Jon,
I hate to say it, but sounds like you have been getting too much information from
conspiracy minded thinkers who have an axe to grind with the Catholic Church. You
are pulling too many disparate things together as if there is an implied sinister-ism.
Slow down and breath!
The inquisition was a reality at a different time in history, when frankly, the whole
world was different. The inquisition was certainly guilty of wrong doings, but you
can't give it a fair evaluation without fully examining the total context — the political
players, etc.
Keep in mind that enemies of Catholicism never talk about the Protestant
mass killings of history, in many different contexts, or the Islamic invasions that
killed many Christians.
- That there were bad Catholics, Protestants, Moslems, etc.,
is not unusual.
- That Catholics get singled out and are held singularly responsible
is.
Study the whole history and then think about it.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) is the office that Cardinal Ratzinger
(now Pope Benedict) did run and it is responsible for maintaining the authenticity
of Catholic doctrine. Some people think of it as a Catholic CIA or some conspiracy
tank, but the reality is,
it is simply in charge of clarifying and promulgating the
authentic [doctrine/faith] of the Catholic Church.
In a Church that covers the globe,
somebody has to oversee the general teaching of the Church so that it stays consistent
with the Gospel that has been given to us. Because Protestants have no such principle
of unity they are free to create new churches whenever there is a disagreement about
doctrine. They are never forced to reconcile themselves with the teaching that has
been handed on to them from Jesus and the Apostles. They believe that each can interpret the Bible in their own
inspired way and therefore create their own church. In the few centuries that Protestantism
has been around they have created literally thousands of churches.
There is only
one Catholic Church. Jesus gave authority to one Church, founded on Peter, with the Twelve
Apostles. There is still one Church carrying out that ministry. The Catholic Church,
while it has always been flawed, in as much as its personages are flawed, is still
Christ's Church, with Christ as The Head — 2000 + years attests to that. The CDF is
not an inquisition burning heretics at the stake, but an extension of the teaching
office of Christ, ensuring that the faithful don't get handed rubbish. The attempted
connection to a historical, sensational, controversy may be sexy for conspiracy thinkers,
but it is simply ignorant.
- Lastly, the Dixie Chicks?
They lost the heart of the American people because they
disgraced their country while on foreign soil. Their words went beyond politics and
became personal to the American people. It was much like when Jane Fonda sat on a
tank (of the enemy, criticizing the American war effort) during the Vietnam war.
Many Americans were ambivalent about the war in Vietnam, but that kind of political
stumping could not be brooked.
So, in short the Chicks brought the
backlash on themselves, and it has nothing to do with Benedict or the Catholic Church. That you
brought it up in this context is just a misplaced analogy that doesn't work.
Don't listen to negative voices that have no light in them. Try reading one of Benedict's
books and see the light of Christ shining through.
When you turn off the critics and listen to those who
are calling us to follow Christ more deeply and lovingly you will find greater joy
and happiness. There is nothing greater than knowing Christ and living as his follower
in his Church and bringing His Love to the world.
God bless,
I hope you listen to more light filled voices.
Bob K.
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