Clarification of Some Misconceptions of Church Teaching

Now that we seem to be coming out of this terrible pandemic, and the requirement for Mass attendance has been reinstated, I’ve been thinking about the people who, hopefully, would be coming back to Mass and those who, even before the pandemic, did not attend Mass regularly. I’m sure many of them must have questions. How have the pandemic and restrictions affected them? Have they thought about coming back to Mass and the Church community? Has the church changed some of her teachings, especially with all that’s been happening in many cities?  

I was speaking with a few friends who remember, or knew, or have some experience of a former pastor. I guess you could say he was a traditionalist and tended to speak the truth plainly, no matter how hard it was to speak it. The truth is the truth and oftentimes sugarcoating it changes it’s meaning thus making it NOT the truth. So, he did not often sugarcoat it. I’ve learned that more often than not, people want and appreciate the truth, even if it means they would have to change their beliefs and ways of doing things.

In light of this, I thought I would share a few thoughts on some things that many people may think the Church has stopped teaching, or may think the Church has never taught or maybe they just forgot these misconceptions. I may write on additional misconceptions I’ve learned some people hold on to.
I write this with the I hope that if you’ve been away, you we will return to Mass and Parish family where we wait to welcome you with open arms! Remember, The truth WILL set you free!

First-Sin, including Mortal Sin, still exists
Sin didn’t somehow become “making mistakes.”  Personal sin didn’t disappear and become “corporate or social sin.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1846-1876, tells us that sin, both venial and mortal, are defined and have always been the teaching of the Church.
Since sin didn’t evaporate into the air, neither did the necessity to address its effect and our need for healing. Being in a state of mortal sin will still send you to hell. Ignore that at your own risk. Being in a state of mortal sin still excludes a person from receiving Holy Communion until he/she goes to Confession and confesses it.  Receiving the Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin is, itself, a mortal sin.
The Church has never taught that a person has a right to the receive Holy Communion whenever they feel like receiving It. A belief that the bread and wine is still be just bread and wine after Consecration is not what the Church teaches. She does teach that bread and wine becomes the BODY AND BLOOD of Jesus Christ.

Second-Sunday Mass/ Holy Day Masses are NOT optional
Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted and the requirement of attending Mass is reinstated, a Catholic in good standing, with the exception of those who are ill or taking care of someone who is ill, are obliged to worship God in Mass on every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. That never changed.
When someone chooses to opt out of Mass in favor of sleeping in, sports, shopping, or anything like this, he/she has found a god they think is more worthy of their time than the One True God.
Any Catholic who would believe his/her faith life is just fine without Mass is deceiving himself/herself. Missing Mass deliberately is starving oneself to death spiritually. To knowingly and willingly miss Mass is a mortal sin. To teach one’s children by word or example that Mass is optional is to teach your children how to commit a mortal sin. This is a very serious matter.

Third-The sanctity of human sexuality is still upheld
The Church views human sexuality as such a profound good that the She advises against the abuse of human sexuality into a mere plaything.  The church has always had problems with the misuse of human sexuality and the devastation it brings.
Yes, I know…what about those clerics who sexually preyed on their flocks? They did so in direct opposition to the teachings of the Church. We cannot allow the sins of others to justify our own sin.
The use of artificial birth control was never a “let your conscience be your guide” teaching.  If you were taught that it was wrong and it was taught by those who either bought into worldly views on human sexuality, sugarcoated the teaching, or were too afraid to uphold those teachings for fear of the backlash that would come.
The Church does not teach that it’s okay with the use of porn, masturbation, homosexual acts, or any other use of human sexuality that goes against its very nature.
I know this is not popular, but the Church has not changed its teachings about this. See Catechism sections 2331-2400.

Fourth-Confession is still necessary for the forgiveness of Mortal Sin
Sin needs to be forgiven for the relationship between God and with His people to be restored. It is that relationship that opens us to the freedom of receiving God’s grace in the sacraments. It is that relationship that opens us to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mortal sin breaks that relationship. Without that relationship, we have no true access to the grace of the other sacraments nor to the Kingdom of Heaven. Confession is the way we fix that. Whether someone feels that is true or not, does not change that this is the constant teaching of the Church. See Catechism sections 1446-1470.

Fifth-The Catholic faith is not a buffet where one picks and chooses what is okay and comfortable, what they’ll follow or not follow
The Catholic Church has the right to say that this is what we believe. Jesus said so. It has the right to set the standard. We do so because this is what Christ taught.
The point of faith isn’t to numb us into submission. The point of faith is to challenge us to greater heights, courage, and holiness. Every rule and teaching of the Church comes from what it means to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. It is an integral whole. Once we start picking and choosing, we damage the whole. When people start picking and choosing, it becomes easier and easier to abandon faith altogether.

These are just a few if the issues
Catholic professionals lament the ignorance of the people and their lack of practice of the faith. But, people are only doing what many trained or taught them to do! If faith was treated as a buffet, no wonder that others would as well. If unpopular teachings, or teachings that mean I have to give up my favored sins are not taught or are glossed over, then we spread the disease of ignorance that plagues so many.
It isn’t as if we haven’t had these teachings all along. All of the things many said were thrown out (the Rosary, Confession, Purgatory, indulgences, sexual morality teachings, etc) were never thrown out. Those who did say that will have to stand before God for the damage they did.
The church still believes and teaches what She did long ago. I believe what we need is to have clear teaching.