| We hope you enjoy your visit! You're currently viewing Catholic CyberForum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our online cyberparish, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! Messages posted to this board must be polite and free of abuse, personal attacks, blasphemy, racism, threats, harrassment, and crude or sexually-explicit language. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
| The church in the digital age | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Monday, 18. June 2012, 08:53 (265 Views) | |
| Penfold | Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:04 Post #16 |
![]()
|
I agree we need to focus on our product which is the Gospel, not just any old good news, which is the word of God in which the covenant between ourselves and our creator is renewed and the promise of eternal salvation. A new covenant with new commandment at its heart, "Love thy Neighbour. |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:19 Post #17 |
![]()
Administrator
|
The product is faith in God.
Are we talking about God, Father, Saviour, teacher, inspirer, comforter, and our relationship with him, or about a man in a long white frock who makes the rules of how we are to live? There is a widespread misconception among people who know little about Catholicism, that the Pope gets the rules out of the top of his own head, and that our faith is about being forbidden to do this, that and the other. Benign loving father Crucified Christ Dove of Peace would be a good start. How about an image of the Father, with no beard? Why is he always depicted as an old chap with a grey beard and needing a decent haircut? |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Penfold | Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:36 Post #18 |
![]()
|
Edited by Penfold, Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:59.
|
![]() |
|
| Penfold | Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:54 Post #19 |
![]()
|
But then again Rose some of us could be in for a shock. However back to the serious point, the Perception that the Pope has taken the place of God is worrying for it is not one that I am aware of, though the press do seam to place undue emphasis upon the day to day activities of the Vatican for most people the actual interference or input from Rome is very limited. Local Parish Priests are often the guilty party for I have met far to many who fail to help people, and give Rome or the Bishop as their excuse when in fact the obstacle is the PPs failure to do the necessary paperwork either because they have not kept up with the latest developments or because they are just to lazy. For example why has it taken so long for the Bishops of Ireland to embrace the role of Deacons and why do I still find myself with young couples struggling because their local PP refused to marry them because one of them was not Christian. How many priests bothered to give proper instructions to couples before marriage and invite parishioners to help run such courses. I could go on...and on and on but the perception that the Pope is to blame is often a symptom of a fault far closer to home. Parish Priests who have become comfortable in their old age and who do little or nothing to encourage young people or even middle aged people to get involved or take their rightful place in the life of the parish. That is why I would not be pushing for age barriers but would press for limits to time of service. The Jesuits had a policy that restricted the term of office of head masters to 8 years with the option of a 4 year extension in special cases, most religious orders have termed appointments and I think it would be a good thing to introduce termed appointments for Parish Priests and Bishops and I would include the Bishop of Rome in that mix. Edited by Penfold, Monday, 18. June 2012, 17:54.
|
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Monday, 18. June 2012, 18:37 Post #20 |
![]()
Administrator
|
The most common responses when people learn I am a Catholic start with "I've nothing against the Catholic Church but...." followed by I don't think the Pope has any right to tell people not to use birth control. What happens in peoples' private lives is nothing to do with anybody else. The Catholic Church is the richest organisation in the world. It's time the Pope sold off the treasurers and did something for starving people. They should not expect Catholics to pay for all that stuff and those buildings. It's not right, not letting priests get married. I do not hold the Pope responsible for everything, and I do explain the Pope explains to us the truths of the Bible, and I put them right about the Church's track record in famine relief, and providing medical care and education. I also point out that nobody is forced to donate for the upkeep of buildings, what we give is voluntary donations, and if they are interested I tell them the Church cannot get rid of everything, due to a treaty with the Italian government, and it is a bit difficult to sell a painted ceiling. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Penfold | Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:26 Post #21 |
![]()
|
I am less concerned about what Non-Catholics think we believe as I am about what some Catholics think we believe. As for interfering with peoples private lives, that is a direct consequence of moral teaching which is very much the business of the church as it is the business of parents to ensure their children learn the difference between right and wrong. Saying that telling people that we should not interfere with their private lives is like saying, "Well I love eating sweets and my doctor has no right to tell me that they may cause me to get fat." Edited by Penfold, Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:39.
|
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:34 Post #22 |
![]()
Administrator
|
Penfold I agree with all that you say, but I am concerned that the Church is not projecting the image, that we are the People of God, he is our teacher and saviour. The media do not help. We need to get the message across that we pray, we adore, and should be following the way of life taught to us by Jesus. I can only report the image as received by people I meet who have no connections with the Catholic Church. It is a fact that they think our idea of the Pope is the big boss who gives the orders as he personally thinks fit. "I've nothing against the Catholic Church but......" means the person does have something against it. "I'll tell you why I don't agree with your Church" is comical. I ask them why they want me to know. When I meet a Methodist I do not respond with "I'll tell you why I don't agree with Methodists". We have much in common. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Rose of York | Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:36 Post #23 |
![]()
Administrator
|
How about us spreading the Gospel. I say we need to know what Non-Catholics think we believe, then we can put them right. |
|
Keep the Faith! | |
![]() |
|
| Gerard | Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:42 Post #24 |
|
Do you think there was a little guy in Kodak saying "hey guys Canon digital cameras came from nowhere and just captured 25% of the market and they are still growing", only for the little guy to be ignored by everyone in Kodak? Gerry |
| "The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998). | |
![]() |
|
| Penfold | Monday, 18. June 2012, 20:44 Post #25 |
![]()
|
You are correct Rose but I am concerned that we may have put our own house in order before we go preaching the Gospel to others. |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · General Catholic Discussion · Next Topic » |
- Pages:
- 1
- 2








3:40 PM Jul 11