A Case of Mistaken Identity

I’ve read many remarks from readers both of my articles and those of other authors here. One comment in particular that has caught my attention is the Facebook posters who will make the angry comment, “I’m not going to read this site anymore. I thought this was a source of sound Catholic doctrine but you allow so-and-so to write his drivel.” I can understand their sentiments. In all that I write, I strive to achieve that very goal and when I first started writing here, I fell into much the same trap as they did.

It bothered me that one author constantly writes nothing but anti-Protestant hit pieces. It bothered me that another author says that you can’t be Catholic and a Democrat. Like some of the commenters, I wondered if there was any oversight on what gets said here. I took the month of May off from writing to give me some time to spiritually recharge. Given the central theme of May, which is Mama Mary, and the number of Feasts vital to the Church (Ascension, Pentecost, Corpus Christi) it’s not a bad time to do that. It also gave me a chance to think about this site and I’ve come to the conclusion that is the title of this piece. I and many others are guilty of a case of mistaken identity.

Mistake #1

It’s natural to look to a teacher or guide to steer us in the right direction. But we are not Protestants… we are Catholics. We are not adherents to Sola Scriptura. Our source of sound doctrine is not Catholic365.Com or Catholic Answers or any other Catholic Apologetics source… great though they may be. The Lord didn’t establish Dave Armstrong or Tim Staples or Kevin Noles or even Mike Bugal to be the Pillar of the Truth.

He established a Church and set the foundation of sound doctrine as being the Scriptures, Sacred Tradition and the Teaching Magisterium. That is our reliable and consistent source of sound doctrine. All the folks I listed above are fallible and can be mistaken. The Canon of the Church, the Catechism that simplifies it and puts in an easy to learn form are the bedrock upon which our Catholic Faith is taught to us. It is the infallible complete Word of God.

Mistake #2

“Catholic365.com is a Catholic focused article and information portal by Catholic writers and bloggers who write about things Catholics are interested in.”

The purpose of Catholic365.Com is stated right on the Facebook Page. It is a “blog” written by Catholics. It is Catholic people sharing whatever is on their Catholic minds for a predominantly Catholic audience. Some of it may be personal day-to-day experiences (such as Kathy Lamb’s wonderful articles) or it could be more theologically leaning like what I tend to write. Others will be personal opinion and even political postings (such as Robert Green’s writings). Some will inspire you, some will teach you something and some will downright make you angry. But it’s what our Catholic brothers and sisters are thinking about and reflects where they are spiritually in their walk. Again it is a “blog” not the “deposit of the Faith”.

In my next article I’m going to be addressing some of what has been on my heart and mind during this month. I’m going to be examining the implications of some of our Catholic doctrine as laid out by Councils and other teachings… and the crisis they have produced in my heart and mind.