The Profession of Journalism and Professions of Faith

I've been having a daydream about calling The Washington Post and complaining about how the Catholic Church expects Catholics to actually believe Catholic teaching. One version goes like so:

Me: Hello! I'm a Catholic who feels led by the Holy Spirit to reject certain teachings of Church leaders.

WaPo: Oh, really? Cool—er, I mean, how interesting. Are you opposed to the Church's rigid stance against reproductive justice? Its bigoted refusal to give women positions of power? Its mindless rejection of contraception and complete disregard for women's health issues?

Me: Oh, no. Nothing silly like that. No, I'm good with all of that stuff. Actually, I'm talking about the Church's emphasis on helping the poor, acting charitably toward my neighbors, supporting the disadvantaged and downtrodden, taking care of orphans, and so forth. Boring. Can't be bothered. And it's so old-fashioned, don't you think? Oh—and I'm also fed up with the Church's teaching about respecting governmental authority, being a good citizen, and doing all I can for the common good. And I'm—

WaPo: Uh. One second. Huh. Aaaah, are you serious?

Me: What? Really? Are you doubting my ability to feel the Holy Spirit prompting me in this way? Are you calling into question my sacred and infallible conscience? Because my conscience is clear about these things.

WaPo: Well...um...that's a bit different than what we're used to, uh, hearing. Ahem. We're all for helping the poor. And—

Me: But I saw your article about the Sunday School teachers in the Diocese of Arlington who have resigned because they won't sign a Profession of Faith, and I thought my situation was rather similar. But I'm sensing that you have some sort of litmus test of your own for what is moral and right. Does this mean that you believe we should help the poor, treat others well, and obey the law?

WaPo: Sure. Of course. That's just part of being an adult and a citizen of the United States. Everyone has certain responsibilities as well as rights. So I—

Me: Unless they are Catholics?

WaPo: What do you mean?

Me: Your article, "Arlington Diocese parishioners question need for fidelity oath" (July 11, 2012), made it sound as though Catholics should have the right to reject various Church teachings while also having the right to teach Church teachings in parishes. Where is the responsibility in that? Your reporter, for example, wrote: "But for some, particularly more liberal Catholics, the oaths are an alarming effort to stamp out debate in the church at a time when it is bleeding members and clergy in the West." Yet it's not as if Church teachings about ordination, contraception, and other matters of faith and morals have been top secret over the centuries. I assume you've heard of the CCC?

WaPo: Uh, sure I have. Isn't that the abbreviation for "Customized, Cafeteria Catholiciism"?

Me: Good one! [Fake laughter] By the way, I want you to know that everything I said about rejecting Church teaching about the poor and needy was just talk—I don't actually give assent to any of it. But I figured you wouldn't be bothered by me giving lip service to something I don't actually believe since a July 12th post on your blog stated, "The oath goes beyond requiring Catholic religious educators, who are church volunteers, to teach official church doctrine; it requires them to affirm that they believe it."

WaPo: But that's misleading! You sai—

Me: I merely took the position advocated by your blogger: I said something but without actually believing it. Complain to her, not to me.

Alas, it's merely a dream. However, on the plus side, the newspaper did post a piece, "On Catholic oath of fidelity", by a seminarian, Bill Erwin. He makes several good points, including this:

Continue reading on the CWR blog.

Comments

[Peter L]

Well said,you see it how it is Carl.When our creator told us "I knew you before you were in the womb" does a Liberal Catholic/Christian not see abortion as wrong.?When he said "Go forth and multiply" do they think he really meant,pop pills,wear condoms,get your tubes tied and enjoy your sex lives without the creation of beautiful children.?

I can understand this highly immoral behavior coming from unintelligent Atheists but not from educated Catholics/Christians.The Church has to get our children educated at an early age in our schools before they get "educated" on Facebook or Oprah or the bias tabloids.I suspect,Catholics in their early teens these days,get "Hitch slapped" on Facebook quite a lot by those "trendy" New Atheists.This is why a good early Catholic education is essential in the modern world.We have the schools to do it.

[Catholicreligionteacher.wordpress.com]

Outstanding! Thanks, Carl.

As a teacher myself (7th and 8th grade Religion) I would LOVE to take a public oath of fidelity. Furthermore, I would have loved to have Theology professors during my undergrad who took this oath. Would have probably saved me the entire hassle of leaving the Church for a year...

Keep up the great work!