On the merits of Charity

[pecunium]

Faith, Hope and Charity. Three virtues.

The Overtly Religious boast of the first, and seem to have the second (though for what they hope, I am not certain, save that I seem not to share it).

But what of Charity? I have posted before on the need for works. On the actual demands Jesus made of his followers (love each other, love your neighbours, love your enemies, forgive those who wrong you and, most of all, help the poor).

So Digby (over at Hullabaloo) did me (and thee) the great favor of seeing what those with Vocal Vocations, and bully pulpits to the Faithful, have done to help those who suffered from the tsunami.

Not bloody much.

Most have not mentioned it at all (though Focus on the Family seems to have added a small squib, it's still less important than remembering them as the new year begins.

Some have gone so far as to thank God for His good works in killing so many perverts (it seems the Swedes are particularly egregious in this. One web site said,"Thank God for Tsunami & 2,000 dead Swedes!!!" asking, "How many tsunami-dead Swedes are fags and dykes?". Yes, it's Phelps, and he is a special case (and Lord, what have we done that You see the need to afflict us with him?, but rejoicing in the deaths of others seems to pass schadenfruede and move over to the range of sociopathic.

If I thought it would help, I'd quote 1 Cor. 13 to them, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal."

Comments

[lazaruslong2004.livejournal.com]

That's not my number one reason for disavowing myself of the faith. I had plenty of others, but every twig on the woodpile makes the fire higher.

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

Oh you're quite right, it's not the only reason he's an apostate, but it's right up there. I'd bet he could come up with a reason for every day in the year and then some.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

My greatest problem with the Church (and one, which if sixed would probably bring me back into the fold) is the bull, Ex Cathedra.

The doctrinal infallibility of the Pope is something I cannot abide. I'm willing to grant him the ability to make the rules... keys to the kingdom of heaven, power to bind and to loose, and all that jazz.

But he is man. At his best he is primus inter pares of those who have answered a Calling.

But that doesn't make him perfect, not in the least thing. Saints may attain it, but that is something which can be determined only later (since a saint may blow it, right up to the last moment, just as the most wretched of sinners may haul his ass out of The Fire) and certainly I don't think that a puff of white smoke gives anyone the ability to put God on retainer.

Inspired, yes, infallible, no.

TK

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

I'm not even Catholic, wasn't raised Catholic, and Ex Cathedra sticks in my craw.