WHY BE CATHOLIC
Ask a few volunteers to share their answers to the question, “Why be Catholic?”
The name “Catholic” is first found in 107 A.D. in a writing of St. Ignatius of Antioch: “Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” The word has two meanings: universal and orthodox (faithful).
Orthodox (faithful):
(a) Jesus built his Church on Peter and the apostles. The Catholic Church is the only Church among the christian bodies which retains that apostolic connection (Matt. 16:16—19; Matt. 28:16—20; John 13:1—1 3; John 21:15—1 7; Acts 1—2). The christian groupings of the Reformation broke with the apostolic catholic tradition in the 16th century and have remained that way ever since. Ecumenism means undoing the rupture which the Reformation caused and bringing all the churches together again into the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church under the the successor of St Peter (the Pope) whom Jesus make head of the Church. We are not at liberty to change the plain teaching of Scripture and Tradition ('thou are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church').
(b) Through the successors of Peter, (the rock) and the apostles—the Pope and bishops—the apostolic tradition assures us with the protection of the Holy Spirit, that the Church’s teaching today is in line with that of Jesus and the apostles. This is the reason why the protestant and anglican traditions are in dissaray over numerous moral issues - they haven't got 'Peter' to guide them. They need him more than ever today. There are thousands of protestant 'churches' but only one Catholic Church founded by Christ. The Catholic church has never changed its teaching on any faith or moral issues throughout its entire history. This alone is enough to prove its authenticity. The other christian groupings have vascilated on doctrinal and moral issues quite a bit over the years. A good example of this are the issues of homosexuality and contraception. The Holy Spirit is not divided on these or any other moral issues for that matter. The teaching of the Holy Spirit is mediated with conviction through the catholic church. As Scripture says: 'that which is divided against itself cannot stand'.
(c) The apostolic Tradition, which predates the New Testament, gives the Church authority in interpreting the Scriptures. The New Testament came from the Catholic Church. Before He ascended into Heaven Jesus didn't instruct anyone to make a written record of his life or teaching. He left that to the Catholic Church. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the Catholic Church endorsed the writings of the New Testament and eventually decided which books both in Old and New Testmanents were inspired and which weren't. It was only in the 4th Century that Pope Damasene 1st sealed the Canon of Scripture and it remained in place for well over a 1000 years until the Old Testament was tampered with by Luther and his lackies. They dropped six or seven books from the Old Testament. Luther's dictum was 'sola scriptura' but there is no mention of the word 'sola' in Scripture itself. He made that up to suit himself and his followers 'swallowed the bait'.
(d) Sacramental life and especially the Eucharist are fundamental aspects of Catholic life. We must believe in the Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Protestant church dismiss this teaching which incidently was firmly attested by all the early Church Fathers and believed in by the Church for well over a thousand years before the Reformation. The teaching of the Real Presence is also securely rooted in Scripture. High Anglicans, who wouldn't regard themselves as protestants, believe in the 'Real Presence' but unfortunately their 'priestly orders' are invalid since they are not in union with the 'Apostolic See of Peter'. They need to make a 'See Change' for their 'priesthood' to become valid. The issue of 'women 'priests' puts the churches / sects of the Reformation even more at 'loggerheads' with the Catholic church since their 'orders' are doubly invalid and at varience both with both Scripture and Tradition. I believe the creation of 'women priests' will eventually come to be seen as the greatest abberation in doctrine and discipline since the calamity of the Reformation itself.
(e) Human nature is held to be basically good, although flawed by sin. (Some Protestant theology says that human nature is hopelessly evil in its essence.) Human beings have free will.
(f) Because of the communion of saints, which is a family of mutual love and support that not even death can separate; there is prayer for the dead and expectation of prayerful support of the saints.
Universal:
(a) Includes all peoples, races, cultures, languages, nationalities. All are welcome and equal. Not identified with any one social, political, economic or cultural group.
(b) Respects what is true and good in all religions, and respects the good consciences of all other people, including non-Christians.
(c) Is an advocate for the poor and weak. It balances spiritual and social responsibilities (faith and action).
(d) Supports and encourages all that is deeply human: arts, sciences, family, education, com¬munity.
Conclude with your own personal reasons for being Catholic.
