Catholicism: True

Our parish priest is teaching a series on the Catechism this summer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a big book that basically sums up the teachings of the Church. Blessed Pope John Paul II called the Catechism "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and an "authentic reference text." In short, if you profess to be Catholic, you are professing belief in the teachings contained within this text.

I was involved in a recent facebook conversation about a particular teaching of the Church. I don't know the person that made the comment, she wasn't my "friend" but it struck me as incredibly telling of how people view the Church and Her teachings. She said something to the effect of, "Well if the Church doesn't change the teaching on In-Vitro its gonna lose a lot of its members, especially older women who can't get pregnant."

And while I understand where she's coming from, she's miss the point entirely.

Something is not true because the Church teaches it. The Church teaches it because it's true!

So often in a discussion about Church teachings we use the phrase, "The Catholic Church teaches that...." and while this is generally done for the sake of clarity-it doesn't really need to be said. Imagine is we spoke of all truths in this way. "Mathematicians teach that half of ten is five." We would never talk about math in this way because five isn't half of ten because mathematicians say so. Mathematicians teach that it's half of ten because it's true!

The Church does not profess Her teachings to gain followers or to win a popularity contest. Yes, She would love to see Her pews filled on Sundays, but it's just simply not an option to teach fallacy just to get a few more butts in the seats.

To the women in the facebook commenter's example, it wouldn't matter if they left the Church over the issue of In-Vitro or not-if they didn't believe and profess that procreation is intrinsically linked to the union of two spouses then they're not professing to be Catholic to begin with. What difference does it make if they attend Mass on Sundays or not if the beliefs that shape their decisions aren't the same as the Church they are attending?

Two plus two is four.

Jesus Christ walked this earth, died for my sins, ascended into heaven and will judge me on my last day.

Twelve times five is sixty.

I must confess my sins to a priest because Christ gave them the power to bind and loose the sins of their people.

Four and six make ten.

Sex is reserved for a man and woman united in marriage. It must always be open to life. The unitive must never be separated from the procreative. Contraception, abortion, and artificial reproductive technologies are unacceptable.

Nine doubled is eighteen.

Jesus left the teaching authority of the Church to St. Peter, from which flowed the apostolic succession and gives Pope Benedict his authority today.

Sixteen minus five is eleven.

The ends never  justify the means.

Half of fourteen is seven.

Christ left me His body and blood in the Eucharist that I may unite myself fully to Him. His Flesh is true food and His Blood true drink. This is the Source and Summit of my Faith.


These truths hold the same weight in my life. I believe in the truths of the Catholic Church as I believe in the truths of mathematics. Even more so because I shape my life around them and would die for the right to profess them. If I thought that these things were only true because my Church said so, I would pick a different Church with a lot less rules! (And one with better music on Sundays...) But I submit myself to the authority of the Church because I know that Her teachings are true.

It's not true because the Church teaches it. She teaches it because it's true!