Dear Fr. Loi,
I’m very confused about my stand on some issues. I’m a Catholic, and proud to be one. In as much as I want to take the same stand as the Church on many issues, I can’t help it that some of my personal beliefs run counter to the Church’s. For example, the Church is not in favour of same sex marriage, contraception, or women serving as priests. I am sympathetic to the “causes” supported by gay couples and women, mainly because I know of many gay people and women who are upright, responsible, and good people. My opinions are not consistent with what is espoused by the Church. Does that make me a bad Catholic? How can I uphold my own free will and still abide by the Church?
Ms Dilemma
Hello Ms Dilemma,
I thank you for expressing honestly and openly your confusions on some issues on which the Catholic Church continuously stands firm. Reading your letter carefully, your concern is more on your personal beliefs that run counter to the Catholic Church teachings.
The Teachings and Traditions of the Catholic Church are not done overnight but rather thought carefully, prayerfully through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Magisterium will not release a particular teaching without a thorough reflection and reference to the Scripture, Traditions and History of Human Salvation through the salvific action of Jesus Christ as an expression and manifestation of God’s infinite mercy and love for humanity.
On some issues that you mentioned as examples, the Church cannot contradict what God has instituted from the beginning, that, marriage is between a man and a woman, and the Church has no power at all to change what God has instituted. Therefore same sex marriage is out of question in the Catholic Church. The Church does not condemn homosexuals or gays because they too are dignified human beings created in the image of God. However, there are issues that need to be sorted out and cleared.
Same thing can be said in the issue of women ordination. We all have shared the common priesthood that we received in our baptismal consecration. However, the Sacrament of Holy Orders is a way of life that conforms to the complete imitation of Christ, that is, the high priest and celibate. Our God became flesh and had chosen a particular place, time, and gender. These are given facts that the Church has no power to change at all.
Lastly, it is always good to question one’s faith and beliefs in search for answers and ultimately the truth. Your dilemma doesn’t make you a bad Catholic, in fact, it is an opportunity or a beginning of a faith-seeking-understanding journey (Theology) towards purification of faith and belief. This can be done by taking some basic/introduction courses on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Upholding your free will, with basic knowledge on the Catholic Teachings, will certainly help you reconcile with some complicated issues in our society in conformity with the Magisterium of the Church.
