Catholics Feel on the Subject

¶ … Catholics feel on the subject of "socially conservative Catholics"

Many Catholic Churches in modern society offer anyone that wants to worship an opportunity to do so, regardless of their lifestyle or former habits. This is the case with many liberal churches, including St. Francis Catholic Church in Sacramento, where church members come from all different backgrounds and belief systems. Catholics that are not socially conservative are more tolerant of others; they do not always hold harsh feelings toward groups that fall outside the "normal" description one might hold of a Catholic. For example, the California Catholic Daily (2007) interviewed many people about their feelings on Catholicism and conservative Catholics attending church. The interviews took place at St. Francis Assisi church in Sacramento. According to the results of the survey handed out to church-goers in this non-conservative Catholic church, the parish is "tolerant" which is easily verified through a wealth of events it has hosted recently including a "Service of Remembrance" for the parents, families and friends of "lesbians and gays" something a conservative branch would not allow (Vigil Studios, 1). Other people describe non-conservatives as "inclusive" meaning they are willing to accept people that are open-minded or "progressive" into the Catholic faith, and not punish them for their lifestyle choices (Vigil Studios, 1).

St. Francis of Sacramento is one of many Catholic churches that now allow women "priests" to participate in services. Many non-conservative Catholics are calling for what the St. Francis spokespeople label "a radical shift in worldview" given the many different people that now populate the earth and follow the Catholic faith.

Some Catholics however, have mixed views of this ultra liberal form of Catholicism. They look on conservative Catholicism with some distress, because many more "free spirited" Catholics feel conservative Catholicism is too repressive and not "inclusive of the current population of believers" (Sister Helen, CA Catholic Daily, 2007). Thomas Merton, a founder of the Center for Catholic Spiritual Development, reports in the CA Catholic Daily that it is important to understand that Jesus "was the Savior who works miracles, rescues from bondage and delivers us from sin and evil." He believes it is the role of the Catholic Church and the Catholic people to help provide "sanctuary" for all people's regardless of their practices. The role of the Catholic Church is to try and "propagate the faith" rather than discriminate against groups of people as the conservative Catholic might do. Thompson also acknowledges that people of the liberal Catholic religion understand the role of "mystics in world wisdom" and hence do not think interacting with intuitive people to be an act of evil, unlike some conservative Catholics, who claim belief in such "powers" is sinful and will result in banishment to Hell (Thompson Merton, CA Catholic Daily, 2007).

Readers' commenting on the Conservative movement note that they are proud to be more tolerant and state that tolerance is necessary for any Catholic Church that wants to remain sustainable in today's society. They also believe that criticizing people that are intolerant however, like people that are Conservative Catholics, does no good because it only perpetuates harsh feelings toward other which is sinful.

However, there are other individuals like Amy that believe Conservative Catholics are good people because they follow the original doctrine as laid forth by Jesus and God in the Bible. Amy suggests that "it is not ok to let homeless people sleep on their steps" and that regardless of one's faith, any Catholic, whether conservative or not has a job to help that person and provide them with sanctuary. However, she doesn't believe that the church should acknowledge gay marriages, as do some of the liberal churches in California that claim to practice Catholicism.

Many devout Catholics suggest that the conservative approach is much better than the liberal approach quotes Amy, because it is impossible to label a Catholic church as tolerant or intolerant. It is also according to the interviewee, impossible to believe in such liberal ways as the California St. Francis Church, because it seems like the priest is making up his own rules and interpreting the bible as he sees fit, which is not an acceptable practice among most Catholics, even if they are not conservative in their beliefs. Many Catholics, according to Amy, would rather attend a devout service at a conservative church of Catholicism than at a "tolerant" or liberal Catholic Church where women are allowed to be priests and where gays and lesbians are allowed to participate in the holy sacraments.