Can a Catholic Be Independent?

For most Roman Catholics, the notion of independence just doesn't compute.  Like many, I was raised to believe that whatever Father Pastor said was coming from the mouth of God.  This is appropriate for us as children as we learn and grow in the faith and in life just like we do with our human parents.

At some point, however, we must begin to accept personal responsibility for what we believe and how we will relate to the world we live in.  That stage in life is called adulthood.  We are no longer children.

Human beings grow; this means we change.  It is normal, natural, and good that we do.  The choices we make in life are often the result of experiences we have had, reflection on them, followed by decisions about them.  But, because we change as the years pass, we learn more about ourselves and the world.  The person I was at 3 years of life, then 10 years, then 25 years, then 50 years, and now 69 years has changed quite a bit.

On the other hand, each of us retain from our past those values and memories which touched us in a special way.  Sometimes good, sometimes not.  Regardless, we are not exactly the same today as in our past.

As a cradle Catholic, I have been fortunate to have experienced religion and faith in a very positive way.  Because I no longer follow the narrow path of the church as I did as a child, is a result of years of prayer, experience, and new opportunities.  In the final analysis, when an individual judges him/herself, it is hoped that we can admit our sins, but also see the good we have done.

We are made in the image and likeness of a God who loves us unconditionally.  If we keep our minds and hearts open to that love, that love will conquer all our imperfections and sins.

So, I believe that a Catholic can and must be independent in the sense that we must take responsibility for our faith.  If that faith leads us to a particular community of believers, then we take on the responsibility for that community, too.

In my opinion, the current pope and his bishops see a God and a church that is too small.  The question each of us might ask ourselves is:  When the church seems to me to be in conflict with what I believe Jesus intended, do I follow Jesus or do I follow the church?  Remember, all churches are human inventions, which may or may not be following Jesus' Holy Spirit.  Our creator made it possible to overcome and frustrate the Holy Spirit.  We are neither robots nor puppets.  We are images of God!

Peace and blessings,

Fr. Jerry Brohl, COSF