Walsh1

MadelineWalsh
ProfessorGriffin
UWRT1102
11March2015
Thereare1.2billionCatholicsintheworldaccordingtotheVatican.The
CatholicChurchbeganwiththeteachingsofJesusChrist.JesusChristpreachedand
taughtinthe1stcenturyADinwhatwasknownastheRomanEmpire.Thereisnotexact
dateofthebeginningoftheCatholicfaith.Itisundeterminable.Thelawswithinthe
churchweresetinstoneveryearly.TheOldandNewTestamentarewrittenaccountsof
themiraclesandactionsthatJesuspreformedalongwithguidelinesforCatholicsto
refertoorgainwisdomfrom.TheOldandNewTestamentnotonlyprovideuswith
wisdom,buttheyalsoprovidewrittenstoriesbyJesustwelveapostles.Histwelve
apostlesaccompaniedhimthroughouthismiraclesandactivitieswhilealsorecordinga
writtenaccountofthewondrousdeedsJesusChristdid.
TheOldTestamentdiscussesthecreationstoriesoftheuniverse.Godcreatedthe
Earthinsixdaysandrestedontheseventh.HecreatedallthatisonearthandtheOld
Testament,ashasrecordoftheTenCommandments.TheTenCommandmentsarea
codeofconduct,basically,forCatholicstofollow.ExamplesoftheCommandmentsare
aboutnotkilling,honoringyourfatherandmother,donotcommitadultery,donotsteal,
anddonothavefalseGodsbeforeGod.Theseareessentialtothefoundationofthe
Church.CatholicchildrenattendclassescalledCCD,whichareinformativeclassesabout
theCatholicFaith.Theyhelpchildrenbuildstrongfoundationstogrowupon.CCD

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classesteachchildrenabouttheVirginMary,Jesusmotherandfather,andabouthow
Jesusdiedonthecrossforoursinsandhewillcometosaveus.Andofcoursethe
creationstoriesfromtheOldTestament.Theclassesalsohelpchildrenlearnaboutthe
importantsymbolswithintheChurch.Thecrucifix,whichcanbegruesometolookatbut
helpsportrayhowharshJesusdeath,was.AnotherimportantsymbolistheBible;the
Biblehas46booksintheOldTestamentand27booksintheNewTestament.CCD
classesalsoprepareyoungchildrenfortheirfirstcommunion.Firstcommunioniswhena
childreceivesthebody(Eucharist)andblood(wine)ofChristforthefirsttime.Children
havetoattendclassestoverifythattheyunderstandandagreetowhattheyarepartaking
in.Theseclassesalwaysteachthebasicsbehindthefaithaswell.
TheEucharistintheCatholicChurchisbelievedtobethebodyofChrist.Every
CatholicchildthatwasbaptizedwithintheCatholicChurchreceivesitsfirstcommunion
infirstorsecondgrade.Baptismwelcomesyouintothefaithbutitisnotbychoice.The
parentsaremakingthechoicefortheyoungchildthereforefirstcommunionisthefirst
opportunityforthechildtodosomethingwithinthefaithontheirown.Eventhough
childrenarestillverydependentontheirparentsatthisageitisstillanactiondonebythe
youngchild.TherealdecidingpointisConfirmation.Itisjustwhatitsoundslike.When
acatholicentershighschooltheyhavetheopportunitytoconfirmtheirfaith.Itthey
wouldliketocontinueintothefaithandonedaymarryinthechurchtheymustget
confirmed.TobeconfirmedtheCatholicmusttakeseveralmonthsofonceaweekuntil
theconfirmationdate.

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CatholicmassesareheldatfiveoclockonSaturdaynightandallmorning
Sundaymorning.Sundayisthemostpopulardaytoattendmass.Sundayisalsothe
Sabbath,whichissupposedtobeadayofrestinordertorespectGod.Therearesixholy
daysofobligationwithintheCatholicChurch.January1st,40daysafterEasterSunday,
August15th,November1st,December8th,andDecember25th.Thesedaysitishighly
recommendedthatCatholicsattendamassandreceivetheEucharist.Catholicsare
supposedtogotoreconciliation,iftheyhavesinned,beforetheyreceivetheEuchariston
eitherSaturdaynightorSundaymorning.
Anaspectthatisveryscaredwithinthechurchisprayer.PrayingishowCatholics
connectwithGodandcenterthemselves.ThemostpopularprayersaretheOurFather,
HailMary,NiceneCreed,andApostlesCreed.Alloftheseprayersarenotalways
saidduringmass.SomeprayersliketheHailMarymaybeprayerwitharosaryandbe
usedasapenance.WhenaCatholicgoestoreconciliationtheyrepenttheirsinsandasks
forforgives.Thepriestnormallygivesapenancesothatonessinsmayberesolved.The
penancecanrangefromapologizingtodoactsofservicebutmostofthetimeitisa
seriesofprayersdonewitharosary.Therosaryisanothersymbolicitemwithinthe
church.Itisessentiallyastringofprayerbeadsandeachbeadrepresentsaprayerandthe
numberoftimesyousaytheprayer.Thepersonbeginsmakingthesignofthecrossand
sayingthe"Apostles'Creed."Thensayingthe"OurFather."Followedbysayingthree
"HailMarys."Thensayingthe"GlorybetotheFather."AnnouncetheFirstMystery;
thensaythe"OurFather."Sayten"HailMarys,"whilemeditatingontheMystery.Say
the"GlorybetotheFather."LastlyannouncetheSecondMystery;thensaythe"Our

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Father."RepeatsixorseventimesandcontinuewithThird,FourthandFifthMysteriesin
thesameorder.Thisisatypicalpenancetobegiven.
Prayersarealsosaidthroughoutthemassroutineeverymass.Thereareprayers
forpetition,whichisoneofthemostpopular.DuringmassonSaturdaynightandSunday
morningareaderpraysoutloudtothecongregationalistofallsick/dyingparishnersthat
needthecommunitysprayerandstrength.Therearealsoprayersforworldwideneed,
examplesbeingpeaceandendofwarandhurt.Worldwideneedslikehomelessnessand
illnessarealwaysincluded.Thecongregationrespondstotheprayersbysaying,Lord
hearourprayeraftereveryprayerisreadaloud.
TheheadquartersoftheCatholicChurchislocatedintheVaticanCity.Thehead
oftheChurchisknownasthePope.ThecurrentPopeisPopeFrancis.PopeFrancis,or
assomecallhimPapaFrancisco,wasordainedapriestin1969.Thiswashisfirstmajor
hurdletojumpandthensoonbecameBishopofRomeandthenbecameaCardinal;
whichisaverybigdeal.Acardinalsjobis toattendmeetingsoftheCollegeand
makingthemselvesavailableindividuallyoringroupstothePopeasrequested.Pope
FranciswasordainedPopeoftheCatholicChurchonMarch13th,2013.ArecentPew
ResearchCentersurveysaysthathis[PopeFrancis]popularityintheU.S.iscontinuing
togrowandthatheisaspopularasJohnPaulIIwasamongCatholics.ThelistofthingsI
loveabouthimseemsnearlyendless:fromauctioningoffhisHarleyDavidsonand
donatingthemoneytoahostelandsoupkitcheninRome(yes,heownedaHarley!)to
sayingthatGodisnotamagicianwithamagicwandwhenheremindedpeoplethat
CatholicbeliefsarenotinconsistentwithevolutionandtheBigBang.ThisPopenotonly

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seemstobehelpingtheCatholicChurchmovetowardamorerationalandcompassionate
perspective,hefrequentlydoesitwithabitofmodernflare(whichisalsosomethingthat
wouldnthurttheChurchtodevelopalittle).ThewaysinwhichweruntheChurchstill
holdtoday.Somemayfindthatabitdishearteningconsideringhowquicklytheworldis
modernizingitisastrangeconceptwhenthefoundationsofthechurcharestillthesame
astheywereinthe1stcentury.
Womenhaveverylittleroleswithinthechurch.Theyareallowedtoalterserve
andbecomenunsbuttheyholdverylittlepowerorauthority.
ThemodernizationoftheCatholicChurchisinurgentneed.OnJanuary19th,
2015PopeFrancisspokeaboutcontraceptioninarecentquotefromTIMEmagazinehe
saystherearechurchapprovednaturalcontraceptivemethodsthatcanpreventCatholics
fromhavingtoomanychildren.Theseconsistprimarilyofabstinencewhileawomanis
fertile.Thisstatementaloneshowsnohopethatthechurchisgoingtochangesitways
oracceptanyformofcontraceptionexceptforabstinence.Franciscontinuestocondemn
artificialbirthcontrolmethods,criticizingthePhilippinesrecentlegislationtomake
contraceptivesmoreeasilyavailabletothepublic.Hecalledtheselawsideological
colonizationclaimingtheyconflictwithtraditionalfamilyvalues.Manyadvocatesfor
womensrightsarguethatbirthcontrolempowerswomenandprotectseveryonefrom
sexuallytransmitteddiseases(TIME).Itisbecomingapublicsafetyissue.Thechurchis
notsupportiveofsupportingwomenschoiceandprotectionofmenandwomenshealth.
Ifthechurchdoesntbegintorespectthewishesofthecommunitytheymayloose
respectfromtheothers.PopeFrancislandsinthePhilippinesonThursdayfacinga

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rapidlychangingsocietywhereCatholicismremainsstrong,butwheremanyare
choosingtodismissthechurchslineonsexandcontraceptionasoutdated.Peopleare
beginningtopickandchosewhattheyagreewithandwhattheydisagreewith.Asthe
articlestatedCatholicismisstillstrongbutwomenarebeginningtotaketheissueinto
theirownhandsandchoosingtodowhatisbestforthem.IamaCatholic,IgotoMass
everySunday,saidWensieLayco,a19yearoldmotheroftwowhovisitedafamily
planningclinicinTondo,aslumdistrictinnorthernManila.Butitisdifficulttoraise
childrenhere,soIcametogetacontraceptiveimplant.TheWallStreetJournal(WSJ)
interviewedseveralmenandwomenandaskedwhytheyfelttheyneededabetterformof
contraceptionandmanystatedthattheycouldntaffordtotakecareofthechildrenthey
alreadyhaveanddidntwanttobringanotherchildintothisworldwhentheycould
barelyaffordtotakecareofwhattheyhave.Alotofyoungsinglemothersalsofeltvery
stronglyaboutthismatter.AnexampleisWensieLaycowhois19andneedstohelpher
andtwochildrenbeforeaddingmoretotheirgrowingfamily.ManyCatholicshopethat
PopeFranciswillhelphealriftsopenedbythebattleovertheReproductiveHealthLaw.
ButchurchofficialshavewarnedthepopeisunlikelytosoftenRomesoppositionto
contraception.TheWSJreporterTreforMossstatedattheendofhisarticle.Thisis
leavingparentsandyoungwomenwithverylittlehopeofeverfullybeingacceptedby
thechurch.
Withthisriseincontraceptioncomestheissueofcausalsex.TheCatholicChurch
believesinmonogamyandnosexbeforemarriage.Casualsexisagrowingissue
WomenarentallowedtobepriestsintheCatholicFaith.Anotheroldoutdatedtradition

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ofthechurch.Thereasonthechurchgivesfornotordainingwomenisabadanswer.
TheysayChristhimselfwasaman.Manyarguethisstatementsaying,Hissexis
irrelevant,thatawomancanactinthepersonofChristaswellasamancan.Thisisa
misunderstandingofCatholicteachingonthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomen,
whichtheChurchinsistsareirreducible;menandwomen,bytheirnatures,aresuitedto
different,yetcomplementary,rolesandfunctions.Thisargumenttendstoshowsexists
remarksfromtheCatholicChurch.TheCatholiccongregationisstartingtofirebackwith
howunfairthechurchistowardwomen.Theystillhaveverytraditionalviewsinavery
untraditionalworld.Traditionalviewsincludewomenbeinghousewivesandmenleaving
thehousetoprovideforthefamily.FromtheCatholicviewpointwhenmenandwomen
joininmatrimonytheyhaveadutytogodtoprocreate.Butshouldnttherebean
acceptationthatafteramanandwomenhavehadthesuitableamountofchildreninthere
ownopinionthatcontraceptionsshouldbeanoption?AfteralltheCatholicChurch
teachesthatwearesupposetohelpandprotectoneanother.Ifapersonhasthreechildren
andfeelthattheycantadequatelydivideuptheirtimeandenergytoshowenoughloveto
theirchildrentheyshouldbeabletoprotecttheirfamilyfromenduringmorestress.This
wouldallowthechildrentogrowupinahappierhomewithouttoomuchstressonthe
parents.Becauseletsfaceitlifeisstressfulandchildrenandstresscanbehardona
marriage.Thereforewomenhaveaneedforoptions.
AstronglydebatedtopicintheworldandwithintheCatholicChurchisabortion.
FatherWilliamSaundersstates,TheRomanCatholicChurchhasconsistently
condemnedabortionthedirectandpurposefultakingofthelifeoftheunbornchild.In

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principle,CatholicChristiansbelievethatalllifeissacredfromconceptionuntilnatural
death,andthetakingofinnocenthumanlife,whetherbornorunborn,ismorallywrong.
TheCatholicChurchisnotbudgingontheoptionofgivingwomenachoice.The
CatholicChurchdoesbelievethateverylifeissacred,butthatbringsupthecontroversy
ofisntthemotherslifesacredaswell?Ifthechildisgoingtobebirthedintoan
unsuitablehomeshouldntthemotherhavetheoptiontodowhatisbestforherselfand
thebaby?Thequestionofselfishnessthenarises.Severaldifferentsourceshaveshown
thatsomepeoplewhoarenotforabortionbelievethatwomenaremakingthechoiceout
ofselfishness.Whilethatisafairargumenttherearealwaysthewomenouttheirthatare
inabadplaceinlifeandhavegottenintoasituationthattheyknowtheycannotaffordor
evenpossiblydontwantthechild.Thechildcouldofcomefromasexualassault
incident.Awomancouldbebriningababyintothisworldthatwasnotwantedatalland
wasforceduponher.Prochoiceisbecomingalargelysupportedoption.JessicaVaneti
spokeabouthertwoabortions.Oneabortionwasinher20sandthesecondwasaftershe
hadalreadyhadachildwithherhusband"Weoftenhavethishierarchyofgoodandbad
abortionsIdon'tbuythat,"Valentisaid."Ifeeldifferentlyabouteachpregnancyand
thosetwoabortions.ButIdon'tfeelthatonewasmorerightorcorrectthantheother.At
bothpointsIwasdoingwhatwasrightforme,whatwasrightformyfamily,whatwas
rightformyfuturefamily."Valentiisntsayingabortionisalwaysthewaytogo;itwas
justtherightoptionforheratthetime.Shehasonechildnowandishappywithher
decision.Thatiswhysheisprochoice.
ProChoicedoesntmeanyouagreeordisagree.Prochoicemeansyouagreethat

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womenshouldgettodowhatisbestforthemintheirownlives.TheCatholicChurch
doesntbelievethatonelifeshoulddetermineanotherpersonslife.Butwiththat
statementcomeseveryonespersonalinterpretationofthemeaning.
Althoughthechurchisstandingfirminitsbeliefsarecentpollwastakenthat
showsthat89%ofCatholicWomenusesomeformofcontraceptive.50%ofCatholics
supportabortionand50%donot.ThereisnopercentageofhowmanyCatholicsbelieve
inprochoicebutif50%believeinabortionthatsaysalot.TheCatholicChurchis
behindandalthoughCatholicismisstandingstrong,somefollowersmaybeloosing
interest.