Posted by Phil on July 06, 1999 at 11:05:19:
In Reply to: The Catholic Church IS>......???? posted by Anne Ward on July 03, 1999 at 08:08:16:
: Good Morning:
: This is a distressed new Catholic! . . .
: Leaving disappointed, discouraged.
Not leaving the Church, I hope!
I recall going through a similar period earlier in my life when I "came back," as it were, to the Church. I was raised Catholic, but only CHOSE to be one at the age of 23. In my early years of the Faith, I pretty much judged priests and bishops according to how closely they "went by the book," and was distressed to find pluralism in the Church.
It's important to not mistake unity with uniformity. Despite a pluralism of beliefs about a wide range of things, there is nonetheless a deep unity among Catholics, and I'd have to say it's pretty much centered on the Eucharist. Oh sure, there are people who explain this belief in ways that sound heretical (and some are), but belief in the "real presence" is pretty strong among Catholics--probably moreso than Papal Infallibility, or anything else. Give away belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and Catholicism collapses; we are a Eucharistic people.
What's best, dear friend, is to just not worry too much, at this stage, about what other people believe. There are enough watchdogs out there to make Rome aware of renegade priests and bishops. Relax. Enjoy your newfound faith.
Peace,
Phil