A Catholic finds more comfort in being "Catholic"

Two weeks ago I posted a piece about Nathanael Blake, a twenty-year old junior at Oregon State University who wrote an excellent column about Pope John Paul II, truth, and relativism. As I noted, Blake is apparently a non-Catholic.

I'd hate to appear imbalanced (or "pluralistically-challenged" or "diversity-stunted" or whatever the term might be), so now I turn to a recent column, "Catholicism Does't Have to Be Repressive," written by Maggie Carlson, a senior at Webster University (in the Saint Louis area).

Carlson is a Catholic. No, strike that--she's a "Catholic." No, she's a "liberal Catholic." Or is it "progressive Catholic." Nevermind, I'll let her explain:

I have had my qualms with the Roman Catholic Church ever since I graduated from a Catholic all-girls high school. Of course it was an empowering environment, but it wasn't long before the reality of the church set in. I learned that it's near impossible to be at a school like mine and practice the Roman Catholic religion, which is anything but forward-thinking when it comes to women's rights. Since high school, I've only been to Mass a couple times.

I couldn't help but ask myself, why should I be part of a church that sees me as a mere observer in the crowd? I didn't feel like I belonged to the church anymore, which I think is the way many Catholics, especially in St. Louis, currently feel.

Now, I'm sure that if space allowed, Carlson would provide a lengthy and impressive list of documents and events that clearly indicate that the church sees her as a mere observer in the crowd. But wait a moment—could it be that since she only went as an observor that she ended up feeling like one? Or, since she might not understand what is happening, she feels as though it has nothing to do with/for her?  After all, she did attend a Catholic high school, so there's a decent chance she knows nothing about the Catholic Church (yes, I'm half-joking). Carlson has, however, solved her problems:

A couple weeks ago I attended a service of Sts. Clare and Francis Ecumenical Catholic Community, which meets Saturday evenings at the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Webster Groves. The parish is a member of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, which is a group of Catholic communities that share the basic theology and liturgies as the Roman Catholic Church, but are not under jurisdiction of Rome and are not subject to Canon Law.

Sharing the same words, format and songs as a Roman Catholic Mass, there was only one very visible difference: a female priest said the mass. Not only had I never seen a female priest say Mass before, but I never really thought about it. When I did though, it felt like something the church had been missing for a long time.

Denise Donato is a family minister from the parish Spiritus Christi in Rochester, New York. She was ordained a Catholic priest in 2002. The church's slogan is "A Catholic community where all are welcome," and the parish blesses gay unions and obviously believes in women's ordination.

How, like, cool! A "church" that is just like the real thing, only with a woman up front. All of sudden Carlson no longer feels like a mere observor. Which leads me to one simple conclusion: she's sexist. Well, at least she's a sexist with lots of feelings (the only things she seems certain about). And so the young sage (or is that "sagess"?) concludes with this stirring advice:

Catholics who are upset about the course of the church should consider looking into alternative churches. What is faith, if you are not happy with it?

I understand many parishioners want to reform the church they have known, but by breaking off, I believe, it sends Rome the message that people are not going to sit back and take what is dished out to them.

It's a fair assumption that Pope Benedict XVI will not condone the actions of these ecumenical churches any time soon, but I don't think these churches should care. If the people of the congregation feel they are acting the way God intends, then the approval of a man in Rome should be arbitrary. It may be hard for some to leave the church they've always known, but being comfortable with their religion should be reason enough.

Methinks this is a young Cokie Roberts in the making, don't you? At least Carlson has the honesty, so to speak, of not pretending to be in communion with Rome. And she's comfortable. If there is one thing that Jesus made clear in His life it was that personal comfort is the highest good. At least that's how I feel ...

Comments

[Maique]

Yipes!

Is Ms. Carlson what I can expect from Catholic education?

I love the assumption that the "uncomfortable" should leave and the the enlightened can get on with making the Church MORE "comfortable". At their most basic, Christianity and the Catholic Church are voluntary. The parameters for inclusion are simple and well-defined. Jesus has given us a Chuch and a Magisterium to defend and maintain the parameters. Are you baptised, believe in the Creed and repent of your sins? This is the basic soil into which the seed of your salvation is planted. Will this always be easy or "comfortable? I hope not.

Growth, maturity and wisdom come from resistance, adversity and obstacles. I pray God loves me enough to send me more and I pray Ms. Carlson eventually will look back on her article and shudder.

[Paul]

"Catholics who are upset about the course of the church should consider looking into alternative churches. What is faith, if you are not happy with it?"

Finally, a liberal that gets it. If you don't want to be Catholic, don't be Catholic! Nothing annoys me more than "Catholics" for women marriage, or "Catholics" for gay unions. If you want that stuff, step over to the evangelical side and enjoy.

[BP]

The phrase "What is faith, if you are not happy with it?" sums it up entirely. Very sad.

[Patrick Coulton]

The real problem here is the claim to be "Catholic" without any evidence of the same.
Indeed I would like to nominate the "Ecumenical Catholic Church " to be in charge of the Department of Redundancy Department.
I know what catholic means (universal) and I know what ecumenical means (the whole world) but what does ecumenical catholic mean?

I would suggest that this paricular church might change their name. I list a few suggestions:

"The Really Really Catholic Church - no I mean really"

"The Entire World Wide Ecumenical Universal Catholic Church of Webster Grove Missouri with Branches in St. Louis."

"The Un-Catholic Church -where Un is short for Universal"

"The we're so Catholic we don't need no stinking pope Church"

[JohnH]

Pat - the "Ecumenical Catholic Church" is a double-possitive, which must act like a double negative... therefore "Ecumenical Catholic Church" is non-Universal. The worship of self the the highest goal there.

[sally SP]

Huh? What are you a bunch of clowns or deviants? This young woman is testing the culture and entering into Americana and you Catholics are abandoning her saying get out and stay out until you have to beg for mercy to return. Ah, I know your kind. You don't fear anymore. You don't care anymore. All right, take a vacation, go drink some beer, have a martini, buy a condo, hire a maid. Just don't be deviant or untrustworthy. Lutherans become clowns when they are past their prime after being physicists or women of ministry, etc. Yes, it is possible to be a woman of ministry, married and with children as long as there is a cheering support staff around. Somebody has to take care of the deviants. I shall tell you when I think you are going astray. Don't stray. Do stay.