First, my opinion is worth as much any any other person that wishes to offer an opinion. Again, it is not an opinion out of ignorance. I was born and raised a Catholic and confirmed. I have spent a lot of time with people in religious life. I have studied and am familiar with the Catholic Church's Ethical and Religious Directives for Healthcare Organizations. I have particiapted in lectures from theological scholars speaking about the Ethical and Religious Directives for Healthcare Organizations. Nor, is it an opinion that is not offered without a certain amount of passion for the subject. So, to state that the opinion isn't worth as much as someone that is a student of Catholicism is a bit arrogant. But, Wired seems to be more intent on belittling my opinion then offering one of their own.Wired For Sound said:
Lets not split hairs here. I think that the Church could be more proactive in responding to the needs of today's Catholics. The Church must evolve as society evolves. Clearly Vatican II was a huge step.
I also feel that the Church plays a vital role in society on issues of sexuality, family and marriage. However, some times it just becomes silly. For example, there is a technique for infertile couples called Gamete Intrafalopian Transfer or GIFT. This procedure involves collecting semen from the male partner, concentrating it then inserting it directly into the falopian tube to help achieve fertilization. Facilities that do this procedure collect the semen from the male partner. In a Catholic Hospital the couple must first have intercourse. The male uses a condom with a pin prick in it. The vast majority of semen is collected for concentration. The idea is that fertilization "could have" taken place from one of the sperm passing through that pin prick during the conjugal act. Sorry, but that is just a bit over the top. And, the Church's stand on birth control is also a bit silly as the Church does endorse a birth control method, its called the rythym method. So, if you can endorse one method (that obviously is not very reliable) what is the big deal about other means of birth control among married couples? Why can't a Catholic man that is done having children have a vasectomy? Or, a woman tubal ligation? How will the Church's teachings on family and marriage be compromised if these things are allowed among MARRIED couples?
And, I think that the Church, as a whole could do a lot more to make mass a better experience for everyone. Admittedly this largely depends on the priest, as a good sermon will invigorate the congreagation. But, more often than not the congregation is listening to a priest drone on with blank stares. The sermons are often not presented in a way that most people can relate to and understand.
These are just a couple of examples of how I think the Church can be more proactice in meeting the needs of Catholics. And it can be done, without, as you say, involving a grass roots interpretation of Catholic dogma. You seem to miss the point that I want to be more engaged with the Church. I do not want the Church to be run by grass roots initiatives. And remember that Catholic dogma is interpreted by human beings over the years. When Catholic dogma was created there was no such thing as a tubal ligation for example. So, someone, a human being, had to make the decision that this was not condoned under Catholic dogma. They developed their arguments to support their belief that the Church would not support such a procedure. They could of very easily make very valid arguments the other way.
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