In the past two days I’ve commented heavily on R.C. Church issues. I, as an ex Roman Catholic, still tend to have a kind of fleeting attachment to things R.C.

I washed my hands of the N.O. liturgical mess I had lived with for far too many years —“ and that was easy. I also found it very easy to drop the overblown Marian doctrines, the infallible, monarchical Pope, and the overriding and ever present focus on sexual issues which drowned the key points of the faith – the key points from which the theology and teachings on human sexuality are derived.

I experienced great joy in joining the PNCC. The spiritual growth and the caring concern I experienced in the parish through which I entered made the process all the easier.

My process of study and growth has led me to firmly and fully embrace PNCC doctrine, theology, sacramentality, and the PNCC way of life —“ all with deep love. I genuinely feel that the PNCC Catholicity fits me like a custom made glove (or better yet, I fit to it). Yet, I still allow myself to get pulled into commenting on R.C. Church issues. Why?

This is a struggle for me. I feel like I want to say something or must say something. Then upon saying it I think, why do I care what they do?

I have to reflect on this and I need to move on, extricating that one foot I’ve left behind.

I’m starting from the premise that my commentary comes from a sense of anger. It’s not anger at people or even the R.C. Church as an institution, but anger at the lack of vision. It’s an angry frustration. When I see something not working, or when I see an accident about to happen I want to step in and do something. I see a Church that should, if it believes what it proclaims about itself; take an approach that would be much different. I see a Church whose way of life should reflect its faith.

In seminary there was quite the discussion about celibacy. The priests who lectured on the issue made the point that celibacy is more than not having a wife, its about not having intimate or close relationships with any person, place, thing, or group to the exclusion of closeness with God (and Mary) and all God’s people. Be close to everyone but to none. This wasn’t confusing for me at all and I understood the ideal (being young helps that process).

In the long view, and with age, I saw the problem. An ingrained sense of apartness (and not all R.C. priests are like this —“ especially the good ones) sets up an ‘us against the world’ dichotomy. It all becomes so formulaic. It leads to the destruction of the weak in loneliness and the aloofness of the strong that are within or conjoined to the hierarchy. It becomes more and more difficult to find Machiavelli’s ‘Good Prince.’

That’s where the PNCC gets it. We are a community, the priest and the people working together, each with his own job to do. The priest focused on bringing the people up.

Bishop Hodur wished to bring the people up from the coal mines by education – bringing them up in their human dignity. He wished to engender in them a sense of citizenship and ownership, giving each, every man and woman, a voice and a vote. At the same time he brought them up through the praise and worship of God —“ raising them up as active participants in, advocates for, and children of God’s kingdom.

In the PNCC the priest is not celibate and apart, but from and of the people —“ an active member of the community. The PNCC has no need of a ‘Good Prince’ for we have but one —“ Jesus Christ. What we need and have are good citizens, each doing his part.

That is a Church that reflects its faith —“ a faith in Jesus who came to save us. He left his disciples in the world to get the job done. They lived a life of holiness as an example for believers and non-believers, yet they still connected to the needs and personalities in their communities bringing them the message. They were part of communities referring to their membership as brothers and sisters, beloved, and friends:

For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine. (Paul to the Romans 1:11-12)

Will I still comment —“ for course because it is today’s news. I will try however to make my commentary less biting. I need, as a blog writer, to expound on ‘getting it’ and living out the message of Christ’s Holy Catholic Church. I need to extricate my foot and wash from it (through God’s grace) any trace of being a know-it-all and savior. Only then can I live the Catholic way —“ catholic in community, a much better witness.