The Future of the Catholic Church



Posted: Saturday, April 03, 2010

by EVA DE LA TORRIENTE
NONE

To state my position for those  who will read this article, let me make it clear that I consider myself a Catholic.- I was born and raised as a Catholic, was educated in Catholic Schools,- and believe in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.-

God has always been a very important part of my life, but as I started to become an adult, and make my own conclusions, there were many questions that remained unanswered, even when I asked the priests of my own schools. These questions were "not" about God, but about the Catholic Church and many of their regulations. -

I have never had any questions about my faith in God.- "HE" has always been my Savior, my Lord, my Inspiration, my companion, my Hope, and my Salvation.- He is inside my heart and my soul.-Not because anyone "forced me" these feelings,-- but because this is what I chose. After I became an adult, I read and did research in many other religions, and even on "systems" that many people call "Religions".

Religions, just like love, must come from the heart. From within the understanding and faith of a human being.- It should be an "individual feeling or trust", that can not and "should not" be forced into another
Individual.-  Many chose not to believe in GOD, they decide to become "Atheists", "Agnostics" or chose another religion. That is their right,- as free individuals who live in a free Society,-- and we all "must" accept and respect that right.-

According to the customs and Laws of The Catholic Church, when a child is born,  that child should be "Baptized" as a Catholic in less than 2 or 3 months. Of course, this "baby" has no saying, and is powerless as to chose which religion to follow for the rest of his (or her) life.- This is one of the "Rules" I could not understand or accept.-

When they start school, many will go to Catholic Schools.-- Those who can not afford private schools, will go to public schools, but there will be Catechism Classes (to learn the Christian Doctrine) and Church every Sunday.-- This is imperative to be able to have their "First Communion" at the age of 7, 8 or 9 years old. I am not against this custom, since this will teach a child what Christianity is, who and what is GOD, and will later in life let him decide which Religion to choose.-

As I have stated before, my problem is not with God. Every child should be "introduced" to GOD.- My problem is with the Laws and Regulations of the Catholic Church.-

When I read or hear about the many "horrors", perpetuated by priests, it makes my mind "spin".- Specially when these horrors are made to innocent children.- These children see their priests as a representative of GOD himself, and put all their faith in them.

The damage, not only physical but emotional caused to this child, is criminal, and "Irreversible".- This child will never be the same.- He will even be incapable of ever believing in God again. His innocence
has been betrayed, and he probably will blame God for this horror, for the rest of his (or her) life.-

And these "crimes"-- which repeats itself over and over again,--  could "easily" be prevented, if priests were allowed to marry, and form a family of their own.- This would help, not only to prevent rapes and abuses by priests, but would also help priests to understand the problems and tribulations of raising a family, --and at the same time,- allow them to give more realistic and  honest advice to their parishioners. 

The worst part, as I see it, is the knowledge of the Catholic Church,- and even the Vatican, of these horrendous crimes committed against children, or among the same priests,- and instead of reporting these
crimes to the authorities, they prefer to keep everything "under the rug",-- pay millions of Dollars to buy
the silence of the abused, and send the offender priest to undergo treatment, --to latter send them again to
another Church or Parish, where he will continue committing the same "crimes".-

At the same time, we must not only blame the Catholic Church for the many "Sins" and "Irregularities".- There should also be investigations of other Religions and Sects like Christian Science, Mormons, Scientology,
Quakers, Pentecostal, Jehovah's Witnesses,  and many others.-

Some of this Sects or Religion demand "huge" amounts of money from their parishioners, for purposes not related to the Church.- Some demand  that their followers refuse doctors or modern medicine, and treat their illnesses with their practices only".- There have been many cases, where children and adults have lost their lives, because, according to their faith,
God will heal them "all".-

There have also been many Sects and Religions, where adultery, incest, marriage of  very young girls  with adult
men is allowed, and not condemned.- And these are only the few cases that have been discovered so far.- Who
knows haw many other exists, without nobody's knowledge.-

A priest is a man like any other,- and it is extremely hard to "expect" complete "Celibacy" from a man. This is an anachronism, it is like going against human nature.- GOD created Adam and Eve, and said "Go and multiply".- Nowhere in the Bible says that he intended priests not to marry.- As a matter of fact, of the Disciples that joined Jesus Christ,- during his short stay on this earth,- most of them were married and had a family.

This is an archaic and obsolete law, invented by a mentally Unstable Pope, more than 1,000 years ago.- Just because he decided "TO DO IT" .--- A law that could easily "DESTROY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH", unless it is reversed AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, and even then, it will take years to restore the damages this has caused the Catholic Faith.- There is already an enormous lack of priests,  and very few young seminarists., ----and the main reason is "CELIBACY".-

The world evolves with the passing of years.- We can not expect our grandchildren to dress, or dance as our grandparents did, --and here we are talking of just a few generations.-- There are many laws still enforced by the Catholic Church that date more than 1,000 years ago., and that simply do not apply to the new generations.-

The Church must realize that there have been more than 300 "popes" since "San Pedro", in a period
of almost 2,000 years.-Some of these Popes were human, good and were even canonized,- while there were
many others that were "criminals" in all the sense on the word.-And let's not even mention the age of the
"Inquisition" (mostly in Spain and France), where so many innocent people died,-, just because they did not
had a "cross" hanging from their necks.-

 Many laws were made, changed, and changed again,-- according to the wishes or
believes of each one of these many "POPES"-

Changes have to be made, and these laws should be "expedited" as soon as possible: 

    1)  Priests should be able to marry and form a normal family.-
    2)  Divorce should be allowed to all -(Not just to millionaires that are      
         Able To obtain a Dissolution of Marriage, that can only be 
         Approved by the Vatican).-and takes years to obtain.
    3)  Approve Birth Control..- (This, in turn, would eliminate
          Many Abortions, which is really a crime in the eyes of the Lord.-)
    4)  Women should be able to have more participation in the Church, 
          And even become priests.- Jesus Christ venerated women, not
          Only His Sacred Mother, but also Marie Magdalene, who was a
          A Prostitute "He" forgave, and just asked her to sin no more.-
    5)  Allow the Law of "Dying with Dignity" -- for terminally ill
         Patients. (God, in his immense love for his children, would not
         Want to see them suffer, to no avail.-)

If the Vatican does not take the necessary steps to solve all this issues
"Immediately" (not after another 1,000 years),- The Catholic Church  will
"Eventually Dissapear " -----from the face of the earth.

Eva de la Torriente Diaz                                                  May 26th., 2009
 
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