Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 221.  Mon  1-06-92 20:20  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Jonathan Saldana
 Subject: The Church
+-
|        Many young Catholics are disillusioned with the church because of
| perceived inconsistencies between a church whose tenets were developed
| long ago, and the present state of 20th century life.  Many of us see
| areas in which changes are necessary, but no avenues through which these
| changes can be effected.  Is the church immutable? Obviously not, it has
| changed and progressed through the centuries.  How will the church
| combat falling membership and alienation if it is unwilling to realis-
| tically tackle questions of overpopulation in some areas, AIDS, the
| ordination of women, sex, etc.  I have been given nguidance from my
| local priest, other than repetition of tired dogma. I know this isn't
| really a question, but I'd like a response anyway. Thank you.
+-[JS=>F]
 
Dear Jonathan,
 
The teachings of the Church were not "developed", as if they are the
fruit of human industry and the passage of time.  They were revealed to
us by God through Christ: "In times past, God spoke in partial and
various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days,
he spoke to us through a Son, whom he made heir of all things and
through whom he created the universe" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
 
In every century, because of sin and lack of faith, people - some
people - have complained of the Church's "irrelevancy".  Our Lord
himself in his day encountered this attitude: "Whoever is ashamed of me
and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man
will be ashamed of when he comes in his Fathers's glory with the holy
angels" (Mark 8:38).
 
He himself gives us the only remedy for the soul sickness that tempts
us to judge and reject his Word: "Whoever wishes to come after me must
deny himself, take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).  His first
preaching from which he never retreated, was: "Repent and believe the
gospel" (Mark 1:15).
 
There is a precondition for accepting God's Word: we must be entirely
willing to submit to God's will: "Whoever chooses to do his (God's)
will shall know whether my teaching is from God or whether I speak on
my own" (John 7:17).  To reach this point of willingness, we must pray
to God, asking especially for the grace of faith and more faith, of
hope in God, and of love for him and for others.
 
I have never met a dogma I didn't like.  I have read Scripture from
Genesis through to Revelation and all the teachings of God's Church
many, many times.  It is all exciting with a freshness that never
fails.  To find joy in God's teaching is a gift of God.  If one does
not find this joy, then ask for it and ask and ask again.  He will give
it to you.
 
We are not to expect the Church to become relevant to us.  We must
become relevant to the Church.  G.K. Chesterton once wrote: "We do not
need a church that is right when we are right.  We need a Church that
is right when we are wrong."
 
May I recommend two sources of inexpensive and very solid and
comprehensive Catholic instruction:
 
1) Catholic Answers. P.O. Box 17490, San Diego, CA  92177.
 
2) St. Joseph Communications, Inc. P.O. Box 720, West Covina, CA 91793.
 
I warmly urge you to write to these organizations and ask them to send
their free catalogs.  Merely to read the titles of their tapes, tracts,
and books will whet your appetite and sharpen your curiosity about the
Church's "tired dogmas".
 
                                God bless your search,
 
                                Father Mateo
 

Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 222.  Mon  1-06-92 20:21  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Stephen Konig
 Subject: Conversion
+-
| Father--
|  
|   I'm a college student and over the last few months I have had occasion
| to meet a very nice young woman (I'll call her Judy--not her real name).
| She is very conservative, both morally and politically, as am I.
|  
|   She is Presbyterian; I am Catholic.  Ever since I learned this fact,
| I've been thinking to myself, "She's too conservative--she ought to be
| Catholic!"  I don't say this to denigrate Protestants or Protestantism;
| but I see in her a very strong faith and sound moral character, and I
| honestly believe that these gifts would be best used in the Catholic
| Church.  Do you have any suggestions on what would be a good way to
| introduce her to the Catholic faith and hopefully one day to bring her
| into it?
|  
|   -Stephen
+-[SK=>FM]
 
Dear Stephen,
 
The first step you must take to win the soul of your friend is to pray
for her.  Pray intensely and perseveringly and tell Our Lord that you
are not going to quit until he grants her the grace of conversion.  To
your prayer, add penance and self-denial, which gives strength to your
prayer because it unites you directly to the sufferings of Jesus on the
cross (2nd Cor. 1:3-7)
 
In particular, I recommend daily or very frequent Mass and Holy
Communion, offered for your friend.  Say the rosary every day,
reminding our Mother that your friend is her daughter, too, and you
expect some action.
 
Give a rosary to her and teach her how to say it.  Say the rosary with
her.  Give her one or more of the attractive rosary pamphlets that are
available in any Catholic bookstore.
 
Write and ask for the catalogs from:
 
1) Catholic Answers. P.O. Box 17490, San Diego, CA  92177.
 
2) St. Joseph Communications, Inc. P.O. Box 720, West Covina, CA 91793.
 
Just read the titles of their tapes, tracts, and books they offer at
very reasonable prices.  You will see at once where you can best spend
your money, how little it may be.
 
I'll pray for you and your friend,
 
                                God bless you,
 
                                Father Mateo