I hate to say this, but Eucharistic Adoration MAY (no guarantees, but it wouldn’t hurt) decrease people’s temptations to film themselves spinning on a chair in a chapel, making it harder for the viewer to note where the Blessed Sacrament is. It may even lead to permanent removal of spinning chairs from churches and chapels nationwide. Don’t be surprised if there are some holdouts among LCWR sisters interested in “interreligious spirituality” and dialogue/syncretism with Islamic Dervishes and their “contemplative practice” of spinning. The key reason is that these Sisters generally are not big on Eucharistic Adoration.

Are Catholics allowed to practice (and even teach) yoga?

Thanks, Fr Barron.  Excellent short answer to a loooooong question.

stop spinning in circles. Just like Father in this video.

To question is far more important than adoration? It brings about the honesty and open heart of “I do not know.” The proper heart in which one identifies with the Eucharist.

Too many people are obsessed with the species of the Eucharist, and too little concern for the Eucharist. If you cannot distinguish the two, you have a problem.

Yee-Haw!
He’s so right on in this answer. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was once asked, “How do we increase vocations within the parish?” Her simple reply was “Eucharistic Adoration.”
Amen.
When Christ is at the center, miracles happen!

Outstanding, Eucharistic Adoration now that’s real Catholic! I wasn’t aware of CatholicTV.com until now and not a spinning pencil in sight! Go Fr. Reed, go Matt and go Fr. Barron, this is a great idea!

I would agree with Eucharistic Adoration but I’ve also seen places where it is difficult to get enough people to participate 24/7, even larger parishes.  Personally, I feel the single most important thing(s) to build up the life of the Church is for ALL priests, brothers, sisters and nuns to be VISIBLE WITNESSES to the faith of the Church in their prayer life in the Church, in their dress in public and in the church, and through their chosen apostolates. Please, please, please wear the Holy Habit including the proper clerical dress in the church.  LEAD in praying the Liturgy of the Hours on your knees in front of the Blessed Sacrament along with your parishioners.  Invite everyone to participate in the Prayer of the Universal Church!  We really are lambs and will follow our shepherds!

Nice answer, but you need good liturgy first. “Save the liturgy, save the world,” as Fr Z says.
You don’t need to have it exposed in the monstrance 24/7. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle is just as efficacious, and doesn’t require people to be there for the entire time. My parish has a chapel where the Host is perpetually exposed, but our pastors have indicated that they would still like to leave the church open through the night if PEA were ever to go away.

@Elizabeth D:  Amen, sister! I got so dizzy I almost threw up.

I agree with Mark’s remarks, but would like to see priests participating in the prayer life of the parish even when they aren’t leading it.  If one priest is leading a holy hour or way of the cross, it would be nice to see other priests and religious in the congregation.
I’m thinking the single thing needed is a parish functioning the way God wants it to, and then God would handle sending his beloved souls there.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament first and foremost, and then all these other areas, all worthy indeed, can be addressed. Yes, it is difficult to set up a perpetual adoration schedule, but why can’t we start on a smaller scale, even 8-12 hours on a First Friday would be a start, then perhaps every Friday, and then…

We don’t always have to look at the impossible or the highly improbable as our goal. We can adjust the bar upward as we reach each level. The Little Way worked for St. Therese of Lisieux. Servium!

Love the answer (do it my own parish) and, like others hated the spinning and long, drawn out question. 
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Please ask Fr. Reed to stop - please.

Father Barron, thank you!  I would love this in my church!  That being said, I must say, I am not at all comfortable with the remarks said here.  My son once criticized our Priest and my response was, ‘if you think you can do better, then do it.  You be the Priest!  Otherwise, keep your mouth shut!”  Strong way to put it, I know.  The message did hit home with the IMPORTANCE of loving our Priests and praying for them.  Never to criticize!  So to my fellow Catholics, I say, IF you can do a better job, do it.  Avoid the temptation to say anything that offends God and HIs Glory!!  God’s plan is divine and for the building of the Holy Mother Church!!  Lord, help us to see how we offend you!  Forgive us, I humbly ask.  You gave everything for us!  May we give our all for you!  I love, adore and worship YOU, My King and My God!!!

Please don’t film with a spinning background. I couldn’t watch.

I attended my first Eucharist Addoration recently in my rural ‘parish cluster’ (We only have 2 priests to cover the whole county).  It was wonderful and very well attended.  Our priests, especially the younger one who’s in charge, are doing great things to energisze the people:  Really pushing our Catholic schools, encouraging frequent rosary groups, bible study and even attempting to get all the K of C chapters up and going again.  The future of the Church will be determined by young priests like this loyal to the Magisterium and their flocks.

The spinning was really distracting.

In my former parish in Rochester, MN, we put started adoration 24/7, and within a couple of years, the whole life of the parish changed and improved.  He is very correct.  This should be the very first thing a parish priest should establish within his parish if he feels it is at all possible.  Great answer

I have seen people take children out to the bathroom—-while the host is being elevated during the consecration!!!  I haven’t seen anything in the bulletin about admonishing this or telling the congregation what they are turning their back on.
Our priest has however, lowered the amount of kids and others going to the bathroom during mass. Please parents, have everyone go to the bathroom just before getting in the car!! And let’s not have grand central station going on at the back of church during mass.
Please ask your priest also to tell the people what they are genuflecting for before getting into the pew. I have seen some kneel   toward the pew.

Excellent and true answer.  I live in the Diocese of Wichita KS , and we started Perpetual Adoration about 20 years ago.  The results have been phenomenal to say the least .  Our Diocese has no less than 48 Seminarians studying for the Priesthood, And each one will give you the same answer as to what helped them the most, and they always say “Perpetual Adoration ”  Fr. Barron come through again !!

God Bless you all !

Fr. Barron is right on target - our parish in northeast Texas instituted perpetual adoration of the Holy Eucharist about 10 years ago.  While it is now no longer perpetual (adoration of Eucharist on most days of week averages 12 hours), nevertheless it has revitalized our parish, and we have had 4 vocations to priesthood, and one to the permanent diaconate,  in the last 4 years.  We are encouraged to pray for our priests and seminarians when we are in adoration of our Lord.  As one of those seminarians, I thank God and those who give of their time to pray us.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament draws people to Eucharistic Adoration MORE than when our Lord is hidden in the tabernacle.  That is why Exposition makes adoration a ministry.  There are a number of negative comments peppered here.  If you dont have Expostion at your parish ask yourself if God is telling YOU to start it.  He will say yes.  If today you hear His voice harden not your hearts.  There are a number of ways to get started.  www.adorationservants.org will help you for free.

YES! YES! YES! It is Blessed Sacrament adoration!!!  My respect for Rev. Fr. Barron simply mountained when he said that!!!  I was hoping so much he would YAY!!!  Salute! :)

Maybe for an hour after Mass on Saturday (Vigil) and Sunday—but then, people would have to sacrifice by not running right home to eat.  Maybe than for an hour after the weekday Masses.  Then, who knows?

@Elizabeth D. 
LOL! Love it!

You may like to know that Fr. Reed himself started Perpetual Adoration at Holy Ghost Church in Whitman, MA before being assigned to his TV ministry. That was 12 years ago, and we are still going strong, deeply grateful to Fr. Reed for this. Perpetual Adoration draws many people from all over the South Shore of Massachusetts. Prior to PA, having Adoration only on First Fridays was difficult, with few people involved. Making a commitment as a parish to PA is very different from having a weekly or monthly period of adoration.  It allows people to choose the hour of the week that is best for them, and it becomes a regular part of their lives. It gets the whole parish involved in a deeper level of prayer than they have ever experienced before. Do not be afraid to start out big, with 24/7 Adoration, rather than try to phase it in slowly. You will need a small group of people willing to work hard to get it started, with your pastor’s support of course. Our Lord will give you the grace.

You may be afraid to take the initiative from the lay side and get Eucharistic Adoration going.  As Martha stated Fr Reed’s parish is still going strong but other around the country are in decline.  I think because the emphasis has been reduced.  YOU can do it.  We support chapels around the country to make the management easier.  You will never regret becoming so preoccupied with Eucharistic Adoration.

To Mary Williams:  That was a harsh comment you made to your son.  You essentially denied him making any observation unless he is a priest.  That is would be the same as telling a doctor he can’t direct therapy and/or comment on cancer, diabetes, mental illness, etc unless he had/has it.  Thank God for the laity who have often throughout history brought the clergy and hierarchy back in line concerning discipline. I repeat what I said before, the clergy and religious need to be visible witnesses at all times to the faith and to do it through whatever charisms and apostolates they have themselves chosen and that does include attire, prayer, private and public behavior, service, etc.  Another thing, I do not know when I heard a priest preaching on the Sacraments and the need to receive them, especially Penance. Sacramental catechisis is very lacking, in fact, catechisis in general for adults is often non-existent.

Fr. Barron’s answer that Perpetual Adoration in each parish is the single most important way of renewing the Church.  It was the wish of Blessed Pope John Paul at the Eucharistic Congress in Seville, Spain in 1993.  If you vist Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community in Indiatlantic, Florida (near Melbourne Beach) you will see the effects of Perpetual Adoration 24/7 (except Holy Week) in this Catholic Community of 4500 families with only three priests and five deacons. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE 8 YOUNG MEN STUDYING FOR THE PRIESTHOOD (Diocese of Orlando, FL. combines with several other dioceses in Florida for Priestly Formation).  2400 parishioners have made Christ Renews His Parish; the PARISH IS ON FULL SCHEDULE 12 MONTHS A YEAR! The only educational facility which closes is the elementary school. Most of the pastoral ministries are run by lay people; the Director of Evangelization is a former Christian Minister, now a Catholic who directs manny of these programs.  They have three Bible Study programs, programs for the poor, Inactive Catholics…all these go on every week.  People get vacations but the ministry of Word, Sacrament and Charity do not.  This is what every Catholic parish should be like. I wish I were a parishioner but God has called me to servdewhere I am and I have introduced a few of the ideas and am working and praying on God moving us to Perpetual Adoration one day.  Great answer Fr. Barron and the only one which will bring us together in unity and evangelization.
I am so blessed to spend my July vacations at Holy Name of Jesus.  Sincerely, Deacon John M. Edgerton, Tarpon Springs, Florida.

The rosary

The Rosary is such a wonderful prayer so much so the Church grants a plenary indulgence to those who pray it, with some stipulations.  First to gain a plenary indulgence you must pray an uninterrupted 5 decades in Church.  A plenary indulgence is also given for 1/2 hour of adoration.

What has more impact? 100K emails sent to a person over a week OR 100K people present at the person’s office at the same time?

What has more impact? 100K rosaries when & where we want, a decade here, another there, instead of counting sheep, while driving OR 100K rosaries during scheduled Eucharistic Adoration?

What has more impact? Israelites marching round Jerico individually as they feel like it OR All Isrealites marching together? To end the culture of death we must unite in organized prayer. Almost nothing does that like organized Eucharistic Adoration. If you, yes you, don’t have organized Eucharistic at your parish ask God if he would like you to start it. He will say YES. If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

The single most important thing that the Church should do is stop opposing contraception and same sex marriage. Otherwise, it will continue to lose followers.

Sure every parish can’t get enough people for everyday adoration in the beginning. But we have every Wednesday adoration. And Our Lady Queen of the Universe and St Joseph’s other churches in our small city have it on other days.Bill we do not want to become liberal Protestants we want to become more devout Catholics.To get large numbers of people who only believe if you follow what they wish to believe is not our right. It is not our Church it is His Church to which we belong.

Eucharistic adoration is looked upon as idolatry by non-Catholics and probably most people who list Catholic as their religion. I wouldn’t mind letting devout Catholics do whatever they want to do as long as they did the same for others. Instead they insist that theirs is the one true faith and try to make others follow their beliefs on things like abortion, contraception, in-vitro fertilization, same sex marriage, divorce, death with dignity, etc. They impose on other people’s personal freedoms.

Bill S makes a great point.  If Eucharistic Adoration is idolatry it is the GREATEST IDOLATRY in the history of idolatry and all Christianity for all the centuries that held the Catholic teaching up until the 1500’s ,when that Catholic teaching was chanllenged en masse starting with Zwingli, would have been idolators.

There cannot be two truths.  Either the Catholic teaching on the Eucharist is true or it is not.  If it is not true then the first 1500 years of Christianity were idolators until Zingli.  If it is true then Zwingli was in error and all the other 44,000+ denominations (per Oxford University) since then (as far as considering Catholic teaching false).

Also if true God had mercy on these 44,000+ denominations because if they beleived their “eucharist” was the body and blood of Christ, which it is not and cannot be without the priesthood established by Christ, then they would all be idolators.

There must be a fullness of truth.  There is.  Truth is not subject to mob rule.  It is presented in full by the Church Christ founded and has been in physical tangible existence since he founded it.

Finally before someone comments that “transubstantiation” was defined only a few centuries ago, note that was just a clarification of the dogma.  We have writings from Irenaus in the 2nd century among others, whose writing clearly show Catholic teaching.

But more importantly we have Paul in 1 Cor 11:27-29 who warns that by receiving the Eucharistic unworthily one profanes the body and blood of the Lord and that if one who eats and drinks without understanding it is the body and blood may be doing themselves great harm.

Brothers and Sisters, I say this in love- but please stop nit-picking!  Here is a great answer (ie OPINION) of a man and here we go on and on about what bugs us. Some of it may be valid, but seriously, is it really that serious or are there BIGGER things out there? I think Fr. B says it very well and he’s obviously looking at the bigger picture.

I agree with Mary Williams. Where is the GRATITUDE? We criticize our priests (and I have done my share) but how often do we really pray for them?  I understand we want our priests to be holy and obedient to the church but I think we aren’t satisfied with that when we have it. It doesn’t mean our pastor has to be on his knees in front of the blessed sacrament to say it, it doesn’t mean he has to admonish everything he sees in the bulletin (is that the proper place for it?), especially after you mention he’s done a great job at adminishing distractions already. The church actually has a limit to how many masses a priest can say a weekend, recognizing the physical limits of the man. Then we are disappointed when they are not at a parish prayer time? (Actually, there are more practical reasons it would not be appropriate for a pastor to be in the pews while a lay leader leads , btw)  What more do you want?!

I am just frustrated becuase our priests work hard. they really do. They have the hardest jobs. Please, please, just pray for them. And if you can, ask what you can help with. Sometimes we ask more of our priests than even the church asks of them.  Pray, pray, and then bake them some bread or leave a fresh pot of soup on their doorstep. Then remember they are only human.

We are all coming from our own experiences, I know. I have been pastored by various priests but it was not until I took the job of Music Director at our tiny parish years ago that I became aware of all the work it took to run and how. many. demands. are made of our beloved priests- and so many of them so opposite! lol.  Get to know and love your priest, even if you don’t think he’s holy enough.  THey could use it and it would be good for you, too.

Bill S if I didn’t believe Catholicism was the one true and complete faith it would not be worth my time to go to Mass daily. If I didn’t believe completely bothering to follow it’s precepts would just be silly on my part.It is because I believe as for that, matter does everyone else, who belongs to a faith that theirs is the one completely right faith that we worship in the manner we do.I belong to an inter-denominational motorcycle association and everyone of us believes we are completely right.

There are so many things that you and your motorcycle association can all be right about, for example the need to refuel and change the oil every so many miles. Why do people choose to believe in things for which we can’t all possibly be right?  If there is a chance of being wrong about something then a proportional amount of doubt is the only appropriate response.

Catholics believe with all their hearts, minds and souls that they are right and that those who don’t agree are lost.

You have refused to see the point of what I said. I said all believers believe heart and soul or it would make no sense to follow a religion. I said we are different denominations so we all believe heart and soul in the beliefs espoused by our denominations. We have agreed to agree on some basic Christian beliefs and to function within that range of beliefs. I would not respect anyone who did not believe completely in their denomination and just showed up for the fellowship or the entertaining preaching. My daughters Presbyterian father-in-law is sure I am lost to the !@#$% of Babylon too. I have been told I am lost because I go to Church on Sunday too instead of Saturday. It is not just a Catholic thing and really you need to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 830 to 856 since you are mis-stating Catholic belief.

I didn’t hear one word about sharing the gospel with anyone nor winning the lost.  While Holy Communion/Eucharist is important in the gathering at Mass, the more important question we all will be held accountable to is very likely “But whom did you tell about my Son?”

“I would not respect anyone who did not believe completely in their denomination and just showed up for the fellowship or the entertaining preaching.”

You seem to admire people who are all in with their own denomination. That’s fine. I believe that all religions and denominations are equally wrong. But as long as they can get along and not fight about whose is the one true faith, I can tolerate them all. As long as they don’t try to make their rules apply to everyone.

Casting Crowns Have you ever been to Mass and if so have you gotten there on time? Todays Mass readings 1 Jn 1: 1-4; Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a,2-8. Tomorrows 1Jn1:5—2:2; Ps 124:2-3,4-5,7cd-8 Mt 2: 13-18 and I can give you the readings for everyday until 2047 since I have a daily missal. Bill S what I admire is people who know what they believe today, tomorrow and next year, next decade etc. I do not admire relatavists nor wishy washy people. I do not admire the people who only believe when it is convienent, safe or easy. In truth the person I admired most was my great-great grandfather who disinhierited his only son over marrying outside the faith. Stripped him of his lands and title and kicked him out of the village. And I admire the son who stayed true to the faith until his wife converted and they raised all their kids Catholic. He loved a girl enough to lose everything except his faith. His second youngest daughter raised me.

@Nancy Janzen:  That’s not so difficult.  You can take a missal home from the pew at any time for personal use.  Also, the Lectionary contains every reading for the full year beginning with Advent.  Parishes have the option of purchasing missals with the full readings and some only purchase the brand of missal referencing the passage Chapter # & Verse # because the Pastor wants you to listen to the Lector instead of reading along.  You’re not getting at the main point of what Fr. Barron seems to not have a clue about.  Gazing at the Monstrance or the Tabernacle does nothing to further the cause of Christ.  Who are you sharing the gospel with?  More importantly, what is Fr. Barron doing to win the lost?  Consecrating the Eucharist does nothing for someone who hasn’t heard the gospel.

“In truth the person I admired most was my great-great grandfather who disinhierited his only son over marrying outside the faith.”

Times were different then. Thankfully, people are more tolerant now. I have a friend whose son is marrying a non-Catholic and is having a civil ceremony. He and his wife refuse to go to the wedding unless it is performed by a priest.  This is something you might find admirable but I think it is disgusting. I abhor all forms of religious fanaticism. There is nothing in it that anyone should admire or condone. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about it but I hope to be able to convince him that he is being totally unreasonable.  Your great grandfather is the one to admire.  So your grandmother raised you?

I think that’s a great answer Father Barron.  Our Parish is blessed to have Adoration once a week for 24 hours, it would be amazing to have Perpetual Adoration.  Would it be hard on our Priests though?  How would we go about starting it?  Thanks

In response to Bill S saying “gazing” at the host goes against the Gospel message, Blessed Mother Teresa and all her nuns “gazed” at the host for an hour each day and she said that the Eucharist is what gave her the strength to do what she did.  I am sure no one reading or commenting lives the gospel more than she did.

If we all “gazed” at the host 1 hour a day we would all live the Gospel message more fully 24 hours a day.

Catholics!  Do not listen to those commenting against Church teaching.  They have been doing so for hundreds of years and are why Christianity is such a mess of denominations.  There is only one truth.  Either the host is God or it is not.  Either you can baptise infants or you can’t.  Either there is priesthood or there is not. Either sex outside of marriage is wrong or it is not. And on and on.

I will happily gaze at the host in the monstrance or just sit quietly in front of the tabernacle and gaze at the window over the altar piece of the Crucifixtion. I am not there to please others but to let the quiet of my Lord reach me. In the church I am alone with my God just being open to Him so I may feel what He wants from me. I don’t care if they worship on Saturday so do I and Monday,Tuesday, etc. But Sunday is special. Bill S I see you didn’t get it again but then you are an American so I guess you never will. Sigismund was right and Simon the son knew it. Because it was still a feudal society and Simon’s relationship to his people would be a covenant relationship and the Church was the covenant keeper. If his children were not raised Catholic than the covenant oath might not be binding. So to keep from creating problems for his sister who would inheirit he left on the first boat from Danzig. He never once blamed his father because he knew his father was right and he submitted to his father’s will as was required by his position in the covenant relationship,thereby keeping his honor. Now that is the same relationship we have with the Father in heaven. The only correct response is to submit our will to His in all things.

“In response to Bill S saying “gazing” at the host goes against the Gospel message…”

When did I say that?  I think I said that non-Catholics view it as idolatry. I just see it as self-hypnosis. I used to do it all the time but I see now that that is all it is. You could do the same thing with a picture, icon, statue, cross, crucifix, candle, etc. It’s an act of faith that makes it real to the believer. I’m no expert on this. I am just stating my opinion. I can be wrong just like anybody else.

To the person who asks who am I sharing the gospel with anybody who comes to a motorcycle event at which I am in attendance handing out the NT with Psalms and Proverbs and coffee. Anyone from fallen away Christians to Odinists, the leader of another biker club, and 1%ers. Being a Catholic doesn’t stop us from sharing God’s message but private devotion strengthens us in our own faith so that we may be strong to do God’s will. It is private devotion that energizes us in the faith, Lights the fire within so to speak.To be successfully ecumenical you must first be fully and passionately Catholic. To make others want the faith it must shine out from you like a lighthouse in a storm. And that is where Eucharistic adoration comes in. It lights your fire so you may light others.

Sorry Bill S.  “Casting Crowns” said “gazing” not you.  Your comments however are full of relativism and promote dissent from Church teaching but it sounds like you are not Catholic maybe even atheist I dont know.  So again sorry for misquoting you.

@Nancy Janzen:  Since you are witnessing as you say with tracts and NT books then I salute you—for you are meeting people “where” they are.  Congratulations, and I mean that quite sincerely.  You are doing exactly what Jesus did in His own ministry.  I am often approached in shopping malls by Christian people doing exactly what you are.  They are willing to tell me about Christ and explain who He is (assuming I don’t know or only have a peripheral understanding of the gospel) and how Jesus died for my sins so that I could be raised to new life in Him.  The irony, though, is that except for yourself, this is not what Catholics do.  The question is why not?  Have you ever had a Catholic approach you with the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ?  It’s simply not part of Catholic culture to do this.  Instead, Catholics will tell someone to “watch” EWTN, read some book by a Catholic author or listen to Catholic Radio.  That’s passing the buck on to someone else.  You’ve got to be able to do it yourself and not let someone else do it.  It’s about time Catholics stopped referring people to converts like all these bloggers who came over to Catholicism and take personal ownership.  How about investing oneself personally for the cause of Christ?  If one feels incapable or ill prepared, the church should provide training on how to witness and explain the gospel.  The problem is that parishes rarely have anyone that passionate to lead anything.  And if they do, most Pastors are afraid they’ll have to get permission from the Bishop before allowing such a non-approved program.  My problem with Fr. Barron’s video is that his response is standard Catholic fare —always inclusively “Catholic” for insiders.  It might do well for Fr. Barron to attend one of your Biker rallies with you to see how it’s done.  I wound never discount time alone with the Lord for we all need that, absolutely.  But I wonder if Fr. Barron would ever consider sharing the gospel with strangers at your local shopping mall instead of only centering upon the Eucharist.

Why do atheists think that just because they are atheists that they don’t have to go to church? I don’t like standing in line at the DMV. I’m not a car, but I do it anyway. I don’t like standing in line at the grocery store either. I’m not produce, but I still do it anyway! I am a responsible citizen and I do the right thing, so should atheists!!!

Bill S—It’s good to know you feel more comfortable about expressing your views to the Catholics on this site.
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When do you think your fellow K of C’s will become so intolerable that you will have to leave for the sake of your own integrity?
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..The religious Right’s politicization of faith in the 1990s turned younger, socially liberal Christians away from churches, even as conservatives became more zealous.
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The dropouts were turned off by churches’ Old Testament condemnation of homosexuals, premarital sex, contraception, and abortion.
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The Catholic Church’s sex scandals also prompted millions to equate religion with moralistic hypocrisy.
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“While the Republican base has become ever more committed to mixing religion and politics,” Putnam and Campbell write, “the rest of the country has been moving in the opposite direction.”
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As society becomes more secular, researchers say, doubters are more confident about identifying themselves as nonbelievers. “The collapse of institutional religion in the first 10 years of this century [has] freed so many people to say they don’t really care,” said author Diana Butler Bass
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http://theweek.com/article/index/226625/the-rise-of-atheism-in-america
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The Catholic Church will have to change or continue to loose its sheep. Even the most devout will find the cognitive dissonance between faith and reality impossible to live with.

FAITH comes by hearing, and “hearing” by the word of God.  Let the Bible, God’s word, speak for itself.  The word of God is living and active, and it can pierce ones soul, and convict ones conscience (for the good!).

Truths found in God’s word acts like a lion in a cage.  Just let it out, and let the Holy Spirit do His work.

Ask parish priests to become involved in ATTENDING parish Bible studies, where the word of God is exposed, verse by verse, in context; whole parishes - ages 10 to 110 - participate.  Meet on a weekday night.

A Bible study class could be taught, on an age appropriate basis, to younger children, serving as a form of child=care, for parents to attend the adult class.

It’s so easy.  Everything else will fall into place, after that.  When people HEAR the word, they will WANT to obey God.

Eucharistic adoration is the answer.  It has changed my life.  I wanted to know Jesus.  I wanted to find him, seek him.  Because of Eucharistic adoration I am transformed, not for myself, but for Him.  Also, when I go to mass, I participate more because I know what is happening more clearly.

“When do you think your fellow K of C’s will become so intolerable that you will have to leave for the sake of your own integrity?”

Good to hear from you, Tru Dem. Believe it or not, I totally enjoy the K of C even despite my personal beliefs. There is a blog on Patheos about whether you can be a Christian if you don’t believe in the supernatural. According to the blogger, I am automatically excommunicated for practicing the Catholic faith while not believing. What do you think about that?

For some reason Bill S. and True Democrat feel the need to let everyone know their personal opinions about faith and tolerance, etc.
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If they don’t want people to agree with them, then why are they posting on this site? And if they want people to agree, they must think that their opinions are true.
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But at the some time they criticize the Church for doing the same thing: presenting a belief that everyone should accept as true.
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For example, Bill S. writes: “I used to do it all the time but I see now that that is all it is. You could do the same thing with a picture, icon, statue, cross, crucifix, candle, etc. It’s an act of faith that makes it real to the believer. I’m no expert on this. I am just stating my opinion. I can be wrong just like anybody else.”
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At first he says that he used to go to Eucharistic adoration before he saw it for what it really was: not really Christs’ Real Presence, but just the person’s act of faith. But then he cops out and says that he’s just stating his opinion. Well, which is it - is Christ really present or not? If he really doesn’t know, then why offer his own opinion and try to convince us one way or the other? Or should we all be in a perpetual state of doubt and confusion? Saying it is impossible to know or it’s just a matter of personal belief and nothing more is bogus. This is not how Christ presented his teaching.
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“I wouldn’t mind letting devout Catholics do whatever they want to do as long as they did the same for others. Instead they insist that theirs is the one true faith and try to make others follow their beliefs on things like abortion, contraception, in-vitro fertilization, same sex marriage, divorce, death with dignity, etc. They impose on other people’s personal freedoms.”
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I hear this claim a lot but never with anything to back it up. How exactly do Catholics “impose on other people’s personal freedoms”? Is there a Catholic police force out there patrolling neighborhoods? Catholics oppose the practices you list because they are harmful and dangerous and should be opposed by all people of good will, not just Catholics.
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Everyone (including you) tries “to make others follow their beliefs.”  That what laws do - they impose on other people personal freedoms. You could say just as easily that the people who endorse the things listed are imposing on Catholics.

“For some reason Bill S. and True Democrat feel the need to let everyone know their personal opinions about faith and tolerance, etc. “

Oh come on now!  You can’t be saying that you don’t want any conflicting opinions!  Where’s the fun in that?  You should have read the knock down drag out spats between True Democrat and myself on a previous blog. Now we are best buddies. Of course I am just stating my opinion. I don’t have to be infallible. I’m not the Pope.

Agreed, Bob S. It would be totally boring if there were no refreshing arguments. They keep saying that atheists have their “dogma” but can’t stand it when someone questions Catholic dogma.

That what laws do - they impose on other people personal freedoms. You could say just as easily that the people who endorse the things listed are imposing on Catholics.
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Isn’t it it great that the law that would have imposed on Mrs. Lanza’s personal freedom to buy assault weapons and magazines of 30-100 bullets?

Casting Crowns I guess you don’t walk in my world. In my world Christian is a real minority and yes I see Catholic motorcycle ministries out there too. And Catholics within interdenominational associations. True democrat Bill S may be new and interesting to you but I spent a few months on the Christian Post and the things he said are the same word for word things Hamer Mitchell says and that other wolf something guy says. It is like a script for a play in which they come into any Christian site and disrupt everything so you end up only dealing with them and Christians can’t even discuss among themselves the things that unite us. So no he isn’t that new and exciting he is actually kind of old and boring.

@Nancy Janzen:  I walk in your world more than you know including Sturgis, Hollister, Myrtle Beach and the 105th.  If you’re out there, again congrats.  But I’ve never seen anyone RC doing this.  I see Fr. Barron still hasn’t taken up the challenge of witnessing to the lost in his local shopping mall.  Your comment re True democrat Bill S I am drawing a blank on since I have issued no opinion re his statements.  You are confusing me with someone else.

Casting Crowns just because I proclaim Christian not Catholic does not mean I changed my religion. Have you ever thought that the CMA member giving you the free coffee may just be Catholic? I am. Yeah I give you the free NIV New Testament and none of us push one denomination if you say you want someone to go to Church with you because you haven’t walked into one in 20 years I will ask you if you have a preference and accompany you to yours. If you have no preference I will invite you to mine. As a group we may make a church run to any church as a group where bikers do not feel welcome. 10 Christian bikers can change the minds of a group scared of bikers in one meeting as they get a chance to see not everybody is the Sons of Anarchy.  Now I really would like it if I could get the backpocket sized section of the OT as well I mean the wisdom books would be a nice change but nobody prints a Catholic version of the Bikers Bible. You won’t see me in Sturgis because I am 20 miles from the Mexican border on the Gulf Coast. ROT is possible, Lone Star is possible, Beach and Biker and SPI Bikefest are definite. South Dakota is not the whole biker world. And you would be surprised at the relationship we have with the Harley dealer and the local 1%ers. I see Christianity from not christian as a road, a journey and my job is to help put your first foot on the road. My job is to open you to Christ and let the Holy Spirit work.Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can do more than I can if I can get them into your hands. But the total of Christianity does not consist of passing out tracts in the local mall Father Barron has a very definite job as a priest in the Catholic Church that you need to understand and he does it very well.  CCC 1547 While being ordered to one another… the common priesthood (laity) is exercised by a life of faith, hope and charity—the ministerial is at the service of the common priesthood. His focus must first be towards the faithful in their growth in the faith and ecclesial service. He serves first the Catholic lay faithful. And I certainly couldn’t do something like his Catholicism series. That is a fantastic series explaining the Catholic teachings and reaches more people via EWTN than he could standing at the mall 24/7/365.

“So no he isn’t that new and exciting he is actually kind of old and boring.”

Ouch. You really know how to hurt a guy.

I didn’t say he wasn’t exiting. I found that series very exiciting during my journey home to Catholicism and I like it so much I watched the Prodigal Son and the Beatitudes 4 times each. What I am saying is since you and casting crowns are not Catholic you do not understsnd the rela tionship between a priest and his bishop and his parish. The priesthood is ministerial in the strictest sense a service. CCC 1551. Now in a Catholic parish it is not like in a protestant one the church members do not interview the priest and hire him. The bishop or his abbot send him. He goes there and leaves when they say. Now in a protestant parish there is usually 1 and sometimes 2 services a week. On Sunday in my parish the first service is at 6:30am & 8;00 am (spanish) 9:30 and 11:00 (english) and if Father wants to eat breakfast he has to do it before 5:30 am because of the Eucharistic fast. M-TH 6:00pm (spanish) F says spanish at 7:00am but that tends to be bi-lingual. Saturday is weddings, quinceneras,Reconcilliation (confession) and a 5:30pm vigil mass that says english but tends to be bi-lingual. No Tex-Mex allowed so Father can’t switch languages in mid sentence like people do here all the time. Now besides this there is sick call at hospitals and homes with the bringing of the Eucharist. There are 34 people on the sick list how many of those Father has to visit I don’t know. On Dec 12th that feast started at 5:00 am and ended after chocolate in the parish hall after the 6:00pm mass. In between all of this he is supposed to counsel parishioners and make sure the only english only speaker at the daily masses (me ) feels welcome, make sure kids get registered for CCD and talk people like the guy who paves parking lots into taking 75% of the bill and carrying the rest on a second collection basis twice a month. My priest is 73 years old and grateful he will be with us another three years since this is the only parish he has been in since he was ordained. I am not sure either of you could keep up with his schedule. But you think he has time to go pass out tracts at the local mall.

Bill S:
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You might be interested in this link. It gives a good explanation of the Church’s war on women, contraception, and abortion in the U.S.
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http://www.population-security.org/issue_e.htm
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There are a number of pages, well worth reading.

With the adoption of the principle of infallibility by Pius IX and freedom of the press branded intrinsically evil by him, the Church immediately set out to “bridle” the press. In the United States, the Knights of Columbus was created in 1882 to organize the Catholic laity into a tightly controlled and responsive machine. By 1914 the Knights of Columbus had evolved into a national organization capable of intimidating anyone who criticized the Church in any way. During the period from August 1914 to January 17, 1917, the Knights succeeded, according to their own report, in shutting down 60 of the 62 or 63 newspapers in the United States that published news critical of the Catholic Church. And they bragged about it.
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Bill S—I thought the above passage would be relevant as you are still a K of C even though you believe otherwise.

I do not feel the Church is at war with me. I feel more respected by the Church than I do by society that says women should be proud of being “sluts” I find society is at war with me.

This article is about advice from a Catholic priest who says the if we all practice Eucharistic Adoration the life of the Church will be built up.  In other words, when we go to Eucharistic Adoration, Jesus will inspire us to do so much more than we would have done on our own.  We will love give more alms, learn and share our faith more, be a better example to other and/or whatever else He inspires us to do.

But I think Satan, HATING EUCHARISTIC ADORATION, has turned this forum into a plethora of criticism that not only detracts from adoration, but also from the Church and organizations that noble support it.

Go to Eucharistic Adoration Catholics who are reading this. You will see a change in your life and others will be inspired by the good you will be inspired to do.  Maybe consider praying the prayer of St Max Kolbe while there:  O Mary conceiveed without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee and for those who do not have recourse thee especailly the enemies of the Church.

“But I think Satan, HATING EUCHARISTIC ADORATION, has turned this forum into a plethora of criticism that not only detracts from adoration, but also from the Church and organizations that noble support it.”

That’s ludicrous. But if it upsets you so much, I will be happy to discontinue discussing the issue.

@Nancy Janzen:  You assume far too much.  I know very well the ministry schedule of Catholic priests who (btw) pledge their obedience to the diocesan Bishop.  There are exceptions, but please don’t run your rant these guys are out visting the sick 5 days a week bringing the Eucharist to people in hospitals and nursing homes since (most) every parish has Eucharistic minsiters who graciously volunteer do this.  FYI, our parish Pastor has a self imposed ten mile limit for how far he will travel if you are in the hospital.  If you are 15 miles away and the familiy asks you to visit, sorry—but he will call some other parish closer to the hospital and arrange for some unknown priest come.  He also won’t go on Tuesday and Wednesday which are his days off.  Perhaps he might go if you are a major financial contributor to the parish.  Yes, politics exist in the Catholic church as well.  And one more thing, everybody has a hard job these days in this economy with work, family and time constraint obligations so I’m not buying that tune.  The argument is always made that since priests are not allowed to be married, they thus have more time to devote to their “flock.”  Explain to me why after 20 years of dedicated service to my parish my own Pastor could not accompany the body of my father to the cemetery for the internment?  And no explanation and no apology was given.  Lest you think mine is an isolated case, my sister and brother-in-law flew into Pittsburgh, PA to make arrangements for the funeral of his mother.  The parish Pastor refused to perform the funeral Mass becasue the mother was not a “contributor” to the parish.  Thank you very much.  Fortunately, a neighboring parish was very willing to handle the Mass.  Time alone with the Lord is again, important.  However, Fr. Barron’s idea of gazing at the Eucharist while also remaining cloistered in the Rectory is a poor excuse for failing to minister to people directly.

Happy New Year True Democrat. I checked out the link that you sent me. Pretty interesting.

What the Knights of Columbus have really done: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/news/supreme/detail/fromthesk_20120801.html Four Principle of the Knights: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/about/principles/index.html Why join the Knights: http://www.kofc.org/un/en/membership/join/index.html An example of the Knights charitable works: http://www.kofc.org/haiti The Knights got “under God” added to the Pledge of Allegiance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance Many Knights now add “born and unborn” to the end of the Pledge.

@Nancy Janzen:  [“But you think he has time to go pass out tracts at the local mall.”]  I do.  It’s part of Fr. Barron’s Catholic “Sacred Tradition” handed down to him from the legacy of Peter and the apostles. Jesus commands him to do so in Mark 16 and in Mathew 28 —to all who have not heard.

[“I feel more respected by the Church than I do by society that says women should be proud of being “sluts”].  Who in society has said women should feel proud of being a slut?

Fr. Barron is absolutely right on with this answer. There is a video out on Eucharistic Adoration and how more than 60 parishes in San Antonio, TX Diocese started doing Adoration and the magnitude of the changes in their churches was astounding. This is New Years Eve and I am going to Mass for the Vigil of The Solemnity of Mary,and then afterwards we have Adoration until Midnight. So we welcome the New Year in with God first. Thank you Fr. Barron

Something is changing. Our priest came out the door and stopped dead surprised by how many people showed up for the vigil mass. Have a Blessed New Year.

Casting Crowns that was my parish schedule covered by one priest. The other three parishes are covered by 2 priests. Our area is one of the faster growing areas of the country with a winter influx of tourists that will be here until mid March who all need services from the cities and the churches. The last time I went to church in Mission around 50 people were outside the church watching through the door and listening on loudspeakers. We are also having an influx of mothers and children escaping the violence in Mexico while the father stays back to run the business. This is the real world.

Bill S—
I think it’s interesting when you look at the bigger picture about how Papal infallibility would lead to the self-destruction of the Catholic Church as an institution.
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It now makes sense to me why Catholics are so damned unreasonable.

I told a group of Cathecumens during an RCIA session that John the Baptist was Elijah based on Matt.11.11.15 from Dec 13th Gospel reading.  Today in the Gospel reading John 1:19-28 when asked if he (John the Baptist) was Elijah, John answers NO.  Why the contradiction and which are we to believe?  I have to go back to RCIA with an answer.  Any help much appreciated.  Thank you.

I am tired of listening to priests bemoan the fact that Catholics are not going to confession/reconciliation enough.  Maybe if it was not being scheduled for 30min on Saturday mornings, more people might be going.  It shows how out of touch the clergy are with normal family lives in the 21st century.  Sat. morning is children’s sports: baseball, soccer, hockey. You name it and they need their parents for transportation, participation and just good old interest.  Few people feel important enough to “schedule” special time with Father.  Tried to make an appt. w. a parish priest lately?  I see priests back-slapping and joking w. parishioners well before mass begins. If confession is so important to them then why not take some time to hear a few confessions like they used to.

everyone saying that “looking at Jesus cookie doesnt do anything”...a great saint once said something along the lines that “If you sanctify yourself, you will sanctify the world.” So really, spending a half hour or hour in Adoration, allowing Jesus to transform oneself to be more and more Christ-like, will give huge benefits in the other 23 hours of the day in interacting with others. (or maybe i shouldn’t even try, cuz yall seem like the typical com-box troller-type. I pray that you aren’t that, but only very confused and vocal)

Forgetting how off-topic the comments are I would say based on your tirade about priests and confession my advice would be you should quit teaching RCIA.  The catechumens deserve better.

Casting Crowns: Who in society says women should be proud of being called “sluts” It was an ad by the democratic party during the election that is who.It was all over facebook. Since you aren’t a woman I will tell you the same thing liberal women tell men it is our lives get out of them. And the fight is between the women on both sides of the question. Bill S. If you call believing that something that was wrong in 70 AD (abortion) is still wrong today is unreasonable than I will happily admit to being unreasonable. I love the teachings on the Decalogue in the Catechism. If we lived by that both the do’s and the don’ts life would be the utopia that you are seeking. I will strive to live by it. I understand it will not be simple but I will try. Adoration is to enliven us to live the faith. We don’t kidnap you and make you enter the church to sit there. Freedom from your version of how I should live and worship is what the first amendment meant. You live yours I live mine. I like sitting there. I sit there even when there is no adoration about 1 1/2 hours a day because of what I get from it. He is still there in the tabernacle.

@Nancy Janzen:  [“He is still there in the tabernacle.”]  I thought HE is there living inside you and would never leave you.  “I will be with you.”  “I will place MY Spirit in you.”  Seems you forgot what they taught you at Confirmation.

@Nancy Janzen:  [“It was an ad by the Democratic party during the election that is who.  It was all over Facebook.”]  I must have been ill that day or I simply have no use for Mark Zuckerberg.  So why are you bothering with Facebook?  Why do over 50% of Catholics support Obama and his abortion policies including partial-birth abortion?  Why do Catholics support all the pro-abortion Kennedy’s down through the years?  Nancy Pelosi (Catholic) wins her district with over 70% of the Catholic vote.  Did you ask your parish Priest to disavow the policies of the Dems from his pulpit and vote for candidates who uphold biblical values?  Have you told Catholics John Kerry, Dick Durbin, Joe Biden, Caroline Kennedy, Patrick Leahy and other pro-abortion Catholic Democrats to “get out of your life and stop telling women to be proud of being a slut?  Where is the USCCB in this?  Dolan invited Obama to be his guest at the Al Smith dinner in NY.  Did Cardinal Dolan say anything to Obama?  . . . no.

@Berth Mclaughlin:  [“when asked if he (John the Baptist) was Elijah, John answers NO.  Why the contradiction and which are we to believe?  I have to go back to RCIA with an answer.  Any help much appreciated.  Thank you.”]  Bertha, there is no contradiction.  John (the Baptist) who is the cousin of Jesus answers “No”—because he is not Elijah.  However, John is **in the line of OT prophets** foretelling of the coming Messiah.  As a “prophet” John (as did Elijah) was preparing the way of Christ who was to come.  Best if you back up and read all of Matthew 11 paying close attention from verse 8-15.  “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”  I hope this explanation helps.

Question for Fr. Barron -  Why did you contradict Jesus?
This is in regard to how many get to Heaven.
The words of Jesus - Mt 7:13-14 QUOTE: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. ” UNQUOTE.
Sorry, but I will go with Jesus everytime.  He knows, we don’t.  I trust His truth.

Casting Crowns you are guilty of as much idolatry as you accuse us of. You restrict God to human abilities. He can be in the tabernacle and in me and in you because he is not resticted by natural law as we are. He is outside of time and space. I do not have time to play this game with you now as I have personal things that must be taken care of and you are not mature enough for the discussion. When you quit treating God as if he is as small as you are then it will be time.  In the meantime the God you see is too small for me, too restricted and too immature. In other words it is time for you to become like God not make God like you.

@Nancy Janzen:  That’s hilarious.  Your “faith” ??  is threatened when confronted by God’s very own words.

Bill S and True Democrat - in light of your apparent non-belief, please explain - given the subject matter of this article - your decisions to 1. click on this explicitly Christian website, 2. read the article, and 3. write a response.  Seems like an awful waste of time for people who purport to be so enlightened.

“I think it’s interesting when you look at the bigger picture about how Papal infallibility would lead to the self-destruction of the Catholic Church as an institution.”

True Democrat: yeah, Papal Infallibility is not an appealing idea to younger generations. I think there will be less and less Catholics as time goes on.

“Bill S and True Democrat - in light of your apparent non-belief, please explain - given the subject matter of this article - your decisions to 1. click on this explicitly Christian website, 2. read the article, and 3. write a response.  Seems like an awful waste of time for people who purport to be so enlightened.”

I don’t have True Democrat’s email address and he is not one of my Facebook friends. You can just ignore my posts.
Plus, it wouldn’t kill you to hear an opposing view once in a while. It gets old conversing with people who agree with everything you have to say.

Bill S re Papal Infallibility. It is one belief that many Catholics find comforting especially when during times like this spring 3 different denominations broke into two groups over gay marriage votes. I know we will never vote to endorse gay marriage and PET FUNERALS like one of them did. You like many are egocentric in that you think of the Catholic Church as the ones you see in your town and forget that there are 1.6 billion Catholics worldwide and the ones in the US are only a few in the worldwide scheme of things. As far as Casting Crowns asking me earlier why I was on facebook. So I can access U Catholic, Catholic Vote, the Polish JP II site from Chicago, and not to forget the priest from Poland, The Divine Mercy devotion, The Miraculous medal site, and the Christian Post, Jesus Loves you. Get it lots of people out there including one that puts out funny church signs. A bad day can easily be brightened by reading All Dogs Go To Heaven again.

No Casting Crowns my faith wasn’t threatened. My motorcycle needed to get into the shop, I needed to arrange a ride for tomorrow. And I have a medical procedure on Monday and another one to reschedule for another day. I really don’t have time for someone who is just looking for an arguement and refuses to seriously consider what the other person says. I ask you this especially if as you say you believe in scripture. Why don’t you believe in John 6:51-59? I just checked it in a KJ version and it says the same thing mine does. If you believe in the New Testament you should be sitting there right next to me at Eucharistic Adoration.

Bill S. - I hear opposing viewpoints all the time - on other websites.  When the title of the article is about building up the life of the church, I fail to see how that’s the appropriate time or place for you to interject anti-clerical vitrol.

I used to live in Massachusetts, in a parish that was “dying” because of dwindling members and thus dwindling funds to keep it afloat—Eucharistic Adoration was started and in time the parish situation turned around and it still is in existence and infact, today, is thriving.  ...and BTW this decision to begin Eucharistic Adoration in that parish in MA (which became a 24/7 successful spiritual endeavor which brought back and retained potential membership loss)was motivated by the fact and news they had heard about another parish’s destiny’s toward closing down and it’s eventual turn-around after their resorting to Eucharistic adoration—instrumental in saving the parish from closing down!  Those are facts.

“Bill S re Papal Infallibility. It is one belief that many Catholics find comforting especially when during times like this spring 3 different denominations broke into two groups over gay marriage votes.

The Pope is only infallible when speaking “Ex Cathedra” about matters of Church doctrine. Even then, I don’t buy it. Everyone thinks that he is infallible when speaking out against gays, but that is a fallacy that I’m sure the Church doesn’t mind you believing.

Bill S go back and reread Lumen Gentium. It is not that simple. Second if you cannot believe that is between you and God but I do believe and I’m sorry but you are not my pastor nor are you by virtue of being born with external plumbing my master. This is the stance of a true feminist. The Church does not speak out against gays just against marriage between people of the same sex. That the Church wants gays to live by rules I don’t have to live by is a fallacy. I am divorced and that means I can’t remarry nor live in a sexual relationship either. Chastity is the only way open to me also. That is my cross to bear and I shoulder it for my Lord could you? I suggest you read the section of the Catechism on the sixth commandment and not think your fortune cookie theology covers it. I personally would rather belong to a church that has Mulieres Dignatatem as its belief than the platform of the democratic party. Now that was degrading to women.

“That the Church wants gays to live by rules I don’t have to live by is a fallacy. I am divorced and that means I can’t remarry nor live in a sexual relationship either. Chastity is the only way open to me also. That is my cross to bear and I shoulder it for my Lord could you?”

You are probably too brainwashed to believe this, but neither you nor gays need to be celibate. Get your nose out of the Catechism and consult some secular sources for advice on how to live a happy and healthy life. Get yourself deprogrammed.

Nancy J—Bill S is right. Why do you follow the rules the Church when it practices and covers up its clergy for sexual abuse? Why let someone label you as “unchaste” (for want of a more offensive, but descriptive word) for marrying (let alone having a sexual relationship with) another person after divorce (but not annulment) when you ex-husband is most likely finding a new partner?
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It’s the “rules” that are wrong, not your sexual relationships. Who is the Pope/Catholic Church to tell you that you will burn in hell? How tasty is that Communion wafer and that sip of wine?
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I’d hate to be on my deathbed knowing I passed up opportunities for happiness because of some lousy rules that don’t matter to anyone but clergy.

Religion will teach you to fear being different, to fear standing up for yourself, and to fear being an independent thinker. It will erode your self-trust by explaining why you’re unable to successfully manage life on your own terms: You are unworthy. You’re a sinner. You’re unclean. You belong to a lesser caste. You are not enlightened. Of course the solution is always the same — submit to the will of an external authority. Believe that you’re inadequate. Give away your power. Follow their rules and procedures. Live in fear for the rest of your life, and hope it will all turn out okay in the end.
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Fear in one part of your life invariably spreads to all other parts — you can’t compartmentalize it. If you find yourself frustrated because you’re too afraid to follow your dreams, to talk to members of the opposite sex, to speak up for yourself, etc., then a good place to start is to rid your life of all religious nonsense. Don’t let fear get a foothold in your consciousness.
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Stop trying to comfort yourself by swallowing religious rubbish. If you really need something to believe in, then believe in your own potential. Put your trust in your own intellect. Stop giving away your power.
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Read more:  http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2008/05/10-reasons-you-should-never-have-a-religion/

No True democrat Chastity is a choice not made from fear but from love. I lived in your world for 42 years now there was a life of stress and fear always trying to please an ever changing view from society. Always trying to please other people. Now I please my Lord and other people seem much happier with me or maybe the people I am with are just happier than the rest of society. I left your world one step from just sitting in a chair until I died. At that point I said the prayer of St Peter. “Help me Lord I am drowning here” I will never look back because where you are there is nothing. BTW from what you and Bill S have said I will bet you both voted democrat if so you both voted that all people conceived on the same circustances I was should be killed before birth. Now why is it I should listen to someone who doesn’t even think I had the right to live about freedom.

True Dem - what you posted doesn’t even try to be an intellectual argument against the existence of God oe truthfulness of church teachings. It is simply an argument to do what feels good for you right now. You’re evangelizing solipsism.

Arguing with you, True Democrat, and the other sexual liberals is utter madness, as you appear to have no understanding of the nature of religion - any religion. The very word derives from the latin word, ‘religere’ to bind.

Moreover, our definition of freedom is not ‘anything goes’, ‘whatever rings your chimes’. Human freedom absolutely implies a degree of responsibility to external canons of morality. The self-denying devotion of parents to their young children is not an abrogation of their freedom, but the contrary: it partakes of the ‘sweet yoke’ of Christ’s demands. We are either a slave to Christ or to the the World. There is no lasting upside to the latter, but there is the promise of infinite, eternal joy in the pursuit of the precepts of our faith in he next life; a promise apparently supported by tens of thousands of near-death experiences; and the truly healthy, fulfilled life you erroneously claim for your ‘swingers’.

We are not interested in a secular, self-improvement philosophy, ‘How to succeed in Life’ Gospel. Unlike atheism, because its basic credo runs absolutely counter to your atheist ‘gospel’, Christian civilization, for all its sporadic human/inhuman outrages, due to fifth columnists, did not create two world wars, which destroyed much of Europe, and has killed billions of babies in the womb: one of our basic divine instructions is that we must ‘take up our cross daily’ and follow Christ. Not quite Dale Carnegie material and a slogan inviting cheap popularity. Indeed, we consider cheap popularity contemptible, certain of the survival of our church, of its prevailing against the gates of Hell’, in accordance with Christ’s assurance. 

As a matter of fact, Christianity is the largest and fastest-growing religion in the world,  notably in Africa and outside the West, generally. But when it really takes off in China and the Far East, it will be a wonder to behold, due to the large populations.

It seems that Christ was a fiercely economically liberal, who regularly castigated the ‘straining at a gnat, only to swallow a camel’ of the respectable, monied folk with an inordinate love of money and a determination to retain unjust the World’s historically-unjust, indeed increasingly-predatory economic structures (as did John the Baptist), and but also an equally fiercely sexual conservative. ‘The term, social conservative’ is simply a weasel euphemism. Sodomy is sodomy, abortion is killing your baby, although some measure of innocence may now mitigate judgment in individual cases, in view of our currently diabolical, militant, permissive and perverted culture; particularly with regard to abortion, having in addition regard to the duress of grinding poverty, often in no small part due to the callous avarice of economically-conservative, putative Christians, who feel their obligation to the poor and weak in worldly terms stops once the baby has left the womb. 

I voted democrat because I didn’t want to live in a democratic country controlled by the Religious Right or to put it another way: a Theocracy.  Paul Ryan was especially scary. Had Romney shown any ability to reduce the deficit, I would have voted for him. But he ran a race based on ideologies with which I did not believe. Now we need to replace more republicans in Congress.

Bill S. - you want state imposed atheism and you know it.  You also know that regimes imposing mandatory atheism killed more people in the 20th century than every crusade, jihad, and holy war combined. Yet you continue to sit behind your keyboard and pretend to so enlightened.

The government would never impose atheism if that means prohibiting the practice of religion. I do want the secular government that we have always had. Romney and Ryan played the religion card and lost. Ryan was determined to make all abortion illegal like in Ireland where a woman was denied an abortion and lost her life as a result.

Nancy J—
Did you ever think that maybe you aren’t making a sacrifice—that you don’t like sex? It seems your are not feeling any loss by being celibate. You seem happy enough without looking for another partner, and since you are divorced, your marriage was not happy.
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Mike
I don’t have to “prove” the non-existence of God—it’s up to you to “prove” God exists—and that it is your version of God, not any other religion’s god(s).
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Bill S—I wish you would reconsider you position in the Knights of Columbus. You are serving an agent of the Catholic Church that promotes everything you stand for on this site.
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Steve—
No one is “imposing” atheism on anybody—we just don’t want religion imposed on us. Can’t you figure it out? You can be Catholic if you want to, but you have no right to impose your religion on anyone else, and atheists are fighting against the imposition of religion in our government and education. Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion in a true democracy.

“Bill S—I wish you would reconsider you position in the Knights of Columbus.
You are serving an agent of the Catholic Church that promotes everything you
stand for on this site.”

You didn’t word that right but I understand what you mean.  The Knights just get together once a month and don’t really even discuss controversial issues.  I see no need to quit and give up the friendships I have made.

Bill S—Oops! Sometimes I type too fast. Thanks!
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I don’t know what the duties are, but you can look up where their donations are directed. You’re participating in the spectacle that makes it attractive to people who would have no self-esteem otherwise. You are wising up the the crap being pushed by the Vatican..
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I’m sorry, though. It’s a helluva lot to ask you to be a crusader.

Susan—not all Catholics follow the rules:
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http://www.blogster.com/ricksbest/gagged-priest-on-leave-following-handcuffing-incident
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Prohibition of alcohol cause many more people to become addicted to alcohol—maybe prohibition of sex is causing many people to become sex addicts?

Bill S. and True Dem. - your presence on this site, in and of itself, confirms your motives. You have announced your atheism here previously so you’re not here to discuss religious doctrine. The only other possible reason for you to come here is to push atheism onto people. And since a vast majority of the American people reject atheism, your ultimate goal is anti-democratic. In the end you are thinly veiled Stalinists.

True Dem - if the point of your quote wasn’t to offer a philosophical argument against God’s existence, did you have a point? That atheism ‘freed’ you? That it ‘feels good.’ Is truth even relevant to you?

Also True Dem, you do have the burden of proof if you are affirmatively stating that God does not exist. Your position suggest knowledge of the entire observable universe as well as the infinite multiverses of string theory,which you no doubt believe in so as to avoid facing the obvious fine tuning of observable reality. So yes, you do need something more than just ‘atheism is liberating.’ Yours is the kind of logic I would expect from neckbeards who troll Fr. Barron’s Youtube posts.

Steve—is your faith so weak that atheism is a threat to you? Are we plundering your churches and raping your kids?
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http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2012/05_06/2012_05_29_Greene_VaticanScandals.htm
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Sure, people don’t like atheists, but they are also alienated by the Catholic Church:
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/09/nones-religion-pew-study/1618607/
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Mike—Yes, yes, and YES!!!

My faith isn’t threatened by you, but my goal is to expose the fact that you seek to threaten it. Mission accomplished. There are plenty of places on the web to state your case. When you come on a site like this, and select an article like this, to do it, its the intellectual equivalent of terrorism.

Mike—there was a glitch in my internet connection and I don’t know if my further reply will be posted, so I’ll try again.
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Also True Dem, you do have the burden of proof if you are affirmatively stating that God does not exist. Your position suggest knowledge of the entire observable universe as well as the infinite multiverses of string theory,which you no doubt believe in so as to avoid facing the obvious fine tuning of observable reality. So yes, you do need something more than just ‘atheism is liberating.’ Yours is the kind of logic I would expect from neckbeards who troll Fr. Barron’s Youtube posts.
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That is one of the oldest and stupidest reasons for affirming the existence of any gods. It is also the major sign that you are grasping at straws.
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I will concede that I, like you, cannot observe the universe and show you the absence of gods. However, as there is no evidence of the existence of gods—let alone the storm god you worship—I am 99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% certain that there are no gods. (There isn’t enough room for all the nines—they are infinite.) In the remote possibility that there is god(s), and the even more minute possibility of your god, there is no evidence of it having any effect on human existence.
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Now it is up to you to prove there is a god—it will only take one example of independent evidence that has not been disproved. If you find one, you might get a monetary reward!

Steve—would you please site posts you are referring to? I suspect they are all from Catholic/Christian sites that are terrified of atheism in the first place.

Steve—nice how you just ignored my comments about the Church involvement in racketeering and child abuse. I guess your faith is more important than children, or freedom of thought.

Wow, True Dem, three more posts within three minutes. You are truly seeking to highjack this thread like the religious extremists you rail against. I ignored your other posts because you have so flooded this thread with non-sequiturs and straw men that I can’t even tell what you’ve said.  The article has nothing to do with the scandals you mention and certainly no one spoke in favor of it. At the same time, you failed to address the genocides carried about by multiple atheist regimes in the last 100 years.

Well, True democrat, lets start with what appears to be your sole argument for atheism, the ‘it feels good argument.’  That can easily be turned on its head since an overwhelming majority of humanity has drawn comfort and purpose from religion. By your own reasoning, that is a legitimate argument.  As intellectually specious as that may be, that is your own argument as stated above.  The fine tuning/teleological argument was mentioned above and you ignored it.  The only rebuttal I’ve ever heard to that requires one to accept an infinity of other dimensions that are unobservable. This only begs the questions of what is in them and how did they come into being.  This also ties into the first cause/unmoved mover argument. Fr. Spritzer lays this out pretty well.  There are others. Dawkins is so befuddled by biological complexity that he speculates about extraterrestrial origins for life on earth. In other words, he concedes there had to be a creator but maintains it can’t be God.  Sam Harris is so befuddled by human consciousness that he now denies it exists!  This is the face of your ‘reason.’
And you have failed to explain what you’re doing on this site.

I assure you I am not a Stalinist. Given what I have recently learned about fine-tuning and intelligent design, I’m not even sure I’m an atheist. We are hear due to some sort of intelligent process. But that process has nothing to do with the God of the Bible or Jesus Christ. Since I have gotten way off the subject of the article, I will discontinue commenting on this thread.

Mike—you’re making a a$$ of yourself again. Feeling good is not my “sole” reason for atheism. So any comments you make on that point are meaningless. If ignorance is bliss, however, you must be ecstatic.
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It easy to look of posts—just Google “Catholic scandals,” or “Vatican crimes.” Thousands of stories pop up! Even if I believed in a god, I sure wouldn’t want to associate with Catholics.
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I suppose you like everything simple so you don’t have to think about anything. I’ll bet you stare at orange juice cans because they say “concentrate.”
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You might want to look up the meaning of “hypothesis” an “theory” in a science dictionary. You obviously don’t know what you’re saying in your replies. I can’t argue about science with you because you are unarmed.
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Atheists live and learn—you just live.

Bill S—I’m surprised that you don’t seem to have encountered other Catholics that are so paranoid about free thought they resort to accusing you of Satanism, Communism, Nazism, etc. I know you don’t discuss your real thoughts about contraception with your family and fellow K of C’s, but as a group they support all the things you are against. Hasn’t there ever been conversation among your friends about the evils of atheism/secularists?

“...but as a group they support all the things you are against.”

I judge the reactions I get from people on anonymous blogs to the things that I say, as representative of the reactions I would likely get from the people that I know and love. I am not willing to cause and endure those reactions.  When the shoe was on the other foot and Christians were being chastised for their beliefs, they could always fall back on the promise of eternal rewards.  There is no acceptable reason for me to declare my unbelief. There is no eternal reward for messing up your life by turning everyone against you.

Furthermore, I’ve been doing a lot of reading about intelligent design and the fine-tuning of the universe. Not creationism, but the intelligence behind things that cannot be explained by any existing scientific theory. If the theory of intelligent design had not been hijacked by Christian fundamentalists, it might actually draw some interest in the scientific community. But because it is so intimately tied to religion, scientists wont consider it.  So I am not really sure that I would call myself an atheist anymore. Had I prematurely stated my beliefs, or the lack thereof, I might have to reverse some of the things that I had previously believed. So, for the time being, I am keeping my opinions to myself. 

As far as the Knights of Columbus, I don’t have to get involved in anything that goes against my principles. I do participate for example in their Tootsie Roll drive where I give out Tootsie Roll’s for donations wearing an apron that says “for God’s children”. To me, God is the intelligence behind the fortuitous chain of random events that led to human intelligence. So it isn’t the same God as that of the people around me.  What difference does it make?

To the person who said I am brainwashed and need to get my nose out of the catechism. I did that for 42 years. It was a disaster. I will gladly bury my nose back in the catechism where life actually makes sense. And it is true as priests always say they won’t have a heart attack when you walk in and say Bless me Father it has been 42 years since my last confession. That old man hardly blinked before taking me for a walk through the Decalogue, helping me say an Act of Contrition, and telling me to stay for Mass. None of the saints fell off the walls either. I am very glad to be home and to say your way Lord not mine. Mine doesn’t work all that well. When you give advice to others do not assume you know the journey they have been on. I was a feminist before you were probably born.

Nancy:  first of all, I was born 61 years ago and have been an on again off again Catholic taking full advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation for the on agains. Right now I am off again.

To me, it seems unfortunate that you have chosen to call your selfish way of living as “my way” like Frank Sinatra and your selfless way of living as God’s way. They are both your way. Sure, it felt great to be told you were forgiven by the priest, but you could have talked to a psychologist who could have taught you how to forgive yourself. If I say anyone, this won’t be approved for posting.

I’m glad you have found a better life.

That was:  if I say “any more” not “anyone”.

True democrat you are so silly. I didn’t get married three times to be celibate. That was such a childish arguement it is funny. I knowingly left your world knowing what I would be giving up in exchange for something much better. As soon as somebody puts out an arguement you can’t answer your answer is to say they are frigid. The arguement of a teenaged boy to every girl who has ever told them NO.

True Democrat: I responded to you but it got held up for editing. If it doesn’t go through I will have to type it again if I can remember what I said.

Bill S you must have misunderstood me or maybe you would rather than take on the arguement I said living as I did for 42 years outside of the Church and against her rules was my way and it was. I said that it was a disaster and it was. It was as far from living according to Catholic teachings as possible without becoming an atheist. Now I am sure you will agree that living outside of the faith by my own rules cannot be described as anything other than my way for it surely wasn’t the way of Christ or the Church. It wasn’t until it all fell completely apart that I cried out to the Lord for help. I was literally living for 3 days in a rest area on the interstate with my wolf mix dog. I also said that I have NOW said to my Lord that I will live His way by His rules so that His will may be done in my life. A total change over of my life, a conversion.

Well that is certainly quite a conversion story. Having experienced that, you’re most likely dedicated to the Church for the rest of your life.  It certainly isn’t my job to try to enlighten you. You are happy and that’s all that counts.

True Dem - your position was revealed to be specious and now you’re name calling.  How thoroughly neck-bearded of you.  In response to your only comment of substance:

“It easy to look of posts—just Google ‘Catholic scandals,’ or ‘Vatican crimes.’ Thousands of stories pop up! Even if I believed in a god, I sure wouldn’t want to associate with Catholics.”

You refer of course to the problem of evil, which philosophers have considered for centuries.  You won’t find an answer on Google, but you will find answers in books, such as those by Peter Kreeft, C.S. Lewis, Fr. Robert Spitzer, and the works of St. Thomas Aquinas.  Part of the explanation is that we have free will (unless you are a Sam Harris follower).  Historical crimes of the church (even recent history) do not make me want to turn my back on the church any more than the historicial crimes of the United States make me want to turn my back on our country. By your own reasoning, do you renounce your U.S. citizenship? These are human institutions.  We try to grow and improve over time.  And the bad actions of men in the church certainly do not establish a logical argument against the existence of God. Personally, I think the problem of evil is a circular argument - atheists say how could God let such injustice happen, but its only injustice if one presupposes that there no place for God to make the wrong things right.  If there is a God, we as humans would have no real grasp of what He can do to heal the victims and to deal with the victimizers.  So the existence of evil is only a valid argument against God’s existence if God doesn’t exist!

Bill S wrote:  “It certainly isn’t my job to try to enlighten you. You are happy and that’s all that counts.”

Then what brought you to this website?  Its certainly isn’t to discuss “building up the life of the Church.”  You have an agenda.

I seem to enjoy debating with Catholics since I am one myself but have lost my faith. I think that I can either enlighten others or be enlightened by them. In a way, I feel that God has let me down by not existing. He said his name was I am but he isn’t.  I have no one to discuss my new beliefs with. I work at home by myself and get bored and lonely. I used to go to a Carmelite chapel for confession and mass. But now that I no longer believe in the supernatural, there is no place to go and no one to talk to. I definitely feel that I am enlightened, but it’s not doing me any good. So I guess I have nothing better to do.

Bill S., I truly respect your honesty.  The tone of some of your posts suggested to me that you were here to convert people away from faith (there are places on the web for that, but doing so here would in my view be trolling).  I view your comments a little differently now.  Have you read anything by C.S. Lewis? I think there is a famous quote from him about being very angry at God for not existing (Lewis as a atheist turned Christian apologetic).  Perhaps Lewis says some things that would speak to you.

I do plan to read about C. S. Lewis and intelligent design. I think it is interesting that he was angry at God for not existing. I thought I was the only one who felt that way. This past week, I concluded that Darwinist evolution is overrated in explaining how we got here. This has affected my new atheism. I now believe in an intelligence that has some of the attributes of the Christian God, but not all. I don’t believe in original sin or Jesus’ redemption on the cross or his ressurection. Other than the intelligent design of the universe, I don’t believe in anything supernatural. I don’t agree with Church teaching as a guide to my morals.

To: Bill S-
I’m curious to know what you think about the prophecies made about the Jewish Messiah, recorded in the Jewish Scriptures hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth, and were fulfilled, to the letter, by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  There are over 400 prophecies.  Statistics about His being able to fulfill even a few are astronomical.  Over 400 prophecies fulfilled to the last detail are impossible to ignore.  Your thoughts?

Also, have you ever read any books by Lee Strobel?  He was an atheist, a reporter for a major eastern newspaper (forgot which) that set out to prove Christianity wrong by using his expertise in crime investigation & reporting.

The evangelists, especially Matthew used the Old Testament as a source of inspiration for the New Testament. For example they made up the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to meet the prophesy. They wrote anecdotal stories to meet prophesies such as:
This recalled to His disciples the words of Scripture, “My zeal for Thy House will consume me.” ...
The event was created to meet the prophesy.
The gospels are mostly fiction with Mark setting up the story for versions by Matthew, Luke and John.

I’m not familiar with Lee Strobel but I will check him out.

Spot on answer!
But 1. you have to educate people on the reason for Eucharistic Adoration (the Real Presence) and 2. you have to teach them that the reality of the Real Presence at minimum requires respect and reverence in terms of behavior and dress. 9 out of 10 young people raised in Christian families leave their religion. If they truly believed in the actual presence of God in the Church , they could not leave. It would help a LOT if the bishops and priests behaved as if they believed in God’s presence in the church and in the fact that “at every Mass you are actually at Calvary”. Would you joke and chat and dress in shorts at Calvary? And, PLEASE, stop changing the Mass. I can’t take non-Catholics to church because we look like idiots. People don’t know when to sit or stand, the prayers keep changing and no one knows them and how can anyone believe me when I say God is in our Church when the congregation is raucous (I kid you not).