“If the Church Teaches It, Then I Believe It.”

I can imagine how that comment grates on some of you.  A mere 5 years ago, it would've set me off.  But that's when I swam with the tide.  Today I swim against it.

Frank Weathers has written a piece I believe every Catholic should read... and heed.   It is powerful, it is, dare I say, prophetic.  It is something that speaks to me, inspires me, to become someone I'm not currently but desire and strive to be.

Here's an excerpt:

You know, you can easily undergo a form of psychological martydom today. Right now. Heck, right this minute. Interested?

Just tell everyone you know that you are a happy Catholic Christian. Just saying that alone may be enough to turn you into a pariah in some parts of the country or among some of your Facebook friends the world over. These days, your government may even take an interest in this predilection of yours.

But if you really want to do the job right, tell everyone you know that not only are you a happy Catholic but also that you absolutely believe all of the teachings of the Church.

Every.single.last.one.of.them.

The teaching on capital punishment, abortion, contraception, just war, helping the poor, the Real Presence, divorce, same-sex marriage, the Assumption of Mary, Holy Matrimony, the Immaculate Conception, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, etc.

Say, “If the Church teaches it, then I believe it.”

See what happens.

Will you be run out of town on a rail after proclaiming you are a happy Catholic? Will lynch mobs come for you? Maybe not physically, but mentally? You might already be a martyr.

It is a hard enough road being a Catholic Christian, actually trying to live the faith day in and day out under “normal” circumstances. But just in case you thought it was going to be easy street, the entire Church has been sifted with a scandal that made Watergate and Iran-Contra seem innocent in comparision. Truth? Ninety-six percent of priests haven’t abused any children, you say? That fact doesn’t sell any newspapers or ad space on the 15 different news channels vying for the time and attention of the crowd. Besides, any percent less than 100 is totally unacceptable to anyone with a brain. Right?

So says conventional wisdom.

Frank's not finished and you should really read the whole thing for context and effect.

It's good.  And I think it's foreshadowing events to come.

If you're Catholic, you are likely to be influenced, maybe even forced, to abandon or compromise tenets of your faith.  

What will you do?  

Is there anything in life worth standing up for?

Frank believes so.  I believe the same.

Lord help us in our unbelief.