Who is afraid of criticisms? If there is one institution that is being criticized left and right, side by side, down and under, and all over, it is the Catholic Church. As an institution that had been in existence for more than two thousand years and had been attacked, shamed, undermined, betrayed, and what have you, she had continued to exist and even progressed through all those years. After each threat and test, she emerged as more stable, strong, true, and credible.
The Catholic Church had never wavered and retreated against any criticism (constructive or destructive). She had always viewed every criticism as an opportunity to proclaim what she believed. She had always considered every criticism as a door to clarify and define her beliefs (thus, the emergence of dogmas). She had always accepted criticisms as challenges to her faith. She had always constructed and even thrived on criticisms. Because of criticisms, the Catholic Church in fact became bigger in spite of the departure of some faithfuls.
The Catholic Church had not claimed that all of her beliefs are crystal clear and could be logically and empirically explained. Precisely because she is an institution of faith, she accepts the fact that she is a human reality and at the same time a divine mystery. Her destiny is not in this earth and in this lifetime. She is just on a journey here on earth and has her goal geared towards the next life which she believes as "heaven". She is very confident about her faith because it came directly from the Son of God. She is humble enough to accept that there are things she does not know and will never know because it is beyond her human capacity. But that is enough for her to sustain her life here on earth. At the proper time and with the right disposition, God would reveal to her the facts of life and faith. And through the years, God had proven it.
That is why, when phenomena will arise undermining and confusing the faith, the Church does not panic nor does she immediately react negatively. Recently, there had been incidents like these, e.g. The Da Vinci Code, Gospel of Judas, and now, the finding of the alleged tomb of the family of Jesus. It is really hard to see the reasons of those who are responsible for the emergence of these "criticisms(?)" or "attacks(?)". In any case, it is not important and relevant. As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the emergence of these phenomena would just pave the way for a better Catholic Church. She provides an opportunity to explain the faith at an atmosphere when everyone is interested. The three things mentioned above helped a lot in gathering an interested audience be clarified and taught about the Catholic faith. In other words, the Catholic Church had gained a lot out of these "controversies".
Therefore, as the saying goes, "bring it on". Not that the Catholic Church is challenging those people who are against the her. Nor is she being arrogant knowing that she has nothing to lose. Or even taunting them just so she would be able to develop her faith. But just communicating the message that she is the One, True, Holy, Apostolic, and Catholic Church. Amen!
The Catholic Church had never wavered and retreated against any criticism (constructive or destructive). She had always viewed every criticism as an opportunity to proclaim what she believed. She had always considered every criticism as a door to clarify and define her beliefs (thus, the emergence of dogmas). She had always accepted criticisms as challenges to her faith. She had always constructed and even thrived on criticisms. Because of criticisms, the Catholic Church in fact became bigger in spite of the departure of some faithfuls.
The Catholic Church had not claimed that all of her beliefs are crystal clear and could be logically and empirically explained. Precisely because she is an institution of faith, she accepts the fact that she is a human reality and at the same time a divine mystery. Her destiny is not in this earth and in this lifetime. She is just on a journey here on earth and has her goal geared towards the next life which she believes as "heaven". She is very confident about her faith because it came directly from the Son of God. She is humble enough to accept that there are things she does not know and will never know because it is beyond her human capacity. But that is enough for her to sustain her life here on earth. At the proper time and with the right disposition, God would reveal to her the facts of life and faith. And through the years, God had proven it.
That is why, when phenomena will arise undermining and confusing the faith, the Church does not panic nor does she immediately react negatively. Recently, there had been incidents like these, e.g. The Da Vinci Code, Gospel of Judas, and now, the finding of the alleged tomb of the family of Jesus. It is really hard to see the reasons of those who are responsible for the emergence of these "criticisms(?)" or "attacks(?)". In any case, it is not important and relevant. As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the emergence of these phenomena would just pave the way for a better Catholic Church. She provides an opportunity to explain the faith at an atmosphere when everyone is interested. The three things mentioned above helped a lot in gathering an interested audience be clarified and taught about the Catholic faith. In other words, the Catholic Church had gained a lot out of these "controversies".
Therefore, as the saying goes, "bring it on". Not that the Catholic Church is challenging those people who are against the her. Nor is she being arrogant knowing that she has nothing to lose. Or even taunting them just so she would be able to develop her faith. But just communicating the message that she is the One, True, Holy, Apostolic, and Catholic Church. Amen!
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