Is there still a place for Catholics on Catholica? (Main Forum)

by Jerome , Thursday, July 12, 2012, 22:31 (314 days ago) @ CathyT

Cathy, thank you for pinpointing once again this forum’s preoccupation with the negative aspects of the Catholic bureaucracy.
There is so much in Catholic communities that is very positive.
However the unfortunate facts are that in media, even this forum, anything to do with ordinary people doing wonderfully good things, is just boring.
Only the extraordinary and the abnormal draw our attention and thus get sensationalised.
You say: “Surely there is much that is good that we could also focus on, at least occasionally?”
I know there is!
Perhaps much of the good that is being done is by people who are far too busy to even read the posts to this forum. Perhaps!

You say: “But for me it is vitally important to feel connected with a world-wide movement that directly connects me with millions of other people, not just across space but also across time. Similarly, I strongly believe that change in the Church needs to grow out of - not discard - our rich heritage that has developed over the centuries."
I agree!
However this “growing out of our rich heritage...” is a process that is being frustrated by the current bureaucracy.
It is a bit of a vicious circle.
It means that we struggle within our own parishes and small groups to develop that growth in spite of the bureaucracy!

You say: “I see the Church as being all of us, not just the hierarchy.”
I agree!
And the wonderful contributions of the people who make up the “all of us” just do not get into the headlines.
Those stories are just plain good, lacking any kind of the abnormal or the sensational and therefore just boring!
Isn’t it sad?

You say:..... “they are inspired by their faith to live this way, and so in that sense they are the Catholic Church in action! I am proud to feel a sense of identity with them.”
I agree!
And there are also many others who do not profess to be Catholic, who also lead inspirational lives.
They have those same great values that the Gospels dwell on.

You say: “It'd just be good if those of us who still identify as Catholics can just sometimes find a more positive view of Catholicism here!”
I agree!
This issue has been raised a number of times over the last few years in this forum.
Wouldn’t it be a reasonable thing to ask that contributors share a positive and constructive story for every negative one that they raise? ......Or, let us be generous, for every 2 or 3 negative contributions they make??

Cathy, thank you again for your contributions to this forum.
Your points of view are so important, because without them this forum would diminish and sink into a quagmire of negativity rather than a celebration of all the good that is going on everywhere!