i have seen in the media that alot of catholics are unhappy with the conservative stance of the church.do most catholics think that Gods laws change when society changes or is the media putting a liberal slant on things?
2006-06-25 07:21:54 · 14 answers · asked by stranger in a strange land 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A) First, understand that you're dealing with three levels of law here.
1. The Divine, which cannot be changed, only become better and more clearly understood as time and study allow.
2. Man's laws, which are subject to change as times and customs change.
3. The Church's laws, which do change, but only in part and only over lengthy periods of time.
Divine Law says that thou shalt not kill.
Man's law refines this to making murder a capital offense if it is deliberate, planned and intended.
The Church says that because it has the Keys, it can interpret the Divine law according to the times and customs and usage of man and man's law. Thus, there may be times when killing is the only option, as in defense (war) or self-defense.
B) On some issues the Church may alter or enlarge its definitions. On others it MUST remain adamant.
For instance, the Church's stance on the divinity AND the humanity of Christ must NEVER be altered in the slightest. He is True God AND True Man. Period!
C) But there are issues on which the Church could and perhaps should be looking to update. Such issues as priestly celibacy or even women in the priesthood may be due for a rethink.
D) What discombooberates folks is that the Church historically has a record of taking its own sweet time to think about, argue about and ultimate decide about any change.
This is the best example I know.
When all the civilized world was busy using that brand-spanking new, wonderful invention, vellum, the Church stuck to good old papyrus. When all the civilized world was using that brand-spanking new and wonderful invention, parchment, the Church stuck to good old vellum. When all the civilized world was using that brand-spanking new, wonderful invention, paper, the Church stuck to good old parchment. You get the drift. Holy Mother Church has 2,000 YEARS of inertia. It takes awhile to overcome that large a force. But God's promise is that He will not abandon His Church to error, so we rest easy on His word and the Church takes her own sweet time and eventually gets it right. And we all get a lesson in just WHY patience is a virtue.
As for the media, well, Jesus told us about those guys. They are the ones in AND of this world and they hate our guts. Anything they do to weaken or destroy us is meat and mother's millk to them. And it DOES sell newspapers. Which means added revenues. Which, when you're committed to life in AND of this world, is a stark necessity. Persecution is old stuff to a believer. Worry when they pull out stakes and ******* of wood. In the meantime, go with the Church's flow.
2006-06-25 07:51:13 · answer #1 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The catholic church has been evolving over the years to take away the bad habits and add more that are more fit for this world
I am catholic and personally I am not unhappy with the conservative stance.. I think they give us a set of rules to live by, if we choose to accept them its our responsability
Im not american, and I disagree with many things the media has to say about many subjects, as im sure a lot of people do... This is one of them
2006-06-25 14:28:39 · answer #2 · answered by jcnofear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic Church's idea is that change is necessary for the sake of the gospel. The gospel proclaimed by Jesus isnt a secret code or mystery known to a few elite. It is something that can be written down in a creed, celebrated in worhip and used as the basis for other decisions. Since Jesus' work was complete our main task is to live out what he intended. If anyone attempts to make major changes in teaching they are discounting the intentions of Christ.
2006-06-25 14:31:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says, "By there fruit, ye shall know them"! I agree with the statement, it's not just the catholic, it is most all beliefs.
Things change, times change, But Again, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever"! God does not change with time nor fads and fashions. It is us who change!
Now there is another statement made by annysweety. The media does lie, it does hide the truth, but the people begin to come forward with the truth about child molestation and many other crimes, well, is this the media tainting the faith, or have they tainted themselves? I am not trying to be ugly, just my opinion!
God Bless all
2006-06-25 14:43:44 · answer #4 · answered by evangel777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that most people, regardless of religious affiliation, believe that God's laws change as society changes. Many people have said to me, "The Bible doesn't apply today. It was written centuries ago when things were different." I don't think it's just a Catholic thing....
2006-06-25 14:30:58 · answer #5 · answered by Kimberly D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't think most catholics think like that, it's all about the media and trying to give a bad image of the church. And the persons that think in that way maybe they should ask if they really think they can be called catholics. If you're in something you most be 100% in it
2006-06-25 14:42:37 · answer #6 · answered by Min 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree! See, a few years ago, commiting suicide was considered an unforgivable sin in the Catholic Church (i.e. If you commit suicide, you go straight to hell) But that changed because the Church said, "What if someone askes for forgiveness right before they die?"
Now, homosexuality is considered unforgivable. Right now, it seems like the Catholic Church is just playing a game of tag, and now homosexuals are it. What/who is it next? I consider myself a very strong believer in God, but the political views of the church are making me think twice about giving my money on Sundays. I mean seriously, how is it fair. In the eyes of the Church, killing someone is okay as long as you ask for forgiveness and repent. But if you're gay, you're going straight to hell? Who here agrees?
2006-06-25 14:29:38 · answer #7 · answered by Angela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well all of Gods Law change with the time and people.
People forgive and forget, so they change a law of god nothing unusual, its was made to be manipulated to fit the occasion, as long as the core stays intact
2006-06-25 14:37:30 · answer #8 · answered by man of ape 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree 100% with that statement...doesn't just apply to Catholics though, nearly every religion changes its views w/ society.
2006-06-25 14:24:47 · answer #9 · answered by DougDoug_ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that ts the media putting a liberal slant on things cause i think that even though society is changing like so much and so fast you should always keep your beleifs and shrugg off wat you know is wrong.
2006-06-25 14:25:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋