It’s pretty clear from the rest of the story that the A’bishop was talking about cash donations to the Roman Catholic Church.In his homily during Mass at the 5th General Conference of the Latin American Bishops’ Council, Archbishop Ubaldo Santana of Maracaibo (Venezuela) said “the spirituality of thankfully giving back” that is, tithing, consists in giving back “that which belongs to God.”
An overly literal Catholic might write a check made payable to “Jesus of Nazareth” and mail it in an envelope address to “Heaven.”
Of course, that not what Ubaldo was talking about. He really wants Catholics to make the checks payable to “The Catholic Church,” and mail them to some priest or other.
There is an obvious problem.
If (give to Jesus) = (give to RCC)
Then Jesus = RCC
And if Jesus = God
Then RCC = God
This is the problem with theocracies. God can’t rule directly, but only through human beings.
To refer to an organization run by human beings as a theocracy is obvious blasphemy.
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3 comments:
"Of course, that not what Ubaldo was talking about. He really wants Catholics to make the checks payable to 'The Catholic Church,' and mail them to some priest or other."
Where else would Catholics mail their donations? The Lutherans?
"There is an obvious problem.
If (give to Jesus) = (give to RCC)
Then Jesus = RCC
And if Jesus = God
Then RCC = God"
That's some pretty spiffy logic. Unfortunately, it's wrong. The same logic could be used for any church where people "give to Jesus" with the same end result of that Church being God.
Also, if you can find where the Catholic Church has claimed it is God, I would love to see it.
"This is the problem with theocracies. God can’t rule directly, but only through human beings.
To refer to an organization run by human beings as a theocracy is obvious blasphemy."
It seems that the Jesuits didn't teach you that the Catholic Church isn't a theocracy. Sorry.
~A
Dear Anon:
I love your comments. Please keep them coming.
I think I've been unclear about the mission of this blog. It is not "to help Catholics who are struggling with their faith."
The mission is to help Catholics lose their faith as painlessly and cheerfully as possible.
Your comments support this mission in ways I'm sure you don't intend.
Thanks for your help.
"The mission is to help Catholics lose their faith as painlessly and cheerfully as possible."
What a dreadful mission. Why are you attempting to undermine everyone else's faith just because you had a bad experience?
"Your comments support this mission in ways I'm sure you don't intend.
Thanks for your help."
Anything for you, my friend.
~A
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