Pope Francis, in a stunningly candid
assessment of the state of the Catholic Church, said on Saturday it
should look in the mirror and ask why so many people are leaving the
faith of their fathers.
"I would like all of us to ask ourselves today: are we still a Church capable of warming hearts?"
The Argentine Pope referred to what he called "the mystery of those who
leave the Church" because they think it "can no longer offer them
anything meaningful or important."
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A few
months back, a survey was made regarding the number of Filipinos who
still attend Mass....the results....the devotees had decreased by a very
significant number...the Philippine Catholic Church Hierarchy, instead
of finding out why, lashed out at those who made the
survey....questioning instead the purpose of the survey, rather than
analyzing the results and reflecting afterwards...
They then continued asking for second collections......
asking exorbitant tuition fees and hospital fees....
Now, perhaps with a leader more attuned to what the poor really
needs...they will finally wake up before they lose even more
Catholics....
To be entirely
honest, I remain a Catholic, because I know it is where I and my family
belong....because there are some members of clergy who have made my
belief in the religion stronger, because they have increased my faith in
my Lord, through their words and their actions....
let me mention a
few...Father Alverio, Father Jerome, Father Bernie, Father Pavol...and
of course, Father Peter Yang and Father Charles Tchou..there have been a
few others whose sermons have stimulated me and invigorated my
faith...but let us be honest...there are just some of them who might
just make you run of the church with their sleep-inducing sermons, their
ill conceived jokes and comments, their uncharacteristic rumor
mongering, and their incredible insensitivity to the real plight of most
Filipinos.
Again...I hope Pope Francis makes each and every member of the Catholic Church honest...
Honest enough to admit...that this sudden exodus can only be their
fault....don't blame it on government...just look in the mirror...
Then please pray....pray like you've never done before...then lead us with sensitivity, with sincerity, and with love...
This and only this can restore everybody's belief in the Catholic
Church..and more importantly, strengthen our faith in the Lord.
God bless all Catholics everywhere!
God bless all of us!
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