Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

You may have noticed that in the last several months to almost a year that I have put more of a focus in homilies and articles on how the Catholic Church is the one, true Church founded by Jesus Christ – specifically, I have more frequently compared it to how different non-Catholic Christian denominations have gotten things wrong and drifted away from the faith. This shift in focus was deliberate. As I mentioned in one of my Sunday homilies, if we never talk about what the Protestants got wrong and why, then we are far more likely to be led astray ourselves when we hear those arguments for the first time from those who believe it. We can end up without a way to effectively defend our faith or answer objections, and that can lead to doubt or to leaving the Church altogether.
 

The other reason I find it important to cover these topics lately is because of the entire All Things New process we are undertaking as a diocese. I can anticipate that with major changes, and especially with church buildings closing both locally and across the diocese, that people are going to be hurt and upset. And in the midst of that grief and anger they might lash out against the bishop or the pastor or anyone else they might blame for the results. They might be angry at the Catholic Church in general, and they might walk away from it. There might be in some people an attitude of, “Since my Church is closing, I will just go to another Christian Church in town.” They might not even fully understand the spiritual differences or the differences in theology. Some even might do so out of spite: “I will go anywhere as long as it is not there.”
 

That kind of attitude is destructive and dangerous. I am not saying that people are not allowed to feel hurt or angry – those are real emotions and may be justified. But what I want to make sure everyone hears is that we are Catholics and belong to the Catholic (“Universal”) Church. That is our core and from there we live out being Catholic in parishes and communities. We do not belong to a parish or church building or any other community at the expense of our Catholic faith. I want to remind everyone that we are to respond with Peter and the other disciples, “Lord, to whom else shall we go?” (cf. Jn 6:68) We believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that he has the words of eternal life. We also believe that the fulness of that truth is in the Catholic Church. Yes, other Christian denominations might get some things right, but they are missing or simply in err on such important matters as the Eucharist and sacraments and worship. Why would you give up your perfectly accurate map for one that advertises itself as “at least 50% accurate,” especially if the areas that are most inaccurate are the ones that are the most important to visit?

 

I know things can be difficult, and we might not agree with or understand everything that is happening, but at the end of the day, where else are we going to go? Where else has the fullness of the words of eternal life? And are you willing to risk eternal life itself by leaving?

 

Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy