LETTERS

The Crisis of Faith

In reference to your (Father Hardon) article and that of Orlando Lyra appearing in the March/April 1996 edition of The Catholic Faith; both echo the same theme but with different explanations of the root cause of the crisis of faith. The existence of the crisis is mentioned frequently in all of the five Catholic journals to which I subscribe. Indeed, it is not limited to Catholic journals. Surely, you are familiar with the polls reported in the lay press that the majority of Catholics "disagree" with the Pope on the sinfulness of premarital sex, the use of contraceptives, the sinfulness of homosexual activity, married priests, woman priests and the doctrine of transubstantiation. In addition, only a small majority agree with the Pope on abortion. Yes, this is the Crisis of our Church. However, what seems to me to be a perfectly clear basic cause is ignored by almost all Catholic writers. Almost certainly, it is the failure of the apostolic successors to carry out the command of Christ, i.e., to teach. The silence of our priests and bishops on matters of faith and morals and on the teachings of the magisterium of the Church at Mass has to be the single most important cause of the crisis.

You suggest an intrusion of alien ideas; Lyra suggests apathy and laziness of Catholics. Alien ideas would properly come under the heading of "the gates of hell." (I have often wondered whether or not suicide could be excluded by that phrase) My experience suggests that the true feelings of many Catholics is disappointment, disillusion and disgust with the silent policy of our church leaders rather than apathy or laziness.

Most Catholics attend weekly Mass at least sometimes. It is the perfect place to teach but our priests (said to be under the orders of our bishops) are totally silent on the very moral issues that plague Catholics.

Our exegetes had demolished the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura yet our priests practice it. Surely the scriptures are sacred and necessary but Christ did not write a book or tell anyone to write one. He said to TEACH! If not at Mass, where else?

One can attend Mass 365 days a year and never hear one single word about abortion or a prayer for the unborn. The silence of our priests on this, the greatest holocaust in human history makes mockery of the martyrs. Furthermore, we never hear of the encyclicals of the Holy Father or the reasons for his decisions. Indeed, we rarely hear of the negative commandments of the Decalogue.

One must either conclude that Catholics are evil people who turn their back on the teachings of the Church, or are innocently ignorant of the teachings of the church. The latter becomes obvious to anyone engaging in discussions with Catholics on moral problems.

On March 28, 1996 we read in the national news that a Catholic woman will accept excommunication by Bishop Bruskewitz because she says, "My conscience tells me I have to go on with this" (belonging to a group the bishop includes in his threat of excommunication). Has that woman ever heard a homily on the Pope's teachings on the objectivity of morality and the evils of relativism, subjectivism and presumptionism?

Rather than alien ideas weakening Catholics, it is the lack of continuing education about the teachings of the Church that is most sorely lacking. Rather than apathy and laziness, consider the probability that the silence in our Mass on moral issues and on the teachings of the Holy Father is the prime cause of the "Crisis of Faith."

-John J. Cranley MD.

Naples, Florida

Father Hardon responds:

Your letter of explanation for the widespread crisis of faith in the Catholic Church today was most welcome. Every issue which you raise can be verified by the experience of what is going on in one Western country after another.

The encyclical of our Holy Father, Veritatis Splendor, could almost be called a commentary on what I believe is the principal thesis of your letter. Regarding the widespread intrusion of alien ideas or the apathy of so many Catholics on the Church's teaching, you suggest that, "The true feelings of many Catholics is disappointment, disillusion, and disgust with the silent policy of our Church leaders rather than apathy or laziness." You observe that, "Most Catholics attend weekly Mass at least some times. It is the perfect place to teach what our priests (said to be under the orders of our bishops) are totally silent on the very moral issues that plague Catholics."

If there is one theme to Pope John Paul's Veritatis Splendor it is the grave obligation that the Church's clergy have to teach what Christ wants the faithful to believe and practice. Let me illustrate, in a series of pointed questions and answers based on Veritatis Splendor. They are part of a catechism that I am planning to publish:

To whom is the Encyclical addressed?

It is directly addressed to the bishops of the Catholic Church who share with the bishop of Rome responsibility for safeguarding sound teaching (5).

What does it mean to form our conscience?

This means to be taught by the Church's Magisterium what God expects of us in the moral order. Our conscience is thus formed or educated by the Church as our divinely ordained Mother and Teacher (64).

What is the great duty for the Church in our day?

It is the duty of proclaiming the truth to the world. So many people today do not know who they are, where they come from and where they are going. Pilate's question, "What is truth?" is tormenting millions who do not have the answer. But the Church has the answer. She has learned from Christ that He is the Truth whom we are to believe; that our loving submission to His will can alone free us from the chains of our selfish slavery (85).

What is to be said about dissent from the Church's moral teaching?

Dissent in the form of carefully orchestrated protests and polemics carried on in the media is opposed to ecclesial communion, and to a correct understanding of the hierarchical constitution of the people of God. The Church's pastors have the duty to act in conformity with their apostolic mission, insisting on the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity (113).

Who, then, has the primary duty to teach the faithful their moral responsibilities?

It is the bishops, as successors of the Apostles, who have the main duty to teach the people of God what God expects of them in living good moral lives. This is especially true today, when so much of the Church's moral teaching is being challenged and even openly denied (114).

As you can see, the Holy Father is absolutely clear in declaring the grave responsibility of bishops and priests to teach Catholic doctrine on faith and morals courageously and without ambiguity. The faithful depend on the Church's leaders to know what Christ wants them to believe and how they are to live in order to attain eternal life.

Let me know how I can be of further service in your legitimate concern about the teaching of Catholic doctrine in the modern world.

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The Global Market

I would like to order the products advertised in your magazine The Catholic Faith Jan./Feb. 1996 issue on page 20. But unfortunately I can't find their address on the ad. I should be grateful if you could assist me with the address.

In the future it would be better, if advertisements in your magazine are supplied with their address, for overseas buyers.

-Savariar A. George, Jr.

Ipoh, Malaysia

We are pleased to hear from our international readers. Thanks for the tip. I hope our advertisers respond appropriately. The address you want is:

Dumb Ox Books

237 N. Michigan St.

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-The Editor

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Appreciation

I have just received my first issues of The Catholic Faith. Thank you for your part in publishing such a fine resource for the enrichment of our faith. I have enjoyed all of the articles, and gained much insight through them. One, in particular, has caught my attention: "Children for the Church" by Kevin Brock in Volume 2, Number 1 (Jan./Feb. 1996).

When I read "Children for the Church" I found it expresses many of the things our family has found to be true in our faith journey.

-Maryann Marshall

Rogersville, TN