Hector,

There have always been schisms and heretics in the Church and we've certainly had our share of bad Popes, Bishops, and Priests.

I have serious issues with Pope Francis. That said, both sides distort what he says — many, who are in schism or virtual schism on the right, also twist Francis's statements and paint them in the worst possible light. He leaves himself open to this sort of thing but those on the right have another agenda as well. They are doing their best to discredit Vatican II. They give lip service to Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict Emeritus but they have no use for both their outreaches to fellow Christians and people of other faiths.

The Gospel message is Mercy. Of course to understand Mercy, we must first understand our own fallen state. Our pulpits need to emphasize the need for Mercy. Half the time they are afraid to mention the possibility that we might wind up in Hell and you can forget about hearing that there is purification after death (meaning Purgatory).

But we also must realize that salvation is indeed open to all. The Catechism clearly states, that God can save those who don't know the Gospel, in ways known only to Himself. At the same time, we can't use that as an excuse not to preach with urgency but preaching with urgency also means:

1. approaching each individual where they are at,
2. finding common ground and
3. a starting point to begin a fruitful dialogue.

Saint Paul is our example.

• When he preached to Jews, he used the Scriptures, because they knew them.
• When preaching to Greek Philosophers, he used their very own Altar to The Unknown God as a point of reference to start the discussion. He then went on to quote one of their own pagan poets. You can read this in Acts 17.

As individuals, we need to earn the right to share the Gospel with the people the Lord brings to us. Once we have a relationship established, we ought to start by praying privately for the person. Then, when they are confronted with an issue that they may share, offer to pray for them and with them. We start by planting seeds and, as time goes by, we water. Often God will bring someone into their life to water as well. Eventually, there will hopefully be a harvest. We may not even be the ones to gather the harvest. Likewise, we may harvest what others have planted and or watered.

The problem is that the laity is instructed to share the Gospel.

• The liberals don't see or understand the need, and
• Many Traditionalists, who are often caught up in clericalism, believe it's all up to the clergy to evangelize.

As for the coming Schism and Apostasy, both the Scriptures and the Catechism warn that this will happen. We could be near the time when Lord begins to separate the wheat from the tares. That also means it's harvest time.

Right alongside the schisms and apostasies, will be a great harvest.

John

• Should we, the faithful, defund the Church?
• Should we stop giving money to the Catholic Church?

There are many ways that we can support the Church which, no doubt, is struggling with internal sins and public scandals.

This sin and public scandal is due to faithful (clergy and laity, alike) not maintaining a healthy spiritual life through regular reception of the sacraments (meaning physically going to weekly Mass and going to Confession at least once a month.)

In my mind, there is no doubt that satan and his legions are using COVID to weaken the Catholic Body of Christ.

Personally, I don't buy this T.V. Mass option given by some of the bishops. Yes, God can work outside of the sacraments to give grace but, if one is able, a Catholic family should be physically going to their Catholic parish for Sunday, (and daily) Mass.

Being mystically present at Calvary can only happen when a Catholic family physically goes to their Catholic parish to renew their Christian Covenant. As I told my godchild:

That said, we are also obliged to follow the fifth precept of the Church:

One of my previous pastors shared with us the three Ts of supporting the Church and our local parish, We support Mother Church by giving our:

1. Time
   
2. Treasure, and
   
3. Talents
   

If one knows that giving money to their local Catholic parish is not going to be used for solid Christian purposes, they shouldn't be making donations. Nevertheless, that shouldn't stop them from donating their time and talents in some other ministry their local Catholic parish may offer.

Just ask your pastor or priest what other ministries the parish has to offer the faithful.

If one is unsure, set some time aside, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and let the Lord put a good idea on your mind. If you discern with a pure Catholic heart, over time, you will be supporting the Church in the best way possible.

That's just my two cents.

Mike

Hector —

The Prophet Malachi makes it clear that if we hold back our tithes we are robbing God. (Malachi 3:6-15) conversely in Malachi 3 we are told to that God says to test him in this . . . And this is the only verse that tells us to test God:

That means we tithe on our first fruits of everything: Time, Talent, and Treasure and there are many ways to do that.

First of all, we need to find a Parish that is orthodox.

• It doesn't need to be perfect.
• It doesn't have to have the music we like.
• it doesn't have to perfectly follow rubrics. . .
• . . . but the priest should be faithful to Catholic Doctrine.

This is the Parish where you will be fed in both Word and Sacrament and you will pay your tithe to that Parish. You support it.

but I have personally stopped supporting the Cardinal's Appeal because I strongly disagree with a plethora of things that are going on in the Archdiocese of Boston. There has been a failure to act against politicians who claim to be Catholic, yet consistently vote in opposition to the moral Teachings of the Church.

So I try to support other Christian Charities that do genuinely good work. I will sometimes give to Catholic TV or EWTN as that is a way to giving to the propagation of the Gospel.

So rather defunding, I suggest Targeted Funding.

Hope this helps,

John