The other day at the Y I was noticing that there are always a few people there who don’t really put much effort into their fitness efforts. They may take a quick spin around the track, and then they spend the rest of the time talking, only to leave and show up in a few months to do the same. I wondered as I was starting to run my 4th mile…would those people who work out maybe once a month, who only go to the Y on occasion, and who, when they go, do virtually nothing, claim to be good fitness buffs? Despite whatever good things may be happening in their lives in other areas, would they dare to claim to be “into” fitness? If someone asked, would they volunteer that they are good exercisers even when they are clearly not?
Or (to borrow an example that Dave Hartline used), if someone knew nothing about Ohio State football, and couldn’t even name Jim Tressel as the current head coach, yet claimed to be a “huge fan” of Ohio State, wouldn’t we just ignore or even laugh at such a claim?
So why does it seem to be different with religion? Why is it someone who shows no commitment to Christ or His Church feels able to speak with surety about faith issues? How is it someone can say, “well, I haven’t been to Mass in 5 years, and I don’t really agree with the Church on much, but I am definitely Catholic, and here is my opinion about…” Why does someone who hasn’t been to Mass in years, who makes no effort to follow Christ, still present himself as an expert in the faith when the time arises?
I am not trying to judge anybody’s salvation here, but it seems to me that religion is one of the few areas where, for lack of a better way to put it, total slackers can get by with thinking themselves an authority. Call me crazy, but I don’t think the testimony of a lapsed Catholic has the same authority as those who go to Mass regularly, study the faith casually and formally, and who make a serious effort to follow Christ, just as if I were looking for advice on fitness, I likely wouldn’t go to the biggest guy at the all-you-can-eat-buffet (no offense to big guys at all-you-can-eat buffets intended….because I don’t know where I would be without my weekly pound of stir fried shrimp at the local Chinese Buffet!).
Image from Hamed Saber’s Photos (very excellent photos!)
David Bennett
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Fr. J.
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papaz
February 12, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Read this on the dashboard yesterday and am glad to see it posted.
For the record and to be irksome, I will say I have far less trouble with nominal Catholics claiming Catholic than with dissidents.
Nominals who claim Catholic at least have a sense of proper direction should they at some point become open to a spiritual awakening–though they are easy prey for Protestant on the prowl and for whom a Catholic is top trophy.
Dissidents on the other hand are another animal. I would rather deal with an honest member of TEC than a dishonest “Catholic.” Dissidents, of course, are legion particularly in the boomer and earlier generations. It is they who have the temerity to profess expert status on matters Catholic while quoting any of their number. Much of the membership of the Catholic Theological Society fall into this category and find easy access to Catholic theology departments where they can do the most damage.
Sad but true. Of course this is what Ex Corde will uncover when applied by the right men on episcopal thrones.
February 13, 2008 at 2:58 am
Fr. J,
I think you are right about dissenters being very vocal about the right to be considered truly Catholic. However, I have also seen it among lapsed Catholics. The ones I know have a strange relationship with the Catholic Church, and in one sense admire the Church and lament the changes done in the name of Vatican II, yet are also, in their personal beliefs and practices, fully involved in the “spirit” they often lament. It is odd to me.
Nonetheless, I am still always baffled how someone can a)oppose the Church in so many areas and/or b)have no real commitment to the Church, and still with such gusto claim to speak on the Church’s behalf.
April 17, 2008 at 4:45 pm
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