Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:41:41 +0000
From: Ana Maria Fernandes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
I often feel that there is practically nothing in catholic religion. It is just
like any other religion. I cannot understand why we boast that it is the
religion instituted by Jesus Christ himself .Practically speaking we catholics
go for mass some everyday, some on sundays. In the evening we say the rosary.
We attend church on Good friday. Celebrate hundred and fifty feasts. Receive
sacraments, attend cathesim classes and become another jungle parrots. There is
an occean between christ and catholics. Can you explain to me why you all say
that our religion is the true religion.
>
Mario responds:
>
Dear Ana Maria,
>
Just when Fr. Ivo is taking a well deserved mental-health break from his
exhausting philosophical debate with Santosh, here you come to challenge him
again:-)). I'm sure Selma will forgive me if I take a crack at your dilemma
from a simple layman's point of view, who has often wrestled with the same
questions but decided on balance that I still belong here rather than somewhere
else.
>
In my opinion, if you do your best to be more like Christ, as hard as that may
be, you cannot go wrong, and you will be well regarded, in this world and the
next. Isn't that what the word Christian should mean?
>
There is no way to prove that any religion is "the true" religion especially
when you don't even seem to know that it was instituted by Jesus Christ. I
believe it is an undisputed fact that the Catholic Church is the original
Christian religion instituted by Christ, whereas the other Christian faiths
subsequently split off, each for reasons of their own.
>
Besides, such discussions miss the whole point of a religion, certainly ours.
In our religion, I believe the focus should be on the Golden Rule, the Ten
Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. Much of the rest is ceremonial
stuff, conjured up by church leaders, some for fundraising purposes, that often
distracts from the essential message of Christ which is summarized in these
teachings. By the way, don't let anyone tell you that there is no salvation
outside Christianity. To believe that is just un-Christian.
>
Over the years our church leaders developed so many rituals that are repetitive
to the point of being meaningless in any practical sense. For example, does
repeating the Hail Mary endlessly in the Rosary, almost as if one were in a
trance, substiture for a heartfelt prayer to her in your own words? I doubt
it. Do we think Mary did not get it the first time? How many saints do we
need to intercede for us in Heaven? Do any of them count if Mary, Christ's own
Mother, cannot help you?
>
Where I also agree with you is that there is now an ocean between Christ and
the Church as it stands today. I call it, "How did we get from the manger to
the palace?" I was thoroughly amused just a few days ago when the Church
listed some more "sins" - one of which has something to do with accumulating
excessive wealth. Is there any institution with more excessive wealth than the
Catholic Church? Just visit Rome and the rest of Italy and see for yourself.
Pope Benny favors Gucci shoes which cost a fortune. I could get him excellent
shoes for far less money from Dharavi.
>
Maybe I am missing something, but does the Vatican think that wealth grows on
trees? Didn't Christ teach that we should maximize our God-given gifts and
then help those less fortunate? Don't the donations of wealthy Catholics
around the world support the Church in grand style? Do they think THEY would
survive if most Catholics were poor? When was the last time a poor person
offered you a job?
>
