Why We Remain Catholic

August 27, 2021 By Lois Kerschen

What is it that we say we believe when we recite the Creed at Mass on Sundays? According to the call-and-response Creed we use at Easter, we believe in:

God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth;

Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

The Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

That is a basic summary of our beliefs. Yes, you can spend centuries in theological study of each point, but still, it’s a short list.

In the Nicene Creed, we say we believe in just one Church, a Church that is holy, universal and stems from the apostles. Besides the human half of Christ and the reference to the apostles, are there any other people mentioned? Do we declare a belief in any particular pope or priest?

Leaving the Church

Then why is it that when a priest goes astray or a pope says something controversial, people leave the church? We’ve heard so many people say that they could no longer be Catholics after the sex abuse scandal because it caused them to lose their faith. Why – did their faith depend on perfect priests?

One’s faith is supposed to be based on what we say in the Creed. There is nothing in the Creed that says “I believe all priests are sinless.” There is no mention of priests at all in the Creed because priests and popes are not the Church. They are merely servants of the Church.

The Church, our religion, is what we believe about God and our relationship with God. Everything else is just window dressing built around administration, traditions and the whatnots of being human.

People “leave the Church” over the silliest and thinnest of excuses – “It’s too hard to find time to go to Mass”; “I don’t like Father X or the people in Parish Y”; I don’t like the Vatican II changes”; “Exchanging a sign of peace is unsanitary.”

What does any of that have to do with “I believe in one God . . . ?” Does any of this matter as long as the core beliefs of Catholicism remain the same?

Sex abuse scandal? You think that’s bad? Look into Church history and read about popes who bought the office, had mistresses and illegitimate children, and lived vile lives of luxury? Think about all the different heresies that have arisen and the corrupt practices that led to the Reformation. Yet the Church, the actual religion born out of our set of beliefs, continues on.

The Church Eternal

The one, holy, catholic and apostolic religion will keep surviving until Judgment Day because it is the true Church at its core, and none of the other stuff hanging around it matters. That “stuff” can be irritating, embarrassing, and in need of reform, but if you are Catholic and know what is really important, you remain.

What’s really important includes the sacraments. My first thought when people say they are no longer Catholic is: “But what about the sacraments? How can you do without them?”

Most non-Catholic denominations do not have any sacraments other than baptism. Of course, not going to church at all deprives you of the sacraments. That would leave me feeling disconnected and starved. Without the critically important sacraments, what else personally and tangibly unites us, by act and commitment, to our beliefs?

Some people leave the church for profound reasons, I’m sure. Sadly, however, I fear that many leave with really poor excuses that leave me wondering “Are they that shallow? What about theology and the sacred purpose of religion? How can all the teachings and practices just get tossed aside that easily? Did these people never really absorb Catholicism but were in church out of sheer habit?”

The Church has proven its legitimacy over and over again for two thousand years. Yet people walk out as if the history of the Church is only as old as its latest scandal, or as if being a continuous line since Christ handed over the keys to Peter makes it too old to be relevant. It seems to me that the means to salvation is too important for such thoughtless disregard.

When my friends and I have breakfast together after Sunday Mass, we occasionally talk about why we remain Catholic while so many others jump ship. The reasoning is quite simple: as long as Catholicism stays true to the Creed, the rest is unimportant. Wayward people, heresies, evil forces, scandals, crises – they come and go. Our faith rests not on any of these peripheral matters, but only on what truly matters.

Catholics and the Bible

February 16, 2022 By Lois Kerschen

There are some people who think Catholics are not Christians. I don’t know how they come to that conclusion, but an equally outrageous notion is that Catholics don’t read the Bible.

When we lived in Bible-belt country, on occasion I would hear Christian people emphasize that they went to a Bible-based church. I thought, “What other kind of base could there be?”

I suppose they could have been comparing their churches to those offbeat religions that blend Western and Eastern practices, or cults that follow some new Messiah. However, I suspect they were referring not only to those but to the Catholic Church.

Catholics don’t carry our Bibles to church. We don’t need to. We’ll be reading from the Bible at Mass in our missals. Since the missal is not the Bible, perhaps some non-Catholics misunderstand and think we have junked the Bible.

The Lectionary

Instead, what is happening is that we read the whole Bible in themed selections from a lectionary, that is, a schedule of passages. For a brief and easy-to-understand article explaining the history of the lectionary, go to https://uscatholic.org/articles/201805/how-are-the-sunday-readings-chosen/

In short, the evolution of the readings at Mass began with early Christians reading whatever scriptures were available at hand. By the fifth or sixth century, the priests were using Bibles annotated to recommend readings for a particular Sunday.

The next century saw the Mass readings being put into separate books apart from the whole Bible. Nine hundred years later, the Council of Trent collected all the readings and prayers for Mass into what we know as the Roman Missal.

According to the US Catholic article: “The current Roman Catholic lectionary was created in 1970 by a commission set up after Vatican II to implement the council’s liturgical reforms and has since been slightly revised twice.”

The Readings

The readings are “organized on a three-year cycle: Year A is the year of Matthew, Year B is Mark, and Year C is Luke. The Gospel of John is used each year at Christmas, Lent, and Easter, as well as to round out Year B, since Mark is short.

“An appropriate gospel passage is assigned for each Sunday of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. In Ordinary Time, the remainder of the gospel is read more or less in order, skipping over the parts read in the special seasons.”

The other readings are chosen to match the theme of the gospel. I discuss this thematic relationship in a recent blog about how the music at Mass is selected to reflect the theme of the readings: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2022/02/meaningful-music-at-mass/

The first reading is from the Old Testament (at Easter, from the Acts of the Apostles). The second reading, for balance, is from a New Testament letter (at Easter, from the Book of Revelation).

The Responsorial Psalms are, of course, from the Psalms, as are the Antiphons usually, but they can also come from one of the other gospel or letter writers. Wherever their origin, the passages will be theme-related—mercy, sacrifice, love, justice, etc.

Thus, all the readings tie together not only for the unity of the message, but also to show from Old Testament to New Testament the fulfillment of the prophecies and the consistency of God’s plan through the ages.

The Bible: Catholic Origins and Continuance

The end result of the lectionary design is that Catholics read most of the Bible in the three-year cycle. In its wisdom, the Church makes sure we can’t neglect the Bible or skip around to just favorite passages—we get the whole thing repeatedly!

So, whoever says Catholics don’t read the Bible is totally wrong. Anyone who says we are not a Bible-based church doesn’t know our history or the history of the Bible. After all, who assembled the Bible, in the first place? Why, Catholics, of course!

A list of the proposed books of the Bible appears in Athanasius’ Easter letter in 367 AD. The biblical canon was approved by the Council of Rome in 382 and confirmed at the Councils of Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397.

Consequently, long before the Protestants came into being and removed seven books from the Bible, the early Christians (Catholics) united Jewish Scriptures and the inspired writings of the first church leaders into one book.

This collection was called the Bible because the Greek word for book was “biblia” and the city where papyrus was made was named Biblos.

Thus, the Bible is definitely Catholic, and Catholics are definitely Bible-based in their worship. The Catholic liturgy was formed from the Bible, feeds from the Bible, and remains true to God’s Word.

Baptism: An Awesome Occasion

November 29, 2021 By Lois Kerschen

Our first sacrament as Catholics is baptism. It is the gateway to all the other sacraments and meaningful participation in the Church. As such, it is not a routine event but one that should be taken very seriously by the parents and godparents.

I always cry at baptisms. The idea of a new life beginning the journey to salvation is awesome. Seeing that precious little person so loved — surrounded by proud smiles and dressed in a special baptismal gown — is an emotional moment.

Sometimes the baptismal gown has been handed down for generations. It is a symbol of a family’s continuing faith and strong commitment to passing on Catholicism as the true path to God.

Adult or Infant Baptism?

Baptism is a practice that is common to all Christian denominations. Most have only adult baptism because they want to wait until the person is mature enough to competently make the decision on his/her own to be a Christian.

Roman Catholics, however, practice infant baptism. We believe it is important statement not only of the parents that they will raise the child in the faith but also for the parents to help them realize the seriousness of the task ahead.

A few Protestant denominations have a “dedication” service for the newest members of a congregation. This idea of dedication is exactly what is happening at a Catholic baptism. The parents, the godparents, and the whole parish dedicate themselves to teaching the child, and the child is dedicated to God.

Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple as an infant to be dedicated to God. This “Presentation” is so important that it is one of the mysteries of the rosary. It is the example for all parents that says we need the help of our Catholic village.

Thus, the role of the community in a baptism is very important. Parents are saying, in effect, “Look, here is a new member. We want you to share in our joy at our baby’s birth, and we want you to help us raise this child in the Catholic faith.”

The people in attendance, therefore, have a part in the baptism ceremony. The celebrant says to the baby: The Christian community welcomes you with great joy.” Then, the congregation participates by responding to the prayers during the ceremony.

So for Catholics, infant baptism not only dedicates the child, but also is a dedication by the parents, godparents, and church community to guide the child in the faith.

Sacraments of Initiation

That way, the child can proceed to the sacraments of Repentance and Holy Communion when they are old enough to understand the meaning and value of these sacraments.

Confession and communion join baptism as the “initiation” stages of Catholicism. Then, at maturity, the Catholic “confirms” the baptismal vows made for him/her by the parents and the supportive community.

Confirmation is, in a sense, the equivalent to adult baptism among Protestants. Confirmation, though, has the preparation of three other sacraments. Other Christian denominations do not have these sacred preparations, and baptism stands alone as a passage into Christian life.

Original Sin

I once heard a woman comment that infant baptism could not wash away a baby’s sins since the baby had no sins. She didn’t believe a baby was born with sin.

No, the baby has no ordinary sins, but it is born with original sin, which simply means the child is human and inherits the human condition. That condition resulted from the sin of Adam and Eve, so we are all stuck with being faulty creatures capable of sin even if born innocent.

Even if humans are not descendants of Eden’s inhabitants but crawled out of the primordial sludge, it remains that we will inevitably sin. Consequently, the adults at a child’s baptism are saying, “Welcome to our world. Life can be difficult, but we are going to help you find the path to heaven, the way of Christ.”

Assuming Responsibility

It’s a huge responsibility. That is why it is important to choose godparents who are practicing Catholics and not just some buddy or BFF with minimum qualifications. The godparents are supposed to serve as role models and take an interest in the child’s Catholic formation.

That is also why parents must take baptismal classes in preparation for the birth of the child. If people take their religion seriously enough to want their children baptized, then they need that faith bolstered for the job ahead.

In these times when so many Catholic parents are suffering the great pain of seeing their children leave the Church, it is even more important that we review the Sacrament of Baptism to see its importance in faith formation from the start.

Catholic Connections to Abortion History

October 27, 2021 By Lois Kerschen

Since more than half of U.S. Catholics (56%) favor legal abortion, we should review the Catholic connections to legal abortion history. Perhaps an understanding of how Catholics were targeted will help those deceived to see the value of the Church’s position.

Pro-abortion people say abortion is a women’s issue, so men should have no say in the matter. Funny thing, it was two men who founded NARAL and engineered the acceptance of abortion in America.

Lawrence Lader and Bernard Nathanson saw an opportunity to capitalize on the sexual revolution of the 1960s. They realized a backup to contraception was needed, and a lot of money could be made from providing abortion, if it was legal.

They tied the idea to the women’s movement claiming abortion would enable greater independence. Lader persuaded reluctant feminist leaders to include abortion as a goal when the National Organization of Women was formed.

Contrary to Lader’s arguments, abortion exploits and harms women. It entraps them more with emotional and physical damage as it frees men of responsibility. That is why 67-72% of abortions are coerced. When men force women to have abortions, there is no “choice.”

Most likely, Lader and Nathanson knew what an advantage abortion would be for men.

Larry Lader: Anti-Catholic Strategist

Lader was rabidly anti-Catholic. He unsuccessfully sued the IRS in an attempt to strip the Church of tax exemption. His excuse was that the Church’s opposition to abortion amounted to political activity. Other lawsuits against the Church followed.

Lader and Nathanson knew that Catholic opposition was politically crippling. So, they devised a “Catholic Strategy.” According to a 2019 article by Fr. Peter Logsdon, the intent was to shift enough Catholic voters to support pro-abortion candidates by

“1) blaming the Pope, bishops and priests anytime a woman died due to complications of an illegal abortion,

“2) emphasizing Catholic politicians who were softening their position against abortion,

“3) supporting Catholic candidates who were in support of decriminalizing abortion, and

“4) implementing the ‘Catholic Strategy’ which persuaded Catholics, politicians and voter that they could straddle the fence on this issue by remaining ‘personally’ against abortion but vote with the idea that every woman deserves the right to choose.” https://www.prweb.com/releases/terry_beatley_of_hosea_initiative_reveals_dr_bernard_n_nathansons_eight_point_plan_used_to_legalize_abortion/prweb16320308.htm

Sound familiar? The media hypes these points. New York Governor Mario Cuomo became nationally famous for his “personally opposed” speech at Notre Dame that other cowardly politicians have rushed to embrace and now use as an accepted, even expected, standard.

Lader wrote a biography of Margaret Sanger, the eugenicist that even Planned Parenthood disavows now, and was thus convinced that women had to control their childbearing, by whatever means.

It was Lader’s argument about the right to privacy in sexuality and birth control that was used by the Supreme Court to justify legalizing abortion.

Bernard Nathanson, The Abortion King

Dr. Nathanson became known as “The Abortion King” because he supervised or performed 60,000 abortions. He personally persuaded Planned Parenthood to do abortions and trained their staff.

However, Nathanson was eventually repulsed by the killing. He admitted in his books Aborting America and The Abortion Papers: Inside the Abortion Mentality that they always knew abortion killed a human who was separate from the mother.

Focusing the debate on “choice” was an intentional diversion from the reality of abortion. In fact, he hired a public relations firm to help coin slogans like “My Body, My Choice” and other euphemisms used by abortion advocates to center on the woman and dehumanize the child.

Nathanson also admitted that they lied about the number of illegal abortions annually in the U.S. (1M versus the actual 100,000) and of the women who thereby died (10,000 vs. 250). The CDC reported for 1972, the year before Roe, there were only 39 deaths from illegal abortions. Unfortunately, the media proliferated the lies, as Nathanson and Lader expected.

Once Nathanson had his change of heart, he became a pro-life advocate and produced the film Silent Scream to show the brutality of a child’s death by abortion.

He also journeyed from being an atheist to being a Catholic.

**Conversions from Pro-Abortion to Pro-Life and Catholic**

Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, never had an abortion, but she worked at an abortion facility. There she was influence by protestors to become a Christian and later a Catholic.

There are multiple former abortionists/abortion activists who have become pro-life Catholics. Their choice has often stemmed from the Church’s leadership and message in defending the unborn.

There are also several books on the history of abortion in America. One by another Catholic convert and a witness to much of the manufactured connection of abortion to the women’s movement is Sue Ellen Browder’s Subverted.

We Catholics should be proud that these abortion advocates received the grace to convert to pro-life and Catholic. We should do all we can to help others down that path.

Consecrated Virgins: A Restored Ancient Rite in the Catholic Church

October 9, 2021 By Lois Kerschen

At a conference two years ago, I met a woman whose daughter had just become a consecrated virgin. Nearly everyone with whom she shared the news asked, “What’s a consecrated virgin?”

A consecrated virgin is a woman who has been consecrated by her diocesan bishop to a life of perpetual virginity. While she may live as a nun in a monastic order, the term is more commonly used for those who choose to live a dedicated life in the secular world.

It is expected that the consecrated virgin, when not occupied with her work life, will otherwise devote herself to prayer, penance and service to the Church.

History of the Rite

This practice of consecration goes all the way back to the Apostles and may, in fact, be the first form of consecrated life in the Church. It expresses the ideal of marriage in its irrevocable unity of a bride of Christ, representing the church, with the bridegroom of Jesus.

The concept is that the love of the Lord is enough, which clashed dramatically with the pagan way of life. Many women paid for this deviation from the norm with their lives — consider the virgin martyrs mentioned at every Mass: Sts. Agnes, Lucy and Agatha.

St. Agatha
Photo by Channel 82 on Unsplash

Eventually, in the third and fourth centuries, Christian life developed monasticism. Women wanting to remain virgins and dedicate themselves to Church service were absorbed into religious orders since it was otherwise not acceptable to be an unmarried woman.

There is a long history of attempts to officially revive this life through the centuries, but the revised Rite of Consecration of Virgins was not approved until 1970 under Pope Paul VI.

Modern Consecration

Today, it’s estimated there are 5,000 consecrated virgins worldwide. There are only a few hundred in the United States, but it is a growing trend according to the U.S. Association of Consecrated Virgins. https://consecratedvirgins.org/

A Catholic Review article, published October 8, 2021, discussed the rising interest in this vocation. https://catholicreview.org/some-see-growing-trend-in-women-choosing-vocation-as-consecrated-virgins/

This article quoted consecrated virgin Karen Ervin who said,

“[I]t’s a sign of the Holy Spirit moving through a culture hurting from sin that more women are stirred to seek something so radically different as choosing a vocation as a consecrated virgin.

“Perfect chastity is so profoundly mocked and misunderstood (in today’s culture) that I think the Holy Spirit is bringing this vocation back to the forefront to make it as another image of what happens in heaven. . . . when we are in that spousal union with the Trinity, in communion with God.”

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

In an Australian article (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-03/meet-zara-australian-consecrated-virgin-married-jesus/10837420), Zara Tai explained the attraction of becoming a consecrated virgin over becoming a nun:

“In a religious order you might have some say in what you do, but you are under a vow of obedience,” so you do what the diocese tells you to do.

“But [consecrated virgins] have professions, we have careers . . . we have lives, basically, that are outside the structure of the church. It’s a modern way; it gives a lot of freedom to do whatever you like to do.”

Ms. Tai added that she is more than permanently single because she is married to Christ.

Also, since she is out in the world, Ms. Tai says that people who wouldn’t go anywhere near a church will come to her with questions. “In fact, Rome has often called us the ‘secret service of the church’ because we are in all walks of life.”

Mature, Independent and Single

Obviously, a woman has to be truly mature and independent to assume the life of a consecrated virgin. She must be at least thirty years old to take her vows, and many who are consecrated are over fifty.

The maturity and independence are needed not only for her to be able to make a life-changing and lifelong decision, but also for her to take on the responsibility for her own spiritual development and financial support since she does not belong to a religious community.

Not everyone wants to or should get married. A single Catholic woman once told me that she was disappointed that the Church didn’t put more emphasis on the single life as a vocation. I agree, and I mean the single life, not necessarily consecrated life. Being single is a perfectly valid choice, and one that more and more men and women are making in this culture for a variety of reasons.

Besides being single, why isn’t there an option to be a consecrated virgin for men? If men can make a vow of celibacy in religious life, they can be virgins in secular life as well.

What About You?

June 28, 2023 By Lois Kerschen

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For those who criticize the Church, particularly about the sexual abuse by priests, it would be interesting to ask: “What about you?”

Not to accuse these critics of being molesters themselves, but to ask as Christ did, “Let the one among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone.” (John 8:7) The message was, of course, that we are all sinners, so finger-pointing is a bit hypocritical.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbors, not to find fault with them and then get all angry and upset about their sins. Yes, it is our duty to name sin for what it is. We are obliged to say that abortion is murder and human trafficking is abhorrent, and then work to eradicate these evils. However, we should be trying to indicate the moral gravity of the sin, not playing “holier than thou” with the sinner.

Justice can be administered with compassion and mercy. Certainly, corrections need to be made and punishment or remedies applied, but we should do it with the same forgiveness that we expect in the confessional and the admonition to go and sin no more.

We may be disappointed in the failure of some of our bishops to respond appropriately to the abuse allegations. Their failures are personal, however, not failures of the Church. It is important to keep these two separate.

In a previous blog, I wrote about “Why We Remain Catholic” despite scandals and disagreements. The reason is that what we believe, as stated in the Creed, does not change under any temporal circumstances. What we believe is what Jesus laid out for us; it is between us and God, not some priest or the Vatican or others in our parish. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew?s=Why+We+Remain+Catholic

Offer to Help, Live Your Vocation

“What about you?” is not only a question concerning forgiveness and sin but also about practicing our faith and being contributors to our Church and society. Blame-seekers ask “Why don’t the priests do such and such?” “Why doesn’t the parish have this or that ministry? Well, “What about you?” Could you offer to help the pastor or start up a new ministry?

A recent homily at the Sunday Mass in my church challenged us with that question. Our celebrant put it in terms of vocations. We all have a vocation, whether it is the priesthood, religious life, married life, or single life. He asked us, “Are you living your vocation as you should?” If you question whether your clergy are living up to their vocations, shouldn’t you question yourself as well about your own vocation?

Actually, we all have multiple vocations. In conjunction with being a priest/religious/married/single, we also have vocations as teachers, lawyers, soldiers, bankers, chefs, farmers, plumbers, etc. So, are you living up to your vocation in your job? Do you try your best? Do you maintain the standards of your profession? Do you behave ethically?

What about your vocation as a parent? As a son or daughter? Are you living up to the expectations and needs of others?

In each of these vocations, we have many opportunities to live our faith and share our faith. In daily life, we have many challenges we can answer with the strength and confidence of our faith. We need to make sure that we have done our part and not left people, or God, wondering, “Well, what about you?”

3 set of people pointing fingers at each other — Image by Davie Bicker from Pixabay

It is a national sport to gripe about politicians, but what about you? Do you maybe have a vocation to run for office? Instead of asking the government what is being done to solve a problem, ask yourself what you are doing to solve the problem. If you don’t like what that elected official is doing, maybe you should take his/her place. Your vocation as a citizen in a democracy is to participate, at least by voting, and even better by actively seeking change.

What are you doing to save your soul?

Most importantly, what are you doing to save your soul? You might answer, “Well, I go to Mass every Sunday.” And?

When you knock on the door of heaven, will St. Peter look through the peephole and ask, “Do we know you?” When he doesn’t open the Pearly Gates, will you yell, “Hey, what about me?” and will St. Peter respond, “What about you? Is there anything on your Christian resumé that qualifies you to be admitted?”

What about you? Are you just as guilty as others of committing sin? Have you fulfilled your various vocations in life? Have you worked hard at making the world a better place and taken responsibility for saving your soul?

Christ continues to look for disciples to send out into the world to carry the message of God’s love. How do you answer Christ when He asks, “What about you?”

Trust the Church

June 28, 2022 By Lois Kerschen

Catholics are entering a three-year period of reflection and education concerning the Eucharist. At the same time, our beliefs and our properties are being attacked by fanatics. Looks like it is time to hunker down together to take stock.

The Church has stood steadfast in its teachings despite likely every generation asking for exceptions on one moral quandary after another. That’s because morality doesn’t change, and the Church is responsible for keeping us true to Gods commandments.

As discussed in a previous blog, our institutional understanding of the Bible changes over time as Christians mature in the faith. As God’s children, we are always learning and growing, and like children, we need supervision. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2022/02/the-development-of-doctrine-incremental-understanding/

To accept supervision and submit to the lessons takes some humility. It requires trust. You have to be willing to admit that you don’t know it all and that others may have educated opinions worth considering.

At this critical time, each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Have I grown in my faith and in the understanding of my faith?” Have I changed my beliefs because of secular pressures instead of staying committed to Catholic teaching?

Lessons in Trust

As the Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” That is, be humble and place your trust in God’s wisdom, not on your own.

“And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings.” Image by Lothar Dieterich from Pixabay

In addition, Titus 1:9 says: “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” In other words, know your stuff, so you can defend your faith with confidence.

St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, taught in his Spiritual Exercises that good Christians should be “more ready to put a good interpretation on another’s statement than to condemn it as false.”

That’s a good suggestion for life in general, but also for accepting what the Church is teaching. Although trust in Church hierarchy has been damaged by the sex abuse scandal, that mistrust shouldn’t be applied to Catholic principles.

After all, the current bishops and priests who messed up did not create the doctrines of the Church. This scandal is just one more phase of wrongdoing in 2,000 years of ups and downs with good and bad clergy. Meantime, Catholicism itself has stayed the course.

Regardless of the issue, what matters is the Bible, the catechism, the sacraments, and the Mass. That is the core of our faith, so that is where we need to be knowledgeable and understand their purpose and truth. (See: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/08/why-we-remain-catholic/).

Built on Trust and Continuity

When Jesus instructed Peter to build His Church, Jesus was certifying that the Church speaks for Him. Throughout the centuries, the building process has involved serious theological study and the examples and writings of the saints.

That lengthy, scholarly process is worthy of our trust. It ought to make us question whether we have misunderstood Church positions on which we think we disagree. That would be easy enough to do considering the unreliability of the press.

For example, does the Catholic Church really want to control women’s bodies or is that just an accusation thrown out by abortion propaganda? Has the Church ever said anything but “respect life” and pledged to provide aid to mothers and their children?

Who has done better for women—the pro-abortion activists who provide abortions (at a profit) and little else, or the Church with multiple programs giving millions of dollars of assistance to pregnant women and babies?

Maybe Catholics need to give their own Church a break and listen for a while. Participation in the Eucharistic Renewal is critical. Our problems can’t be solved if we don’t all make an honest attempt to reconcile and evaluate.

As a church pianist, I am often struck by the lyrics of the songs. My sheet music is labeled by category, and under “Trust” there are many that deal with trusting God that could just as easily be read as trusting the Church.

“You [the Church] guard me from the foe, and you lead me in ways everlasting.” (“You Are Near”)

“[The church] Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.” (“O God Our Help in Ages Past”)

“Tis grace [the Church] has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” (“Amazing Grace”)

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God [Church], His [Its] bulwark never failing.” (A Mighty Fortress”).

My plea to my Catholic brothers and sisters is “Trust the Church.” Look past the bureaucracy and that priest who hurt your feelings. Reach out for understanding. You will receive comfort, joy and wisdom in abundance.

Culture of Life Education

May 14, 2022 By Lois Kerschen

Among the multitude of blogs, articles, and commentaries around the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, many have discussed the need to step up aid to women with unplanned pregnancies. For example, the New York bishops have pledged:

“Any woman — regardless of age, religious belief or affiliation, marital status or immigration status — who is pregnant and in need, can come to the Catholic Church and we will give you the services and supports you need to carry your baby to term.

“Furthermore, we will not abandon you and your baby after delivery, but, rather, we will see to it that you have the resources that you and your child both need and deserve. No one will be turned away from this life-affirming care.”

The bishops also published a list of what they hope can be achieved:

a woman is never pressured into an abortion;
there’s equal access to prenatal care;
employers and educational institutions fully accommodate the needs of pregnant women
public policies promote adoption through tax credits and other incentives
tax policies reduce poverty
there’s quality healthcare for all
childcare is affordable and accessible for all
the responsibilities of fatherhood are promoted
post-abortive women have the services they need to heal
religious organizations can provide needed services to pregnant women and moms while remaining true to the tenets of their faith. https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2022/05/new-york-bishops-pledge-support-for-mothers-in-statement-on-abortion

This statement comes at the same time that pro-abortion protestors are disrupting Masses and vandalizing Catholic property all across the country. This violence results from disinformation about Catholics and abortion.

Combatting Falsehoods with Education

What can we do about it? We can go on a massive, nonviolent, informational offensive. We must fill social media, the news, and our own churches with the truth.

The problem of misinformation and lack of trust in Church teachings about abortion among Catholics was discussed in a previous blog post: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/10/p361/

Part of the reason for this tragic situation is that parish priests are very reluctant to talk about abortion. That reticence has to end and be replaced by education delivered right to the pews. (Another blog post discussed pastoral neglect of the abortion topic: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/10/p436/)

My suggestion is that pastors tell their parishioners, since the abortion issue is so important to our culture and our faith, we need to focus on abortion in a special educational campaign at Mass on Sundays.

There are many well-done 30-second to 5-minute videos available on various aspects of abortion and the needs of women with unplanned pregnancies. Some are in a quick question-and-answer format so that a different problem can be addressed each week.

For those churches that send the children out during the homily, the video can occur then as well. There are many that can be shown even with children present, so just before or just after Mass would work too.

I realize that some people will purposely show up late or leave early to avoid these videos, and there are some people who will stop coming to Mass altogether rather than view them. That’s a risk, but if the majority of parishioners see them, that will help.

Once the videos start, word of mouth will probably encourage others to come watch. “It’s not what you think.” “They’re really good.” “I wish I’d known this information before.”

Pro-life Literature, Committees and Culture

In lieu of videos, or to supplement them, the parish needs to have a wealth of brochures, booklets, and recommended reading lists (easily obtained) available for parishioners. The bulletin can have informational inserts.

In addition, the bulletin could have a weekly column highlighting different pro-life organizations. That information could help parishioners learn about the variety of pro-life efforts from diverse groups and maybe join one.

I can hear all the objections about propriety, time, controversy, etc., but if the Church is going to put so much on the line because of this issue, Catholics need to understand why. Guidance is the Church’s role after all.

This education can be the responsibility of the parish pro-life committee to take the burden off the pastor. The committee can likewise spearhead efforts to help the mothers and babies.

This aspect of the endeavor was discussed in my blog post about each parish being a pro-life resource, ready to help women and children in need with material, spiritual, and emotional support. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2022/01/every-catholic-parish-should-be-a-pro-life-resource/

Yes, there are others important issues besides abortion and lots of opportunities for corporal works of mercy. However, no other moral issue is tearing apart our country, and our Church, like this one.

We must defend our Church against the violence and disinformation of abortion proponents if we are to achieve the goals of the New York bishops. To do that, Catholics need to be well-versed in and committed to the culture of life.

Men at Mass: A Disturbing Absence

February 25, 2022 By Lois Kerschen

It doesn’t take any great powers of observation to notice that there are many more women than men in church on any given Sunday. Why is that? If we want more Catholic men at Mass, what can we do? How important is it for men to attend church?

There are a number of possible answers to the “Why” question. Machoism plays a role—church is only for boys and old men; grown men are too self-reliant for church. Also, today’s secular culture reduces the number of believers and participants.

Further, men say they just don’t see any value in going to church. Why should they when 40% of supposedly Catholic men do not believe that Catholicism contains any more truth than any other religion?

Reaching Out to Men

Matthew James Christoff, a Catholic convert and founder of the New Emangelization Project, noted this statistic and the fact that only about one third of Catholic men attend Mass weekly. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2015/05/07/catholicisms-man-sized-crisis/.

Considering this information, it’s no wonder that concerned Catholics have responded with multiple programs to reach men. The New Emangelization Project’s website provides links to 18 men’s evangelization initiatives and 8 Catholic men’s websites. https://www.newemangelization.com/

Servant of God Emil Kapaun

A relatively new effort to firm up men’s commitment to Christ and His Church is Kapaun’s Men. This organization is named after Captain Emil Kapaun, a Kansas priest, Medal of Honor recipient and candidate for sainthood.

Servant of God Emil was an Army chaplain in the Burma Theater during World War II. He also served during the Korean Conflict, was captured and died in a prisoner of war camp. For more on his story and candidacy, go to www.frkapaun.org

Testimonies from the men who served with him report his courage and constancy in tending to their needs. They referred to him as a saint, as “Christ on the Battlefield.” (Several inspirational biographies of Fr. Kapaun are available at bookstores.)

Fr. Kapaun made the news again in 2021 when, seventy years after his death, a government forensics team in Hawaii finally identified his remains among those of unknown soldiers interred at the Punchbowl’s National Cemetery of the Pacific.

Last September, after a Mass in his hometown, Fr. Kapaun’s casket was taken to another Mass in the Wichita Hartman arena. It was then carried on a horse-drawn caisson to be interred at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Over 5,000 people attended the arena Mass. Besides military honors, the main avenue to the cathedral was lined with Catholic school children on their knees. Needless to say, Fr. Kapaun was a hero and a man to emulate.

In a previous blog about St. Joseph, I referred to him as “a real man.” For the same reason, I think, it is fitting that an organization designed to increase the involvement of Catholic men in the Church is named after someone like Fr. Kapaun who exemplifies masculinity at its best. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2022/01/st-joseph-a-real-man/

Kapaun’s Men

Fr. Kapaun, on the right, helping soldier.

Kapaun’s Men is intended to unite men in prayer, formation and discussion. It addresses virtuous living issues that are specific to men and fosters the key elements found in Father Kapaun’s life.

One critical element is fellowship because Fr. Kapaun knew that survival on the battlefield requires strong bonds and trust. Friendships are few among men, but so important to their wellbeing, so this forum encourages growing in holiness with others.

The prayer element at meetings is a scripture passage pertinent to a beatitude because Fr. Kapaun gave a series of sermons on the Beatitudes. The formation and discussion elements are guided by one of four video series created by Kapaun’s Men.

These 8-10 part series cover Virtue, Stewardship, the Beatitudes, and Pilgrimage. The videos are available to anyone, so existing men’s parish organizations can use them too. They are also suitable for non-Catholics. Each comes with an Operations Manual and Study Guide. Hundreds of groups now use these videos.

Kapaun’s Men teaches hospitality, prayer, formation and service as part of authentic manhood. If more men followed these “pillars,” we would see stronger families and parishes.

The Need for Men

As discussed in my St. Joseph blog, absentee fathers are the cause of a myriad of our society’s problems. In like manner, the absence of men at Mass means children unsupported in their faith by a male figure and likely to leave Catholicism.

At church, men’s absence means that the business of the parish is run almost exclusively by women—the committees, the fundraising, the education—all areas where men could contribute their own unique gifts.

Just as women’s voices need to be heard in all areas and all levels of society, men’s voices need to be heard at church. More importantly, men’s souls need to be nourished and their lives enriched in Christ.

Wake Up and Smell the Incense

December 11, 2021 By Lois Kerschen

“Why do Catholics do that?” is a question often asked. I think we could say in return: “Why don’t other Christians do that?” For example, Catholics are known for using incense, but why don’t Protestants use it as well?

Old Testament Use of Incense

The Biblical significance and symbolism of incense warrants its place in worship. In Psalm 141:2 we have the plea: “Let my prayer come like incense before you.” Revelation 8:4 says: “From the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God’s people.”

The use of incense comes from our Old Testament roots. In Exodus, the Lord actually gives Moses a recipe for the incense to be used at the Tabernacle. According to one source, incense is mentioned a total of 121 times in the Bible in 18 different books. Seems to me that frequency ought to catch every Christian’s attention.

In ancient cultures, pagans also employed incense in ceremonies to their gods. The rising smoke of burning incense naturally symbolizes prayer rising to heaven. Similarly, Tibetan prayer flags send the petitions of believers out on the winds to the benefit of all.

Incense was a highly prized, expensive substance traded across the Near East. It was the reason for the great wealth of Sheba and the rest of Arabia. Consequently, the burning of incense was a fitting way to honor kings, including the Roman Emperors.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

It is no surprise then that the Magi brought frankincense to the newborn King. They also brought myrrh, which is an anointing oil but also used in the making of incense.

In many cultures, incense is burnt for its perfume. Since Old Testament use of incense was often in connection with the burnt offerings of animals, the incense might have been doing double duty to convey prayers upward and to mask the burnt flesh odor.

New Testament Use of Incense

The relationship between incense and a sacrificial offering connects incense to the death of Christ.

Some may think that incense went out of style when we ceased to sacrifice animals. Instead, it remains significance because it is both a precious substance worthy of Christ the King and, as a (thankfully bloodless) burnt offering, a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.

Early Christians certainly appreciated the symbolism of incense. I have previously referred to Revelation 8:4; in addition, John’s vision, as described in Revelation 5:8, foresaw 24 elders holding gold bowls filled with incense.

In Second Corinthians, Paul uses the image of incense to illustrate the mission of a Christian: “Thanks be to God who . . . employs us to diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere! We are an aroma of Christ for God’s sake.” (2 Cor 2:14-15)

Catholic Use of Incense

In the Catholic Church, burning incense is therefore used as a sign of reverence and dedication. It is a sacramental like holy water or the sign of the cross.

For example, we incense the altar, which represents Christ’s sacrifice, as a sign of respect for His suffering and death on our behalf.

We also incense other objects that have symbolic significance such as the Easter candle that represents Christ as the Light of the World. At a solemn Mass, we incense the Missal in reverence for the Word of God and Christ, the Word Incarnate.

We incense the Blessed Sacrament at Benediction as a means of adoration in Christ’s presence. Once again, we are honoring God with the gift fit for a king.

At a funeral Mass, we incense the body as a sign of respect because it was once a temple of God.

Surely Protestants could find it appropriate as well to use incense. Before the preacher gives his/her sermon, wouldn’t it be fitting for him/her to incense the Bible?

Since incense is apparently so important to God (after all, He dictated a recipe to make sure it was made right), may I suggest that Protestants consider adding incense back into their practice of Christianity? It would be a way to renew and strengthen their connection to a long Judeo-Christian heritage.

The celebrant at our Mass last Sunday said we need to “Wake up and smell the incense!” Indeed, for Catholics too, a return to using incense more often might increase our sense of reverence and awe and wake us up to a renewed dedication to our faith.