Catholics

I can’t quite let this go.

Candy, the blogger over athttp://myblessedhome.blogspot.com/ and the vendor behind the Home Management Binder wrote this today in response to the question of whether she had ever attended a Catholic mass.

: “A Yes. It was so sad and gut wrenching that it almost brought me to tears. I was the only one attending, that I could see, that brought a Bible, and even bothered looking up scriptures. The Bible ignorance in that crowd was astounding me as well. Most of them don’t seem to read their Bible, they just follow what ‘the church’ teaches them. Everyone there looked to me like they were wearing masks with no eyes. 🙁 I suspect that there might have been more true reverence (as opposed to ritual) in a black mass (however they’d be worshiping the wrong guy, of course).”

Reading that is so similar to the feeling I had yesterday in the public library when the homeless, mentally ill man called me a “dumb ****”

How does one deal with ignorance, unjust hatred, misinformation, obsession, mental illness?

I look around St. Blog’s and I see all of the daily readings posted in the side bars. I read about lives of holiness, taking care of children, going to work, raising families, serving the community, helping the poor, worshiping at church, in the home, in the workplace. I have read beautiful testimonies to God’s love and goodness. I have read blog writings and exegesis that probably could have counted for college credit in an academic setting, but the author shared that knowledge and insight for free on a blog. I read Frankie’s mom’s blog and see how full of faith she is during this terrible time. I think about the Catholics who have been persecuted and killed for their Catholic Faith and for doing what Jesus would do.

What gives this woman the right to judge us? To hate us?

There is nothing I could possibly say or write to this woman that could change her mind. Only the Holy Spirit could do that. But Candy, if you are reading this, I would encourage you to read the Catholic blogs in my side bar and see that we are not “wearing masks with no eyes” and we do have deep reverence to Jesus Christ our Lord. I guess a living witness in some cases, is the only way to get through.

In the meantime I take comfort in this:

5:10. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


and of course, I will not support the crusade against Catholics by purchasing a Home Management Binder.

Update: Candy actually did finally respond to my comments (although as far as I know she never ever published any of them.) She says my comments were “rude.” Of course, you’ll have to take her word for it because she never actually lets them stand for themselves. Folks who actually read this blog know that I dislike ad hominems and other logical fallacies, (her blog is full of both) and that I try to refrain from using them.

So here’s what I think. I think Candy really truly does hate what she thinks the Catholic Church teaches and what she thinks Catholics are. She has been reading a lot of anti-Catholic stuff (she even linked to a Jack Chick site as “evidence.” However she is not a skilled apologist and so she does not allow Catholic apologists to challenge her. It keeps her from losing face.

That all said, the best way to get across to her is just living a good witness. (A good boycott of the Home management binder is also good.)