Compassion and Solidarity

Recently I came across a well-written article in the Wall Street Journal written by Paul Moses, author and journalism professor at Brooklyn College/CUNY. Moses writes about why he remains a Catholic. (*Subscription to this article may be required).

Here is an excerpt:

Last year, the Freedom From Religion Foundation took out a full-page ad in the New York Times and other newspapers aimed at persuading Catholics like me to “quit the Catholic Church.” Bill Keller, former editor of the Times, wrote a column in the paper urging discontented, liberal-minded Catholics: “Summon your fortitude, and just go.”

He made the suggestion in commenting on the publication of “Why Catholicism Matters” by Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, who wrote that he believes that “maybe a smaller church would be a better church.” So it’s not just liberal critics who would like to escort people like me to the exit. Some conservative Catholic leaders and pundits would too.

To me, these invitations reflect a shallow view of the Catholic Church that reduces its complex journey to the points where it intersects with the liberal social agenda. Pope Francis’ pastoral approach has shown a more merciful, less judgmental face of the church—one that always existed but needed to be more prominent in the public arena.

You can read the whole article here.