Catholics and credibility
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:date: 2016-04-05T12:26:15
:category: faith
:tags: blogComment, FirstThings, ecumenism, Catholics, credibility, trust

(originally started as a comment on `the article on First
Things`_).

.. _`the article on First Things`:
    https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2016/04/to-render-the-deeds-of-mercy

I completely agree with all this article says about the God's
mercy. Unfortunately, it seems to me that you mostly ignored the
path through the natural law, God’s teaching get to people. As
I see it (and yes, I am a Protestant, so I just look from the
outside) the biggest reason why so many Catholics don't follow
the teaching of the Magisterium is that the hierarchy lacks
credibility and trust of its people. And trust is something which
can be only earned or lost, not demanded.

Why should Catholic married couple put their life on the line
(literally, if I am not mistaken a pregnant woman is not allowed
to get the abortion even if she is in a danger of her health),
when the hierarchy doesn't? Particularly in the sexual arena, we
have Cardinal Law living comfortably in Vatican instead of being
in a jail, where (many believe) he belongs? In the non-sexual
sphere, we have former bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst
helicoptered to Vatican as well, and he most likely won't face
prosecution of defrauding his diocese of millions of Euros for
his personal luxury. Getting to it, why should lay Catholics
living out there in the wild follow teachings of those who are
living a life with insurance (if you screw up too much, you will
be lifted to Vatican to avoid embarrassment for the Catholic
Church; and yes I know that particularly your diocese was not
involved in any of such scandals)?

Hmm, a thought sneaks in: why there is a Vatican as a separate
state at all? All other religions in the world, all other
denominations are doing just fine without their own special banks
following their own rules (and laundering money while doing that;
and if a bishop talks about it, he is immediately sacked …
e.g., bishop Róbert Bezák of Trnava, Slovakia), hiding people
who do not deserve to be hidden, etc.

I am afraid the change will happen only when the Catholic
hierarchy will start to really desire credibility. When the
relevance and impact of the Gospel will be more important for
them than their comfort, security, and insured life. Perhaps,
abolishing the Vatican statehood may be one good step?