I truly wonder why those who've never really cared much for the Catholic Church now seem to care enough to give their thoughts, their criticisms of Benedict XVI.
Why don't you just leave us be if you've never liked (or understood) what we stand for and believe in the first place? If the Roman Church is archaic in your eyes, if it will, in your estimation, cease to exist if it fails to open itself to the 'values' of the modern world, if it refuses to conform to how all of us would wish to do things (hyper individualism), then so be it. Let the Church suffer that path if it must.
But for “real†Catholics, those who mean what they say when they profess their faith each Sunday during mass, despite being sinners all, our faith is never a popularity contest that yields to public sentiments (especially those from noisy unbelievers). Neither is it something that should “adapt†to the ways of the world. Other churches have covered that part pretty well.
Perhaps in terms of use of modern technology to communicate, to evangelize, yes. But the dogmatic truths, the very core, the very foundation of the Church must remain unchanging, unfailing, unyielding despite (and even especially because of) the prevailing opinion of the time (and yes, despite the ad hominem attacks of secularists and enemies of the Catholic faith who focus on the imperfections and sins of the human leaders-members of the Church, not the magisterium and dogma and two thousand years of tradition and certainly not transcendent truth). Simply put, you haven't much right criticizing that which you do not fully understand.
And for this particular Catholic, perennially prone to sin, ever-exposed to humanity's strong and moving opinions, to this world's convenient and tempting 'truths' (beliefs that peddle too much individualism, materialism, love of self, and greed), I honestly value how my Catholic faith sternly reminds me of the things I (should) value more than my life, my opinions, my worldly pursuits and successes, my individuality. And therein lies the balance of life.
We ought to be thankful that we have a Church (no matter the wave of dissent from liberal-thinking members, and the world at large) that tilts us toward the other side, a different direction to where we always want to go. Otherwise, without that force, that moral and spiritual tug of war, however weak that opposing yet positive force is in this day and age, we might just fall over the edge.
Viva La Iglesia Catolica!
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Pope Benedict resigning is not only heartbreaking, it's troubling. Once again, before a new pope is elected, Christendom hangs in a balance, in a moment of great uncertainty.
Until this happens, and a new pope who fully intends to protect the Church's magisterium and dogmatic truths is elected, Roman Catholics the world over must remain vigilant and pray for the very best for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
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Belated happy birthday to our very own music maniac, the 'angel man,' him who plays all instruments, a disc jockey-for-life, the perpetually baby-faced Mario Del Mar Lopez, our dearest Papa!
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