Rediscover Catholicism

Today I began to read the Matthew Kelly book, Rediscover Catholicism.  He offers this book at very reduced prices to churches who wish to give it out to every member.  You can even get 6 free copies yourself for only $18 S&H.  I will post late about what I learn.

This post isn't just about the book, though.  The first few pages do, however, speak to what I saw today in a news story.  A story that honestly made my heart hurt.

It was a story on CNN.com about the Pope's visit to World Youth Day in Spain.  Now, the substance of the story is irrelevant to my writing, for what pained my heart so badly were the comments after the story.  Every one of the comments spewed hatred and insults toward the Pope, the Church, and Christianity in general.

This writing is not a defense of the Catholic Church.  It is not even a defense of Christianity or religion as a whole.  It is an observation about how much people have lost their faith in any kind of religion.  Here is where what I read in Rediscover Catholicism today comes into play.

Matthew Kelly basically states that part of the disenchantment with Christianity today is because people see it as no different than any other establishment.  People want to see truth, integrity, goodness, and love.  People have left the Church or don't bother with religion at all because they don't see the "churchgoers" as being any different than them.  Why should I go to church when all I see is hypocrites?  Now, granted, churches are filled with sinners and hypocrites...that is why they exist.  To help us become better people.  But if we don't become better people, then what good are they? 

Kelly says "Our siblings, parents, and children are sending us this message, as are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues.  They are saying, whispering, crying out, 'Don't tell me--show me!'"  We need to stop talking about our faith and our belief in God and start living that belief.  We need to show people our Christianity by what we do on a daily basis, how we act and treat people.  Words are empty if not followed with actions...sincere actions.

I think that is why whenever there is a story that has anything to do with religion, and especially so the Catholic Church, the comments are simply evil.  I believe that society has heard the Christian churches talk a good talk, but their walk seems to follow a different path.  Ever wonder why Muslims speak of how the Muslim faith teaches peace but no one believes them?  We need to start really following our beliefs if we really believe them.

In the Catholic Church alone, we have politicians who are pro-choice when the Church obviously is not.  We have members of congregations who use birth control, promote homosexuality or other teachings that are not in line with the Church because they don't want to follow those teachings.  Cafeteria Catholics, those who pick and choose the teachings they will follow, set a bad example for society and especially their children.  The same goes for any denomination.  If your church teaches one thing, and you do another, then you are not a good example.

Society has come to view religion as useless because no one follows what they are supposedly "believing" anyway.  It is time to do some soul-searching and decide...what do I believe and then be an example of that belief.