Religion & Law

Cathy Kaveny believes, rightly I think, that the Catholic Church is in the midst of an acute crisis, a crisis that is underestimated by the hierarchy. In a post at dotcommonweal, she points to yet another liberal Catholic, an Illinois appellate judge who is in anguish about whether she should stay in the Church. That judge expresses the hope that the hierarchy would excommunicate her and make the choice for her. See here.

The comments to Cathy?s post are well worth reading for those interested in the plight of the liberal Catholic. Most of those who comment empathize with the Judge?s plight and have resolved it in various ways (leaving, staying to fight, staying but not receiving communion). One of my favorite comments is by David Nickol, ?It seems to me to all boil down to a very basic decision. If you believe that the Church is so messed up that it can?t be what it claims to be ? an organization to represent Jesus on earth, guided by the Holy Spirit, and indefectible ? then you leave. If you believe the claims the Church makes about itself, then you stay.

?It surprises me to hear almost no discussion among Catholics about whether or not the Church?s behavior is evidence that it can?t be the divinely guided institution that it claims to be.

?Are the claims the Church makes about itself credible? If so, go to Mass every week, go to confession, etc., etc., and don?t read the newspapers.?