Catholic who routinely
Any Catholic who routinely misses the Liturgy of the Word is a minimalist who is likely deficient in his/her understanding of Scripture as well as a lousy member of the parish community.
Tsk, tsk Dwight! "...likely
Tsk, tsk Dwight! "...likely deficient in his/her understanding of Scripture" and "lousy member"! Perhaps you don't realize the judgments you make could be as far from the truth as day or night. Didn't your mother ever teach you "If you can't say anything nice about a person, don't say anything at all?"
Even IF you're correct in your judgment of this hypothetical person she/he has attended Mass!
This is exactly why I refuse
This is exactly why I refuse to subscribe (i.e., pay money to) NCR!
Haha, "Practiced Catholics,"
Haha, "Practiced Catholics," I like that term. It suits me much better than the usual "heretic" I'm often labeled with by those who say the church must never change or do anything other than what the hierarchy says from on high. However I would guard against labeling all practiced Catholics as those who ignore bishops' letters.. I've met many intelligent, engaged faithful who do very much support the Vatican and the USCCB for thought-out reasons rather than "because they said so."
I would say we could find both liberal and conservative "practiced" Catholics. Whether you agree or disagree with church politics doesn't automatically categorize you as well-read or ignorant. I hope this column will attempt to find an intelligent balance between sides rather than insulting either one.
This is indeed recognition of
This is indeed recognition of all of us who have followed WAY of Jesus as we walked through the dailiness of years of being Catholic -- recognition of all of us who have heard the TRUTH of the Spirit speaking to our hearts through years of listening to our Catholic consciences -- recognition of all of us who for years have lived the LIFE of the Catholic people of God. Sadly, few of the clergy and fewer of the hierarchy have this perspective. We are the CHURCH -- how easily some in satin and robes forget!
St.Peter's foot or St.Paul's
St.Peter's foot or St.Paul's smooth foot in st.Peter's????
"Practiced Catholics"- same
"Practiced Catholics"- same thing as cafeteria Catholics, yes?
Most all Catholics are
Most all Catholics are cafeteria Catholics,and so are you, Mary, in one way or another
Your comment is more true
Your comment is more true than I would like to believe. Yes, whether we are Right, Left or Center, all are selective as to what part of scripture, what Church teaching they claim to follow, what they believe and how they live. Those who claim otherwise, usually are simply unwilling to pay attention to the obvious.
If by "cafeteria Catholic"
If by "cafeteria Catholic" you mean "thinking, Spirit-moved" Catholic then yes. God gave us brains and the Spirit dwells in each of us. We can't all march in step with the Vatican; we must nurture our God given gifts and allow the Spirit to lead us on our individual faith journeys. Each of us is a unique individual and to expect a one-size-fits-all approach to faith is rather silly.
BRAVO ... good to hear from
BRAVO ... good to hear from Gene Kennedy again .. Thanks NCR
Just an observation:
Just an observation: Comparing me to frothing-at-the-mouth, "I'll defend against any attack no matter how justified" Bill Donahue is enough to make me follow Jimmy Swaggert.
Bro Ed: ....are you the osf
Bro Ed:
....are you the osf of Pastoral Formation "fame"? I enjoy your comments.
offertory, consecration,
offertory, consecration, communion - the three parts? It's no wonder we need to train more catechists!
Yes, I too am a PRACTICED
Yes, I too am a PRACTICED CATHOLIC. I too am discouraged and FED UP with the hierarchy Mafia DICTATING commands to us, PRACTICED CATHOLICS. Threatening PRACTICED CATHOLICS with ipso facto excommunication because we do not jump at the bark of the Vatican cronies. How dare they do that!!!!!
The TSUNAMI of VATICAN 2 CANNOT BE STOPPED by the likes of the HYPOCRITICAL hierarchy and practicing catholics.
DEFINITELY,I am not "A YES SIR" person.
SammyTassie
17.4.10
Australia
A sincere "Thank You" to NCR
A sincere "Thank You" to NCR for voicing the thoughts, feelings and frustrations of so many of us "Practiced Catholics" out there. God bless you for your courageous spirit!
Thank you, Professor Kennedy
Thank you, Professor Kennedy for finally making me feel as if I am a "Practicing Catholic." I personally believed that I was a faithful Catholic. I have been engaged for over the past year in reading many of the "Catholic" web sites talking about the President's election, the Health Care legislation, the sexual scandal by some priest, and the obstruction of justice by many of our bishops for the past 30 or 40 years. I have been writing comments that for many of the conservative catholics are considered sinful and liberal leaning. I have been called a "demon," a "devil" a "non-catholic" and many other names. I am hoping that I will see your articles in the NCR in the future. Thank you from a retired Professor emeritus of Communication and Theatre at a community college in Maryland.
Welcome, Dr Kennedy! A clear
Welcome, Dr Kennedy! A clear voice of reason steeped in faith! We will look more eagerly for each issue of the NCR now. This news, Dr. Kennedy's arrival at NCR, makes my day and my week. I congratulate all of the NCR decision-makers! Again, happy to have you, Eugene Kennedy!
I think that will catch on,
I think that will catch on, "Practiced Catholics." Very good.
And while we are waiting for Pentecost II let us give some though to learning about and possibly getting involved with the movement known as the American Catholic Council at:
www.americancatholiccouncil.org
Sister Maureen
Statement by the Archdiocese
Statement by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on “Catholic Coalition for Church Reform”
BY THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 2009
The “Catholic Coalition for Church Reform” is a self appointed group that is advocating changes that are in direct conflict with the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. This group has no affiliation with the Archdiocese or its parishes
As opposed to the
As opposed to the theologically unsophisticated? By implication the author suggests the practising catholic is unsophisticated. Strange that! If to practise the faith is to live in complete loyalty and fidelity to the teachings of the Church. The some of the great doctors of the Church and our greatest theologians were as the author imputes theologically unsophisticated.Is this the Wonderland version of Catholicism?
It might also be humourous and humbling to remind ourselves that Our Blessed Mother appeared to 3 unsophisticated children at Fatima, an illiterate peasant girl at Lourdes and a simple Mexican peasant shepherd at Guadalupe before we get too impressed by theological sophistication.Theology in the humble service of God brings enlightenment but theology without humility breeds pride and we all know where that can lead us.
What a negative article,
What a negative article, right out of the box.
Saint Paul was a practicing Catholic.
St. Paul was a Jew and he
St. Paul was a Jew and he died a Jew.
Saul was born into the Jewish
Saul was born into the Jewish faith tradition and he was born again into the Christian faith and took the name Paul
NCR and Eugene Kennedy - what
NCR and Eugene Kennedy - what a gift this has been for me today. Thank you for your down to earth insights.
As a graduate student in theology at a progressive Catholic University (yes, there are a few of them left), I am learning a lot more than I ever thought I would, having been around some 60 years now. Your name has always been at the top of my list of "guys who get it."
It's interesting to see how things have not really changed in 2,000 years.
God help us. Again.
I am a practiced Catholic. Great way to put it.
Oh they have changed. Just
Oh they have changed. Just not the way people like you wanted them to change. I'm a college Catholic myself. The Church is not for you to change. Theology without humility breeds pride which breeds heresy.
As far as I am concerned there are no "progressive Catholics." Either you are Catholic or you aren't. Enough pointless labels that are more political and lead to a desacralization of the laity.
Oh they have changed. Just
Oh they have changed. Just not the way people like you wanted them to change. I'm a college Catholic myself. The Church is not for you to change. Theology without humility breeds pride which breeds heresy.
As far as I am concerned there are no "progressive Catholics." Either you are Catholic or you aren't. Enough pointless labels that are more political and lead to a desacralization of the laity.
Amen!!!
Amen!!!
I have admired Eugene
I have admired Eugene Kennedy's writings for 45 years, since his days as a Maryknoll priest-psychologist. However, if he still believes that "the 3 principal parts of the Mass are Offertory, Consecration and Communion" he is badly in need of liturgical updating. In fact, it calls into question NCR's decision to publish his musings. He may be well past his prime...
The only reason there are
The only reason there are people who long for the pre Vatican II church is that they did not have to live through it. I guarantee they would hate it. There really is no going back except in their imaginations.
Bingo!
Bingo!
This article is cynical and
This article is cynical and condescending. I've come to learn that liberal Catholics are second to none in putting people (whom they've never met) into neat little boxes with neat little labels on them.
...and yet, you just did the
...and yet, you just did the same thing, Ben!
I have no argument with your
I have no argument with your article, but some of your examples do surprise me. As a member of a convert family, I need to say that I’ve never personally encountered the situations you describe. Never have I known Catholics who make up a “…steady army awaiting orders.” Also, while I’ve read about Catholics who “…long for the return of the pre-Vatican II Church,” I’ve no individual experience with such. I’ve only once heard a priest say anything about coming late or leaving early. As for as telling Catholics how to vote, I’ve never heard a political comment from a Catholic pulpit in my life! Maybe, it’s a geographic difference.
It's not a geographic
It's not a geographic difference it is simply the "spin" that certain groups use to try and malign those who are not accepting their dissident views."Pracised catholics" hold the trust of practising catholics in contempt and fail to see the difference between blind obedience and holy obedience,The former is dangerous and makes the individual an easy ratget for manipulation the latter is the quality we need to strive for each day.
If you want to see groups that pay out on those who don't obey look to the way "feminists" treat a fellow sister who starts to question the"party line" or "pracised catholics" write and talk about catholics who firmly uphold the truth and beauty of the church's teaching on human sexuality.
Gee, I would think that Mr.
Gee, I would think that Mr. Kennedy would've included the Liturgy of the Word as part of the Mass - and not the Offertory.
Tendentious and self
Tendentious and self congratulatory...just what we need to build community
...you did not post my
...you did not post my comment, a sure sign you lack confidence in your dissenting opinions or your place in the Church. I reiterate. This column was the hubristic rot of a dying part of Holy Mother Church. Good riddance, practiced Catholics. You are were never needed. You are not needed now.
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