Christopher Kaczor

Introduction

Sins do not change the reality of the Catholic Church’s unity with Jesus. The Catholic Church remains united with Jesus (that is, remains holy) because of the work and action of Christ in 3 dimensions:

Jesus remains united with His Church in all 7 sacraments He instituted

The unity of Christ with His Church is evident in the saints, etc.

The unity of Christ with His Church in evident in the preservation of the Church ever from teaching falsehoods in faith and morals -- Jesus left us His Church as a living, authentic interpreter of His Gospel message down through the ages -- under the promised guidance of The Holy Spirit, this in done primarily through the Magisterium (the official teaching of the Catholic Church)

infallibility (inability to teach falsehood) vs. impeccability (inability to sin)

The official and formal teachings of the Catholic Church are infallible, but no one in the Church (on earth) is impeccable

Lord Macaulay once said, “After considerable study, and with some admitted regret as a Protestant, I must confess that I consider the Roman Catholic Church to be of divine origin, because no mere human institution run with such knavish imbecility could have survived two weeks.”

#1) The Myth of Catholic Irrationality

(“The Church Opposes Science”)

famous Catholic Scientists:

Rene Descartes discovered analytic geometry and the laws of refraction

Blaise Pascal invented the adding machine, hydraulic press, and math probabilities

Gregor Mendel founded modern genetics

Louis Pasteur founded microbiology, pasteurization, and vaccines for rabies & anthrax

Nicolaus Copernicus developed scientifically that Earth rotates around the sun

Fr. Georges Lemaitre first proposed the Big Bang theory

Alexander Fleming invented penicillin

Erwin Schrodinger, Nobel Laureate

John Eccles, Nobel Laureate

Alexis Carrel, Nobel Laureate

. . .

The centuries-long financial and institutional support of science by the Catholic Church enthusiastically continues to this day

The Catholic Church views faith and science as compatible, complementary, and mutually beneficial

“Creation or Evolution?”

Both literary and figurative readings of Genesis are theologically acceptable for Catholics (either one or both!)

Since there is a Creator with power over the entire universe, miracles are possible [even probable]

Galileo broke agreements, but the condemnation of him was an erroneous decision by the Church’s judicial dept, but had nothing to do with official teaching of faith and morals

(in answer to Richard Dawkins,) the Catholic Church opposes research that kills human embryos because:

It is a basic principle of ethics not to harm human beings without their consent

The ends never justify the means (i.e., evil cannot be done in order to achieve good

Contemporary biology has shown that the moment egg and sperm unite, a new, unique human being comes into existence, with all the rights therein

In fact, stem-cell research that does not involve killing embryos is not only permitted but actually funded by the Catholic Church

This research, using stems cells from adults or umbilical cords, has actually been developed into treatments that have already saved human lives

To date, despite billions of dollars [thrown at it], embryonic stem-cell research has not led to even one cure or a single effective treatment

#2) The Myth of Catholic Indifference to Earthly Welfare

(“The Church Opposes Freedom and Happiness”)

No other institution in the world provides more help to the poor and the needy than does the Catholic Church

But the Church does warn us that becoming fixated on material comfort can harm us greatly

Violation of God’s law (aka sin) is simultaneously and necessarily also a violation of our own happiness

Jesus taught much about the [dangers of] disordered love of money

Excessive love of money hurts us

The Church calls us all to a spirit of detachment from worldly goods and riches

Our financial bottom line should not be the bottom line of our lives

A “spirit of poverty’ should be sought by all, whereby worldly goods are used as tools for serving our neighbors

Happiness consists of rightly ordered love

All the prohibitions taught by the Church -- all the times she says “no” -- are all in the service of an overriding “yes” to love of God and neighbor

The Church exists to carry out the mission of Jesus, which is to reconcile all people to God the Father . . . [and] this spiritual emphasis itself contributes to people’s happiness

Religious involvement has been linked to improved mental health, and lower depression, suicide, substance abuse, delinquency, recidivism, and divorce rates

The central teachings of Jesus themselves facilitate happiness

Forgiveness is the trait most strongly linked to happiness

Gratitude is a close second

“Hope (which is a theological virtue) springs eternal”

It was the Catholic Church who first proposed differentiating the powers of the Church from the powers of the state

And she defended personal control over one’s life

She also championed free consent in marriage

She opposes communism and totalitarianism

The Church cannot take away anyone’s freedom -- nor does she want to

“We impose nothing, yet we propose ceaselessly.” -- Pope Benedict XVI

Every sin is an act of false freedom

For false freedom undermine the good of the human person by taking away happiness in this life -- and [potentially] in the next

“The Truth will make you free.” -- Jesus {Jn 8:31-32}

#3) The Myth of Catholic Misogyny

(“The Church Hates Women”)

Christ’s interactions with women suggests that He had an entirely new perspective on the dignity of women [than did] the time and culture in which He lived [among us]

Jesus (God) took his flesh from a woman (His Mother Mary)

Miracle at Cana at Mary’s behest {Jn 2:1-11}

Jesus healed women {Lk 8:1-3}, speaking kindly {Mk 5:24-34}

Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery {Jn 8:7}

Jesus spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria {Jn 4:10}

Christianity arose in an environment of universally assumed female inequality

Yet the Church espoused men and women as equals, partners, companions

The idea that there should be one moral code applicable equally to both genders originated with Christianity (including in sexual behavior)

Jesus’s prohibition against divorce protected women and families

Christianity = the only religion in world history to call for strict monogamy

The high # of women who converted to the Early Church indicates they were attracted to the Christian way of life

The incredible # of women dedicated to serving the Church for 2000 years makes it difficult to say the Church hates women

Teachers, sacristans, prophetesses, co-workers with the Apostles

“Why not women priests?” → The Church, in obedience to Christ, is free only to follow what Christ Himself has established

Christ established that the only proper recipients of the Sacrament of Holy Orders are baptized male

Jesus did not include any among the 12 Apostles

Even His Mother, the greatest human ever, was not one

Does not mean He devalued women, so neither is the Church when she follows His example

Jesus, the High Priest, is male

So should those who stand in persona Christi (priests)

Has any other organization educated more women? Fed more women? Clothed more women? Sheltered more women? Rescued more female infants from death? Offered more assistance and medical care to more mothers and their children? than the Catholic Church?!

The Catholic Church has done more than any other single institution in the world to promote the well-being of women in providing food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, education, etc.

The time, resources, and money expended by the Catholic Church as an institution to improve the well-being of women is simply impossible to reconcile with the idea that the Church is “anti-woman”

#4) The Myth of Opposition between Love and Procreation

(“Indifferent to Love, the Church Banned Contraception”)

Most challenging teaching?

Only understandable if value fertility and (having) children

Contraceptives undermine erotic love (vs. sexual attraction) -- acts against unity

Husband and wife exclusive

Empirical evidence show that having children lessens the likelihood of divorce

“In the end, life offers only one tragedy: not to have been a saint.” -- Charles Peguy, French poet

The desire to be God is thwarted by having children

Having children also helps us follow the teachings of Jesus

The Catholic Church does not teach that couples should have as many children as biologically possible

Instead, using natural family planning (NFP or FAB)

#5) The Myth of Catholic Homophobia and Inaction against HIV/AIDS

(“The Church Hates Gays”)

Actually, the Catholic Church champions respect for homosexual people, as she does all people

But she condemns the homosexual act because it is not open to new life (and therefore incompatible with the proper ordering of sexual activity)

We are all called to chastity, which means homosexuals are called to celibacy

She doesn’t advocate condoms because of morals, not prejudice

#6) The Myth that There is No Rational Basis for Limiting Marriage to One Man and One Woman

(“The Church Opposes ‘Same-Sex Marriage’ Because of Bigotry)

Not the same as race

#7) The Myth of Priestly Pedophilia

(“Priestly Celibacy Caused the Crisis of Sexual Abuse of Minors”)

Statistically not a greater chance in the Church

2 different things

But of course the Catholic Church condemns such acts

Vast majority of priests have never engaged

Why celibacy? Focused dedication & powerful witness

(note: wasn’t always required ; could change back)