There is a church in our diocese that once attracted Catholics who did not like rules. The pastor came across as big-hearted and inclusive. He welcomed everyone to the Eucharist at weddings and funerals, regardless of whether they were Catholic or not. He even personally encouraged non-Catholic spouses who attended Mass with their families to partake in the Eucharist. He did not encourage them to become Catholic, but simply to receive the Eucharist with everyone.
The music was lively and theatrical. Instead of a crucifix, there was a risen Christ. There were no kneelers, but then, you already knew that by now. That priest is gone now–laicized–and the current pastor sometimes experiences backlash for working to set things right. Some people have left, not liking the Catholic Church of rules they had originally sought to avoid.
A priest who adapted Catholic teachings and the Mass in his own style confused much of the congregation. Thus, those who attended this church for its lack of rules came to view the new priest as overly strict. Just recently, someone was upset with the new pastor when he said it was wrong to allow the blessing at the end of Mass–where everyone holds up their hands and sings, “May the blessings of the Lord be upon you….” to the tune of the Oscar Mayer hot dog commercial song.
“It is the priest, in the person of Jesus Christ who blesses people after Mass and sends them forth in peace to love and serve the Lord,” he said. “It’s not a time for people to bless each other.” But as he explained this, it seemed he was perceived as close-minded rather than one seeking to stay true to the Catholic Mass.
Setting Things Strait
It’s been three years since the new pastor took over and the dust is still settling. Some changes were immediate to correct liturgical abuses. Other changes have been gradual–kneelers, icons, and stained-glass windows take time. Properly catechizing the congregation also takes time. When a priest incorrectly does things in his own way, people come to believe that the Catholic Church is a church of options rather than “one” Church, teaching consistently throughout history in union with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
It has been said “we are what we pray” in that as Catholics; there is a unity of worship that makes us truly, “one”. In this era of modernism where self-expression is promoted, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is sometimes abused when a priest wrongly changes the rubrics (rules). Some of the changes are extreme enough to actually invalidate the Mass and thus deprive souls of the sacramental graces that come to them through the Eucharist.
Instead of looking at it as one priest adding a few personal touches here and there, multiply it by tens of thousands of priests around the world doing their own thing and the differences would multiply and drive us in different directions.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal is a key document governing the way Mass is celebrated. Basic directives explain how the Mass is to be celebrated. This does not mean there is no leeway at all.
Most national conferences of bishops will petition Rome for “adaptations” of the liturgy specific for their countries. The requests must be approved by Rome.
A priest or parish is part of the “one” body of Catholics. This unity is only possible through obedience to authority. Thus, a hierarchy is something that sets Catholics apart from other denominations. Authority begins with the Pope down to the Bishops, priests, and laity in religious matters.
Authority is Logical
To fully follow Christ, we need to follow the authority he laid down for us. Otherwise, we are no different than Protestant groups that rebelled against Catholic authority to start up their own churches. Denominational differences boil down to whose authority you follow. Your own? A favorite preacher? Martin Luther? The Catholic Church?
Some people within the Church think it’s fine to disagree on some matters of Church teaching. Yet Jesus cannot oppose himself. If one disagrees with the Church, who is most likely to be correct? Who did Jesus promise to lead in truth with the Holy Spirit; his Church or individuals?
“But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15)
Consider the following explanation from The Documents of Vatican II
(American Press 1966, p. 679)
Those who embrace the supremacy of human conscience by definition discard objective truth, because the unfettered “conscience” is notoriously flexible, compromising and rationalizing when temptation strikes.
Dissenters are very fond of quoting the Vatican II document Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom”), in support of their contention that we should be able to do anything our “conscience” does not object to.
However, Father John Courtney Murray, S.J., principal author of the Declaration, anticipated this kind of dishonesty. He stated in a footnote to the Abbott-Gallagher edition of the Council texts that:
The Declaration does not base the right to the free exercise of religion on “freedom of conscience.” Nowhere does this phrase occur. And the Declaration nowhere lends its authority to the theory for which the phrase frequently stands, namely, that I have the right to do what my conscience tells me to do, simply because my conscience tells me to do it. This is a perilous theory. Its particular peril is subjectivism–the notion that, in the end, it is my conscience, and not the objective truth, which determines what is right and wrong, true or false.
Is the Bible the Boss?
Catholics accept the Bible as our guide, but not over and above the Church. Sola scriptura, following scripture alone, is a phrase that was coined during the 1500s when Protestant Reformers broke with the Catholic Church. It rejects Church authority and claims the Bible and the Bible alone is our authority.
Consider that the Church is responsible for the Bible, not the other way around. When Jesus ascended into heaven he left a Church built upon the apostles who were guided by the Holy Spirit with authority to teach in His name. The New Testament came hundreds of years later, in A.D. 382, canonized by the Catholic Church. No Church authority, no Scripture.
During the time between Christ’s Ascension and the canon of the New Testament, the Church experienced a tremendous period of growth–all through word of mouth. The Church came first and the New Testament followed.
It’s the Church
From the beginning to the end, authority comes through the Church, from the top down. Unlike other Christian denominations, morality is not up for a vote. Catholic teachings are one—throughout history and across all nations. This is possible only by accepting Church authority as our guide to keep us one with each other and one with the same faith practiced by early Christians.
Jesus founded a living Church:
“Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.’” (Matt. 28:18-20) …As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)
The primacy and authority of the Church is established right from the beginning.
“Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account…” (Heb. 13:17)
Jesus taught us that the Church is in charge. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18: 17-18).
Jesus gave his apostles, the leaders of His Church, authority with supreme authority—“the keys to the kingdom” given to Peter. Our pope and bishops of today can trace their power back to Peter and the original apostles.
“Whoever listens to you, listens to me. Whoever rejects you, rejects me. And whoever rejects me, rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)
Some claim the Catholic Church fell into error through corruption and sin. Teaching without error is not the same as teaching without sin. There will be sinners in her hierarchy (and in all other churches for that matter). After all, Jesus began his Church knowingly with one of the most famous sinners–Judas. His Church was built on truth that existed through the power and protection of God in spite of any sinfulness on the part of Church members. Could this be why he included Judas, to show us this very point?
In spite of scandals, and constant opposition from the world during its nearly 2,000 years of existence, the Catholic Church continues to stand strong. It is today the most vigorous Christian church in the world (and the largest, with 1.2 billion members: one sixth of the human race).
The Church is One
Establishing the reasons we follow Church authority is what keeps us one. There are an endless number of things a pastor can decide for himself, but Catholic teaching and adherence to the liturgy come down from the authority of the Church.
The Roman Catholic Church is united throughout the world as one. The word “Catholic” means “universal” or “all nations.” The word of God calls for, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:4). Jesus says, “I will build my Church” (Matt. 16:18) not churches.
The Roman Catholic Church has one head, the pope, and there is one teaching. We can attend Mass in Switzerland or Guatemala or Australia and it should be essentially the same Mass. No other Christian religion can make this worldwide claim, as one united body. Jesus Christ left one Church and the Catholic Church lays claim to be that Church, the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. It is “one” in faith and “one” in sacrifice, has one divine head (Christ) and one earthly head (the Pope). The Church is “catholic or universal in that it is the church of all nations. The Church is “apostolic” tracing its origins back in an unbroken line to the Apostles. No other church possesses all four of these marks.
Within the Catholic Church, we can look for a parish that we are comfortable in, but any church with a priest who breaks away from Catholic teaching and tradition is breaking with the one body. Since that body is the body of Christ, it’s best to stay close and stay one.
Copyright © 2013, Patti Maguire Armstrong
Patti Maguire Armstrong
Patti Maguire Armstrong and her husband have ten children. She currently works as a communications specialist with Teresa Tomeo Communications and worked in the fields of social work and public administration before staying home. Patti is an award-winning writer, speaker and was managing editor and co-author of Ascension Press’s Amazing Grace Series. She has appeared on EWTN, and Catholic TV as well as radio stations across the country. Her latest books, Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories from Everyday Families (Scepter Publishers) and Dear God I Don’t Get It (for children from Liguori Publications), will be released in Spring 2013. To read more visit Patti’s blog and website. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook at her author page.
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