In Search of an Honest Believer

The Catholic Church since the beginning of the modern culture wars obsesses over abortion but ignores a whole host of ills, especially those within itself. I cannot understand the rationale seemingly adopted by American Christians of allowing the destruction of our democracy as a means to save the unborn. Jesus advocated a different revolution, a spiritual revolution. He did not advocate cultural warfare, fascism or any  -isms; rebellion against secular authority, or the demonization of secular society to the point of murderous hatred, sedition, treason, violent insurrection and the promulgation of a Kingdom of Lies.  Jesus did not need nor did he seek state power to practice his sanctity or ministry.  It is not the right purpose of the Catholic Church or any other self-identified Christian church to seek power over society.  The only authentic mission of any church claiming Jesus Christ is the preaching of the Gospel and the imitation of Jesus' ministry through good works. This mission is not accomplished by force, judgement, persecution, attack on civil government, or mob rule. The only authentic method of conversion of souls-- as demonstrated by Jesus and the early church--is by EXAMPLE and with radical love.  As Roger Williams states, that cannot be a true religion which needs  carnal weapons to uphold it. 

For the past few years I've been in search of an authentic Catholic priest or deacon or lay person with whom to hold a civil dialogue and work out my scruples over returning to the Church. In 2018 I sought such counsel at a church near to where I lived at the time and spoke with a Deacon who was available for such counseling. He was a Trump supporter and our dialogue did not draw me further in but pushed me farther away.  Since then on and off I've engaged in something of a letter writing campaign to find a better interlocutor and to raise to authority figures my concerns over the extremism in conservative Catholic communities which in part led to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. Many Bishops have not only publicly supported Trump they have also claimed it is a sin to vote for Democratic Party candidates, or to belong to the Democratic Party, etc., mostly over the issue of abortion/sexuality [as if those were the only, or the worst, 'sins']

This demonization of secular society is misguided and inappropriate. Is the entire Catholic Church reduced to a single issue when the very dignity and freedom of human beings and life itself on earth is at stake?! So I decided to blog about it. I did manage to connect with a priest at a prestigious and long established Catholic publication but he was soon done with me and though not particularly politicized, still refused to acknowledge that my concerns are valid. 

I hope to write about what I believe is more damaging than sin as most religious people define it:   the DENIAL of sin.  Denying wrongdoing has always seemed to me to be the most destructive force;  more destructive and evil than the original crime which is being denied. I feel this way because I grew up with alcoholics who in their entire lives could  not comprehend or ever admit the terrible abuse they made us suffer. And this is why conservatives and religious hypocrites trigger me so much:  they refuse to admit to their own wrongs and in general are the Pharisees whom Christ rebuked. They are Pharisees, and *People of the Lie. I welcome dialogue and feedback.  Thank you. 

*People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck