Modernizing the Catholic Church
...e they are incapable of actual sin; and both.” (www.catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp) The Catholic Church says, they wish to purify the infants’ sole before they have the chance to commit actual sin but is there an underlying need to keep their number of followers up? Is the Church afraid that if they wait until the infant is of age to decide whether of not to accept Jesus Christ as their savior that they will choose against it? Also, just because Catholic parents baptize their baby does not mean they will take him/her to mass and perform the rest of the sacraments. Perhaps parents feel it is their duty to have their child baptized even if they do not fully understand the meaning of their sacraments. For example, I was baptized with my cousin, and while I grew up attending mass every week, her family stopped going. This problem extends onto the next two sacraments. First communion is generally received at an early elementary age, somewhere around second grade. In my parish, all the PREP students were to receive first communion at the same time. It became more of a social event than a spiritual one. I memorized prayers and practiced receiving communion but as a second grader, I did not fully understand what I was learning. Just because the rest of my class was going to receive first Communion, did that mean that I was ready to? Naturally, neither my parents nor I wanted to stray from the group, so I barrowed a white dress, received the body and blood of Christ and celebrated with a party following the mass. The same process occurred six years later when it was time for me to be confirmed into my church. As an eighth grader, I had many other things on my mind besides being confirmed into my church. I knew Confirmation would give me a more important position in the Church, I never actually understood what that position meant. Father Stretch, a priest from my Perish at home, “Incarnation,” feels likewise on the subject. In a recent interview he stated that “consummation comes at a time when students are more interested in sports, school, and friends. They should be allowed to come back and receive confirmation when they feel they are ready. This needs to be okay with not just the parents but with the Church as well.” (3-3-04) Once again, along with all of the others in my PREP class, I memorized my prayers, studied a saint, and completed the sacraments of confirmation. Unfortunately, now that we became true members of the Church, the majority of my classmates stopped attending mass. So, did the Church actually reach its goal, by confirming members who will not regularly actually attend mass? The last sacrament that poses a problem is the one regarding marriage. In particular, the marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. In order for a Catholic to have their marriage to someone not of the Catholic faith they must sign a paper. This is called the “Canonical From of Marriage” and it has been the law of the Church since the Council of Trent. [Also] If Roman Catholics wish to be married in the Church of their non-Catholic spouse or before a non-Catholic minister, they must receive a dispensation from the Diocesan Bishop in order to be validly married. (http://www.dwc.org/questions/Annulments/annul3.htm) The Church wishes to ensure that the couples will raise their children in the Catholic faith. Is it ethical though, to pressure a couple if perhaps they do not wish to raise their children in the Catholic faith, or if they chose to let their children chose their own course of faith, just so that they can have their marriage validated? This is a violation of our country’s basic rights. The next area of concern is the topic of women in the church. During an interview with an active priest from my perish, the topic was brought up. We will call him Father G, as he expressed a desire to remain anonymous. When asked “why have women been looked down upon throughout history and never been permitted into priesthood? He responded: “Jesus Christ intended it to be this way. He never allowed women to be one of his Apostles.” (3-2-04) This is concerning for many reasons especially that in The Bible, there are numerous accounts that disclose the equality between man and women. Take for example, (insert quote from “Mark 10:6-9) To begin a solid argument promoting women priests, one must start at the beginning. In baptism everyone is cleansed of their sins equally with Jesus as their savior. “All who are baptized in Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer any ddiscrimination between the Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female.” (Galatians 3:28). The Catholic Church of today still has a medieval aura to it because it persists in keeping males and females’ roles separate. Today, women have worked hard for equal rights and now they work alongside men in every area except the Church. Women are not allowed to be ordained into the priesthood despite the fact that Christ receives them just the same as men in baptism. When questioned on this topic, Pope John Paul II disclosed little interest. He repeatedly states that the Church does not have the authority to ordain women priests. However, his statements are putting the Church at risk, because it violates the basic sense of justice. Most Catholics see his statements as contrary to Jesus’ message of equality and the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which taught, “every type of discrimination based on sex is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent.” (Fiedler 1). The Pope holds all the cards in his hand and when he refuses to discuss such a pressing matter, he is increasing the difficulty for change to occur. Another basis for women to be ordained into priesthood is that one important biblical character we know as Mother Mary. Today there are several groups dedicated solely to Mother Mary. My great Uncle Elmer is a brother in a Marianist Ministry at Chaminade University. Honolulu, Hawaii. Him and his brothers dedicate all their studying and prayers to Mother Mary. One of their daily prayers begins with this verse…. (insert “ ”). If a woman can be the heart and sole of such a large and influential group, it seems only practical that women should be the leaders of those churches. Who can better relate to Mother Mary than women. To sum this argument up, auther Maureen Fiedler poses this statement for the general public and the church’s contemplation: “And in a church where parishes are closing for the lack of clergy, excluding half the human race from the priesthood sends the message that sexist ideology is more important than the sacraments.” (Fiedler 1) The...