Richard McBrien Speaks of Pretentious Behavior of "Catholics"

More Catholic than the pope?

Even prior to the Second Vatican Council there were Catholics who claimed to hold themselves to a higher standard of Catholic faith and practice than the rest of the church. However, they were usually dismissed by fellow Catholics for presuming to be "more Catholic than the pope."

Although we are now almost 40 years after the council's final adjournment in December 1965, that form of pretentious behavior has not died out. In fact, the attitude seems to have made something of a comeback in recent years. There are Catholics today --- some of them recent "converts" from various Protestant denominations and even from Judaism --- who think of themselves as better Catholics than most others.

This reads as if he is using the "playbook" from the National unCatholic Reporter...showing his hostility to "Converts" to Catholicism (presumably those on fire for their faith)...none of the well known "converts" that I've seen or heard have ever presented themselves as "better Catholics" - concerned, yes - particularly about the abysmal state of catechesis in recent decades, but "better than most"? I think not.

Unaware of, or perhaps simply indifferent to, their own lack of theological sophistication, they confidently repeat one-liners --- Rodney Dangerfield-style --- from the old Baltimore Catechism or its equivalent on such diverse topics as papal infallibility, capital punishment, just war and sexual morality.

"Lack of theological sophistication"? Of course, no one could possibly be as "theologically sophisticated" as McBrien who has done more damage to the Church in the US than most "theologians". If Fr. John Hardon is to be believed, and I have no reason to doubt him and every reason to believe him, he stated that he had refuted McBrien's heresies in the past. It's shameful that few address them today.

All of the "issues" which McBrien addresses above, "papal infallibility, capital punishment, just war and sexual morality," are, of course, topics about which the Church is confused. And equally confused are those, lacking the requisite "theological sophistication", who are guided by the Magisterium and hold to and give assent to the teachings of the Church. Those of us who adhere to the Church's teachings, therefore, must be complete dolts - based on McBrien's flawless perspective.

One should notice also the "love" he must feel for the new Catechism when he states, "the old Baltimore Catechism or its equivalent". I suppose that if it is not his "catechism", it must be in error and incomplete.

He continues his rant condemning Alan Keyes for the position he took with his daughter although he does state that, he [Alan Keyes] also said that if his own daughter were a lesbian, he would characterize her in the same way [a selfish hedonist], tell her that she was in sin, and urge her to pray to God to "help her deal with that sin."

I suppose those comments are not "Catholic"...McBrien, evidently, prefers that we confirm others in their sins and praise them when they continue to head away from God? This man is a cancer within the Church!

Tidings article (what else?).