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WHY CATHOLICS ARE ATTRACTED TO
PROTESTANTISM
Men are usually zealous with the things
of the world and slothful when it pertains to the soul and heavenly
things. So, when it comes to worldly matters as going to
school, running a business, running for a political office, no
matter how complex they are, they entertain the minds of men.
But when it comes to spiritual matters, they choose what is easy,
externalized, simple and short.
This explains why so many Catholics in
the U.S., surprisingly enough, in South America and almost
everywhere, are transferring to the countless Protestant
denominations mushrooming everywhere. Any man can start his
own sect and is able to gather a large crowd almost immediately.
Their common denominator is the presentation of a simplified,
shallow form of Christianity that leads, supposedly, to happiness
and salvation. But which according to the original teaching of
Christ does not work.
All of them accept the more obvious
doctrines like the existence of God, the immortality of the soul,
the existence of good and evil, and rewards for the good and
punishment for evil. But none of them can understand the more
sublime doctrines on the Eucharist, the Priesthood and asceticism.
In the Catholic Church, the way to
happiness and salvation is simple. But the manner to go about
attaining it is difficult to understand but also simple to execute.
It is like asking: how do you reach the top of Mr. Everest?
The answer is simple: climb it. The actual preparation and
execution is more complex that few attain it. And Christ,
Himself, said so: "many will try to enter but very few will do so."
Tragically, most Catholics are also
simplifying their Catholicism to a few rites and rituals, a few
giving here and there and think it is enough for them to deserve
heaven. They are like Protestants within the Church.
They are also wrong.
If we are Catholics, we must know the
Catholic doctrine on how to save our souls. It is the first
things we must know. Though it is found completely in the
Tradition of the Holy and Orthodox Fathers of the Church. And,
executing what we have learned can be short for a select few but,
for most of us, it will take a lifetime.
(08-21-10)
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