This Just Might Be the Best Defense of Catholicism Since Aquinas

I waited and waited to read the comments. I thought the video was so well done and so accurately represented my experience as a Catholic, and I care so much about the interviewee, that I wondered if I could bear to read people dismissing and misrepresenting and misunderstanding it.

But, because I wanted to share it here, I decided to brave the comments. And . . . they weren't as bad as I expected. Still, there are some comments we should talk about. Hey! Let's make it seven of them, shall we?



"Imagine if religion were shut off like a switch. Imagine the millions that would immediately lay down arms. Now that would uncomplicate some things around this joint."

According to the Encyclopedia of Wars (Phillips and Axelrod), of the 1,763 major conflicts in recorded history, only 123 of them can be classified as having been fought over religious differences. That’s less than 7 percent. (read the rest here)



"to have a religion forbid/teach against birth control is probably just fine for people like this lady who honestly don't care how many kids they have (and seem to be able to support them just fine) and are in a marriage where there's no concern for STDs.. but it's really a dangerous concept overall and pretty toxic for the majority :("

Catholic sexual moral teaching, on the other hand, DOES allow for an entirely STD-free sexual experience . . . within the bonds of matrimony.

For more, see Contraception's Dark Fruits.

"If you claim authority outside of the bible than you're a heretic and heathen. The bible as God's word is the only authority over anything,we believe."


Catholic doctrine is based on the Bible, sacred tradition, and the teaching authority of the Magisterium.

I was raised Catholic, so perhaps I should refrain from poking the Sola Scriptura with this here stick.

But it seems to me that the main problem with Sola Scriptura . . . is that it's not IN the Bible. Christianity predates the compilation of the Bible by hundreds of years. It was sacred tradition and the teaching authority of the Magisterium that determined which were the divinely inspired books that would make up the Bible.

For more, see: According to Scripture.

"so basically she forces her children to study at home because she would be alone and she doesn't trust her children that they are going to study properly in normal education system? so does this suppose to make me feel "oh Catholics are just normal people", because this look like a selfish overprotecting mother that she does what she does supposedly because she is catholic"

I can't answer this for Blythe, but I can answer it for me.

I homeschool not because I don't trust my children, or because I don't trust the government, or because I'm selfish, or overprotective, or lonely, or because I think it's the only thing good Catholics can do.

I homeschool because we looked at all the options and this is what worked best for our family.

-5-

"This is a very sweet video, however the lady is not exactly correct regarding natural family planning. It is not far reaching to say that natural family planning is a form of birth control; the purpose of birth control is to virtually extinguish the possibility of pregnancy and ultimately enjoy sex, the purpose of natural family planning is identical. So wether you wear a condom, swallow a pill, or wait until there is no chance of pregnancy, your mental state is the same, avoid pregnancy."



There is not, and never has been, a mandate within the Catholic Church that couples must have as many children as possible.

A woman is fertile sometimes and not fertile other times. That's the way God made us.

NFP is always open to the gift of life. Contraception turns against our fertility and tries to sterilize it. NFP recognizes God as the Author and Sovereign of all life, and during the woman's fertile period allows Him to decide if a new person shall be conceived. Contraception pushes God out of the picture, and attempts to take complete control over the possible procreation of a new person who will live forever. NFP takes advantage of the natural rhythms of fertility and infertility. Contraception suppresses and manipulates fertility, and refuses to practice periodic abstinence. (read the rest here)

Not having sex is pretty different than . . . having sex, and not "ultimately enjoy"able in quite the same way.

While the outcome might be the same -- to postpone or avoid pregnancy -- it's the mental state that couldn't be more different.

Which is not to say that NFP isn't a pain in the butt. It totally is. But it's a statistically effective, morally acceptable pain in the butt.




"Catholics do not believe in the gospel. They worship men, popes, mary and all together idols. Repent."

Yes we do.

No we don't.

Okay.



"I'm not a religious expert or anything but I thought that the Christian Orthodox Church was older than the Roman Catholic Church (since her reason for being Catholic was because she wanted to be part of the oldest branch of Christianity)"

it's on a t-shirt, so it must be right

I'm not a religious expert either, so I had to look this one up. And, whew, it's a doozy. But, like Blythe, I remain convinced that the Catholic Church is the church established by Jesus Christ, and that it has existed continuously since then, despite being made up of a bunch of human beings who have a tendency to muddle things up. For that reason I think it's the one I should be a part of.

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So, big hugs from me to Zach, and Blythe, and Blythe's kids, and Blythe's chickens, and SoulPancake, and everyone involved in making this video. It's a beautiful representation of my experience of the Catholic faith.

These three books were really helpful to me, as a cradle Catholic who really didn't have much of an understanding of Catholic doctrine:

The Faith Explained

Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux

Friends who have become Catholic from other faith traditions (or are considering it) have highly recommended these books to me:

By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition

Catholic and Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs

Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism