I have been a cradle Catholic and never had any problem with the Church's teaching on faith and morals. I just accepted it as taught in 16 years of Catholic education and thousands of sermons given during Mass. I am not about to challenge any Church teaching in this area. So, I endorse most of what you are saying.
However, over the centuries, the Church has issued a series of documents that combine its teachings on faith and morals with politics and economics. These are usually encyclicals and often espouse an exceedingly definite political position and, frequently, an economic position. One can be a Catholic and not adhere to the specifics of these encyclicals because they are not teachings on faith and morals. For example, what is charity? We are given a great example of it in the parable of the Good Samaritan. But how do we practice it?
We are obliged to help our fellow humans, but if our judgment differs from that of a Pope, on the best way to do so, from what I understand, is not violating the Church's teaching on faith and morals concerning helping others. For example, I believe Bjorn Lomborg on what is best for helping the poor of the world given that there may be some issues with human activity and climate change. Lomborg is not a Catholic and does not believe he is recommending a religious doctrine.
For centuries, the Church advocated Plato's form of political governance, essentially keeping 98% of humanity in some form of servitude. Only when Henry VIII rejected Catholicism did this hierarchical system begin a slow transformation to greater human freedom as different Protestant sects vied for power. (Henry was completely unaware of what he had set in motion, but his rejection of Catholicism for reasons of power eventually led to the modern world 300 years later.)
The current migrant crisis has come about because Church teaching on political organization has led to a large group of Catholics being poor. So, if the Church is assisting in this migrant process, are they to be followed because they view it as charitable to help the migrants? I would find many Catholics who would disagree with such a position because they do not view it as being an issue of faith and morals.
Thank you for this!
I have been a cradle Catholic and never had any problem with the Church's teaching on faith and morals. I just accepted it as taught in 16 years of Catholic education and thousands of sermons given during Mass. I am not about to challenge any Church teaching in this area. So, I endorse most of what you are saying.
However, over the centuries, the Church has issued a series of documents that combine its teachings on faith and morals with politics and economics. These are usually encyclicals and often espouse an exceedingly definite political position and, frequently, an economic position. One can be a Catholic and not adhere to the specifics of these encyclicals because they are not teachings on faith and morals. For example, what is charity? We are given a great example of it in the parable of the Good Samaritan. But how do we practice it?
We are obliged to help our fellow humans, but if our judgment differs from that of a Pope, on the best way to do so, from what I understand, is not violating the Church's teaching on faith and morals concerning helping others. For example, I believe Bjorn Lomborg on what is best for helping the poor of the world given that there may be some issues with human activity and climate change. Lomborg is not a Catholic and does not believe he is recommending a religious doctrine.
For centuries, the Church advocated Plato's form of political governance, essentially keeping 98% of humanity in some form of servitude. Only when Henry VIII rejected Catholicism did this hierarchical system begin a slow transformation to greater human freedom as different Protestant sects vied for power. (Henry was completely unaware of what he had set in motion, but his rejection of Catholicism for reasons of power eventually led to the modern world 300 years later.)
The current migrant crisis has come about because Church teaching on political organization has led to a large group of Catholics being poor. So, if the Church is assisting in this migrant process, are they to be followed because they view it as charitable to help the migrants? I would find many Catholics who would disagree with such a position because they do not view it as being an issue of faith and morals.