Heretics. That is what we used to call them: people who identify as Catholics but preach a creed that is radically different than the truth. Arianism, Donatism, Manichaeism, and Cathars, the enemies of the truth used to be so easily identifiable. Nowadays, it is not so easy. The modern heretic is a double agent. Not having courage enough to even openly admit their dissidence, they hide within the walls of the holy Church. That is the danger of this modern heresy, it does not have a concrete existence. It is an insurgency of sorts, an infection. There is no clear schism that can be pinpointed, and yet that rift still exists.
Lukewarm Catholics. Non-practicing Catholics. These are the heretics of today. Let me hit you with some numbers. According to CARA, less than 20% of Catholics attend Mass weekly itself a mortal sin. Only a measly 22% of Catholics go to Confession at least once a year. Now either we have very saintly parishioners (the 20% weekly attendance already disproves this) or there are a great number of people who decide to identify as Catholic but don't even do the bare minimum.
While the behavior of these lukewarm Catholics is disturbing, their opinions are even more so. NCR reports that non-practicing Catholics do not simply diverge in opinion from their faithful counterparts in matters such as abortion or the sanctity of marriage, but they are even more progressive than the American public as a whole! 59% of Catholics are pro-life (even this is not nearly enough.) 44% of Americans are pro-life. But only 35% of non-practicing Catholics recognize the murderous truth about abortion. 46% of non-practicing Catholics support gay "marriage" compared to 30% of all Americans and 25% of real Catholics.
Yes, I said REAL Catholics. Someone who does not participate in the Holy Sacraments, agree with the Church on vital moral issues, or even attend Mass with any semblance of regularity does not deserve to be called a Catholic. They have chosen of their own free will that they do not want to be Catholic.
Now, we do not want to be exclusionary by any means. The Church is Catholic but it is also catholic, meaning universal. Jesus did not come to make a country club composed of the elite. We don't have to scrutinize everyone who walks through the doors of our parish church and make sure that they have a membership card or can pass a Catholic trivia test. We should welcome all, even the sinners, just as the father of the Prodigal son.
But the deleterious influence of these non-practicing Catholics cannot be ignored. They are blatantly misrepresenting the dogma of the Church on issues that are essential in the reality of today. While avoiding a militant attitude of exclusion, we need to take a stronger attitude against these lukewarm believers. Their lack of passion is dulling that of the Church as a whole. Their lack of faith is muddying the waters. We cannot allow them to be the world's example of what a Catholic really is.
This problem has no easy solution. Few do. We are still a Church of love and mercy. There is no need to go around giving anyone who can't recite the Hail Mary the boot. What the Church needs are teachers. We need faithful Catholics to counter the dead weight of these passionless souls. They will teach, not just the world as a whole, but specifically the non-practicing Catholics what it means to be a true Catholic. We need strong men and women to act as witnesses of the truths of the Church.
You aren't Catholic because of a shirt you wear or the words you say. You are a Catholic because of the way you live your life and the faith in your heart.
Deus Volt!
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