[Apologetics] Re: RE: More on Lukewarm Catholics

[Art Kelly]

Jim,

You seem to be baffled about what to do with Catholics
who do not accept the teachings of the Church.

The problem is the Church frequently mutes its
teaching in order to keep "the big tent."

But if the Church "pulled no punches," those who are
Catholics in name only (call 'em CINOs) would grow
increasingly uncomfortable. It wouldn't take long for
them to gravitate to one of the liberal Protetant
denominations or maybe the First Church of Sunday
Morning Golf Courses.

If this shrinks the Church, the Pope seems very
willing to make that happen.  However, it could have
exactly the opposite effect in terms of total Church
membership.  

Many stalwart Protestants would be given a compelling
reason, possibly for the first time, to join--and be
active in--the Catholic Church.

In any case, God has expressed his very strong views
on lukewarm Christians.

Art 

--- jmurf80 at bellsouth.net wrote:

> In actual fact, the majority of Catholics in this
> country are nominal.  Approximately 50 percent are
> pro-choice.  Most dissent on at least one major
> social teachings of the church (contraception).
> 
> 1.  Are the scandal makers booted to the curb
> one-by-one or does the Church issue a formal
> declaration?
> 
> 2.  Are we talking about only a certain class of
> politician or does this apply to say all of
> government or maybe all high profile people?
> 
> 3.  What will be the reaction of the dissenting man
> and women in the pews.
> 
> 
> > 
> > From: "Marty Rothwell" <martyr225 at cox.net>
> > Date: 2006/04/14 Fri PM 03:51:26 EDT
> > To: "Bret Bellamy" <bbellamy at mindspring.com>, 
> > 	<jmurf80 at bellsouth.net>, 
> > 	<arthurkelly at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: RE:
> > 
> > I think there is a difference between nominal
> Christians (those who haven't
> > achieved sainthood yet) and those who cause
> scandal by calling themselves
> > Catholic when they are not.  John Kerry only
> causes scandal to Catholics by
> > calling himself such.  Now, to be fair to those
> types of Catholics, they may
> > feel perfectly justified in opposing essential
> Catholic doctrine because
> > they were brought up snubbing their noses at their
> priests and bishops and
> > can't see why that would be wrong today.  Buy
> everyone, EVERYONE including
> > Kerry himself would benefit if his bishop showed
> him the door and told him
> > the conditions by which he could return to the
> faith.
> > 
> > These are the kind of "Catholics" who need to be
> booted out, for their good
> > and ours.
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bret Bellamy
> [mailto:bbellamy at mindspring.com]
> > Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 2:58 PM
> > To: jmurf80 at bellsouth.net; arthurkelly at yahoo.com
> > Cc: martyr225 at cox.net
> > Subject: Re:
> > 
> > Jim
> > 
> > You raise a good point.  Still, I must admit Pope
> Benedict's words soon
> > after he became Pope of a smaller but more
> orthodox church keep going
> > through my head.  Maybe there are no easy answers
> (though you and the others
> > probably know my answer to this dilemma! :)).
> > 
> > Bret
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: jmurf80 at bellsouth.net
> > >Sent: Apr 14, 2006 1:54 PM
> > >To: arthurkelly at yahoo.com
> > >Cc: bbellamy at mindspring.com, martyr225 at cox.net
> > >Subject:
> > >
> > >Hello guys,
> > >
> > >I normally stay out of this type of debate, but
> this topic is a
> > continuation of the discussion we had at Anita's
> when I last visited No.Va.
> > >
> > >I can understand all of the points you guys have
> raised, but I must
> > disagree.  All great religious bodies and
> associations hold a principle that
> > cannot be denied and must never be forgotten.
> > >
> > >NEVER, EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE CONTRIBUTION MADE
> BY THE NOMINAL MEMBERS!
> > >
> > >This is not a principle in business.  The nominal
> members of a business get
> > shown the door.  In a religious body of any size
> at all, the nominal members
> > are the essential ingredient (other than of course
> grace).  The mystical
> > body of Christ includes the vast array of sinners.
>  Looking at the Church in
> > this country in a political way, they are many
> times more important than the
> > fervent. The very second we in Catholics in this
> country lose the nominal
> > members, it's all over for us.  We are all pained
> when we hear someone say,
> > " I was raised Catholic, but,"  We cringe when we
> hear some wishy washy
> > Catholic dissent on some teaching of the Church or
> do the Judas shuffle up
> > the isle to the parking lot following communion,
> but image a country were
> > all of these people hate the visible Church.  When
> indifference changes to
> > hate and it my well, the real scary stuff will
> soon follow.  This, I
> > believe, is the strategy of the evil one.
> > >
> > >Murf
> > >
> > >
> > 
> > 
> 
> 


                           
  ART KELLY, ATM-S
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