Do Catholics Have To . . .?

Like Wolfman Jack used to say, “Howdy kats and kitties. Here’s the rap.”

Catholic questions

Are you looking for a church? Are you seeking a venue of worship? You have lots of questions, right?

Laura and I get to hear these questions when we are involved in classes known as “RCIA,” or, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults at our parish, St. Peter Catholic Church in Greeley.

I have kept a list of those questions, and with the careful disclaimer that I’m not a Church authority, I’ll try to answer some of them. Here goes.

“Do I have to play Bingo?”

No. If you like to play Bingo, you certainly may do so – and in an oblique way this contributes a sum of money to the Church. (Not all Bingo benefits the Church, so check first to see who benefits from your amusement.)

“Does abstinence mean we can’t have sex on Fridays during Lent?”

No. In the case of a particular Lenten sacrifice, couples might want to abstain from relations – but abstinence in the regulative sense means you won’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent.

Abstinence is also involved in Natural Family Planning. But there’s no rule precluding a Friday episode any week of the year. Ahem.

“Is the Church led by God – or man?”

The Church was established by Jesus Christ, who named the apostle Peter as “the rock” on which it has its foundations. God in the person of Jesus Christ established the Church, and it is the express purpose of Church leadership to follow God’s will.

Corruption of that idea has certainly happened, and sadly will happen again. The Roman Catholic Church is the Perfect Church – administered by humans, who are imperfect. So, is the church led by God or man?

The Pope, who is the direct successor to Peter and is the earthly leader of the Church, prays constantly for God’s will to be done.

“Do I have to go to potluck suppers?”

No. There are plenty of meet-greet-eat events. They are optional. So if you enjoy taking a meal consisting of a variety of noodle casseroles while someone else’s squirming, squealing children crawl underfoot, knock yourself out. But you don’t have to go.

“What is the purpose of the Church?”

This one is best answered in Fr. Rocco’s words which appear on the front page of the weekly bulletin here in Greeley: “The mission of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church is to reflect Christ’s light into the world by coming together as a community of faith using the sacraments to foster spiritual, educational and social growth of our Christian family.” That or something quite like it can be said for the Universal Church worldwide.

“Do I have to pray to statues?”

No. The commandment pertaining to graven images has not been repealed. We don’t worship statues, or pictures, or rosary beads. However, many of us find the beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother at St. Peter useful as a stimulant to prayer, a visual aid. I gaze at her and use the image to imagine how she really looked.

Many pray the rosary – no one I know of worships the rosary, however.

“Does joining the Church compromise my integrity?”

No. A family member said that to me once. I think I had integrity of a sort before I became Catholic. I haven’t lost it. Fact is, living a more deliberate life as I do now, integrity is facilitated. I strive to be obedient, which defines integrity. I’ve lost a lot of my sinful self – would hanging on to my sinfulness support integrity? Dumb idea.

“Do I have to go to Mass every week?”

Yes. To remain in communion with the church, at a minimum one must attend Mass at least weekly, go to confession once annually and take communion once annually.

A Catholic doesn’t just wake up on Sunday morning and “choose” to go or not go to church. And a practicing Catholic wants to go, anyway. Properly executed, Mass is fulfilling, calming, refreshing, energizing and joyful. So get over yourself and go to Mass.

There are of course some exceptions to the attendance rule, including illness and travel in an area where no Mass is offered. There is a definite humanity to the whole process.

“Do I have to go on retreats?”

For lay persons, no. Retreats are required for priests, deacons, diaconate candidates, seminarians.

No one is required to go to Mecca once a year. But a Catholic may choose to visit the Vatican, or the Holy Land, or the Stations of the Cross at San Luis, Colorado. In general, retreats aren’t required but are very helpful to many.

“Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in the church?”

Believe me. Spend one hour praying. If you don’t “pray,” spend one hour meditating. Do this at St. Peter Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. If you’re honest, you’ll feel the Spirit.

Or, if you want empirical evidence, tag along and observe while a lay minister takes the Eucharist to the hospital or a nursing home. Watch the food program in action, or Room at the Inn for the homeless. Observe folks before and after confession. Watch a priest or deacon at work. Are the fruits of the spirit obvious? You will see.

“Do I have to contribute when they pass the basket at Mass?”

Yes. Scripture is clear. Tithing is legal, legitimate, a requirement. If you make $1 this week, you owe God’s Church one thin dime. Sorry, no way around this one.

However. It isn’t all money. You can pick up trash around the church building. You can become a lay minister and serve the elderly or the sick. You can visit the incarcerated. These and other services count as tithing. So quit whining and cough it up.

“Are Catholics permitted to evangelize?”

Most certainly. An individual can become a radical evangelist, go to the Congo or Bolivia. An individual can discuss “religion” with friends, which is evangelizing. A volunteer can weed a church garden, say hello to a passerby, strike up a conversation . . . yes Catholic lay people can and should evangelize.

“Are Catholics Christians?”

This question comes up more often than you might expect. Archbishop Chaput says, “The very title of ‘Christian’ implies that we are to imitate the life of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.”

Yes, Catholics are Christians. The original Christians. Any more questions, class?

-0-

Word of the Week: Husbandry. It means management of domestic affairs and resources. It means careful, thrifty management, frugality. Hence, “animal husbandry.” No it doesn’t mean you get married to a cow.

Next week’s words: Chiropractor; dermatologist; urologist.

-0-

Gripes? Complaints? Whines? or Comments? Adoration? Puppy love? Feel free to express yourself in the comments below!