Read an interesting article in the Sunday Free Press titled:
CATHOLIC CHURCH LOSES INFLUENCE ON GAY MARRIAGE / In Rhode Island, a telling
defeat for church by Steve Peoples of the Associated Press.
I did not know this but the state of Rhode Island is the
most Catholic state in the most Catholic region in the country.
In May, Rhode Island passed a law allowing gay marriage
despite the Catholic Church’s huge lobbying effort against the law. The law was
championed by openly gay state representative Frank Ferri who is speaker of the
house in Rhode Island and has been a faithful member of the Catholic Church for
decades…interesting…
What gives?
The article quoted the results of a poll that showed most
Catholics believing that THEIR church is way out of touch with the views of
American Catholics.
And very interesting to me is the fact that 4 out 5
Catholics in the U.S. say that they are more likely to follow THEIR OWN
CONSCIENCE than the church’s teachings on difficult moral questions.
The poll showed 62% of U.S. Catholics supporting legalizing
gay marriage.
74% believe abortion should be made available in at least
some instances.
61% favor the death penalty.
The new pope (Francis) while a bishop in Argentina,
supported CIVIL UNIONS for gay couples.
So what are we to make of this situation?
The Vatican
continues to tell Catholics what to believe and what to do and the Catholics
are saying no thank you; I will believe and do what my conscience tells me and
not you?
The Vatican keeps saying that it will not change its
position on issues and Catholics are saying too bad but your positions on
issues are wrong and you should change your positions?
This case in Rhode Island points to the fact that the
Catholic Church has lost its ability to influence its own members because its
own members no longer believe the church speaks for God but is a deeply flawed
institution that has lost its credibility and therefore authority to lead
Catholics worldwide.
What does all this portend for the future of the religion?
Interesting question…
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