This is how Catholics will be remembered

My main argument against modern Catholicism are the changes made during Vatican II, and I feel the decadence and decay of the modern church are a direct result from that:


The following is a brief summary of some changes since the Second Vatican Council:

http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs.../summary_of_changes_since_vatican_ii.htm#What Has Changed?

• Changed Indulgences
  
  
• Changed Blessings
  
  
• Changed Calendar
  
  
• New Canon Law
  
  
• New Catechism
  
  
• New Educational System
  
  
• Religious Order Changes
  
  
• Roman Curia Reorganized
  
  
• Overthrow of Rules in Religious Life
  
  
• Abolition of the Index of Forbidden Books (Index Librorum Prohibitorum)
  
  
• Discarding of Symbols (papal chair, tiara, etc.)
  
  
• Less Focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary
  
  
• Less Focus on Saints
  
  
• Changed Artwork
  
  
• Removal & Destruction of Existing Priceless Works of Art
  
  
• Changed Music
  
  
• Changed Breviary
  
  
• Changed Rosary - Note: Click here for more on this topic
  
  
• Changed Prayers
  
  
• Changed Orientation of Priests (e.g. "from spiritual to psychiatric", "from theological to psychological")
  
  
• Changed Catechesis - It is well known that some popular catechesis actually is contrary to the perennial Catholic faith. Parents have even had to remove their children from 'Catholic' schools to protect them from false / dangerous teachings (including inappropriate sex education).
  
  
• Adoption of Collegiality - This practice tends to weaken papal authority as well as the authority of individual bishops. As stated by Amerio "The weakening of a unifying papal authority began institutionally with the transfer in 1966 to local bishops of certain faculties previously reserved to the Holy See... The bishops' law-making power was subsequently further enlarged, with a corresponding contraction of Roman jurisdiction, and received a definitive status in the new Code of Canon Law". Also, with collegiality, bishops are said to "actually suffer a loss of control" since they may tend to relinquish their authority to local or national councils.
  
  
• Increased Reliance on Lay 'Experts'
  
  
• Increased Conformity to the World
  
  
• Use of 'Medicine of Mercy' Rather Than Authority / Correction
  
  
• Apparent Shift in Emphasis from Truth to Liberty - Contrary to the long-standing custom of fighting heresy, it now seems as though heresy is "no big deal"
  
  
• Apparent Forgetfulness of the Church's True Mission of Saving Sinners From Hell
  
  
• Apparent Shift from Truth to Subjectivism
  
  
• Apparent Exchange of "Certainty of Truth" for "Seeking of Truth"
  
  
• "Focusing on Unity at the Expense of Truth"
  
  
• Dropped Liturgical Seasons (e.g. Septuagesima)
  
  
• Elimination of Ember Days
  
  
• Elimination of Rogation Days ("which date from at least the 400's -500's - and which the saints participated in")
  
  
• Reduction / Elimination of Octaves and Vigils
  
  
• Changing of Friday Abstinence Regulations
  
  
• Elimination of Preparatory Period Before Lent
  
  
• Relaxation of Penance in Lent - "The observance of Lent is the very badge of Christian warfare. By it we prove ourselves not to be enemies of the cross of Christ. By it we avert the scourges of divine justice. By it we gain strength against the princes of darkness, for it shields us with heavenly help. Should mankind grow remiss in their observance of Lent, it would be a detriment to God's glory, a disgrace to the Catholic religion, and a danger to Christian souls. Neither can it be doubted that such negligence would become the source of misery to the world, of public calamity, of private woe." (Pope Benedict XIV, 1741 A.D.)
  
  
• Reduced Fast Days
  
  
• Reduced Emphasis on Penance & Mortification / Near Elimination of Penitential Days - "...a private work of devotion has neither the merit nor the efficacy of one that is done in company with the Church, and in communion with her public act; for the Church, as bride of Christ, communicates an exceptional worth and power to works of penance done, in her name, in the unity of the social body. St. Leo the Great is very strong on this fundamental principle of Christian virtue. We find him insisting on it in the sermons he preached to the faithful of Rome on the occasion of this fast [September Ember Days], which was then called the feast of the seventh month. 'Although,' says he, 'it be lawful for each one of us to chastise his body by [certain] self-imposed punishments, and restrain, with more or less severity, the concupiscences of the flesh which war against the spirit, yet need is that, on certain days, a general fast be celebrated by all. Devotion is all the more efficacious and holy, when the whole church is engaged in works of piety, with one spirit and one soul.''" (Liturgical Year)
  
  
• Apparent Forgetfulness That We Are a Church Militant - "We hear of a people of God on the march, a pilgrim Church - a Church no longer Militant against the powers of darkness, but one which, having lost its link with eternity, marches to a future envisioned in purely temporal terms." (Cardinals Ottaviani & Bacci)
  
  
• Apparent Distancing of Church from Calvary - According to Cardinal Wyszynski, "[The] post-conciliar church] is distancing itself appreciably from the event of Calvary"
  
  
• Introduction of Constant Change / Loss of Stability - "The Church has lost the sense of stability. Prior to Vatican II, there was great stability. Those who sought change were the ones who were looked at suspiciously. Now, the psychology has been shifted to accept change." It now almost seems as if nothing is free from change.
  
  
• Less Discipline / Less Recourse Against Offenders - According to the Council of Vienne, and well-verified over the last several decades, "where discipline is despised, religion suffers shipwreck." Not only are there fewer reasons for automatic excommunication in the new Canon Law, but there appears to be a reluctance to discipline all but two types of persons (1) the most severe offenders, and (2) traditionalist Catholics. Scripture is clear that those who are not disciplined are bastards (Heb. 12:8). St. Augustine considers that*, "A father beats a boy, and a seducer of boys caresses. If you but name the two actions, who would not choose the caresses and decline the blows? But if you take note of the persons whose actions they are, it is love that beats the boy and iniquity that caresses him." St. Augustine also writes, " n reading the testimonies of Sacred Scripture which indicate that there is presently, or foretell that there will be in the future, a mingling of good and evil person in the Church, anyone who understands these testimonies in such a way that he supposes the diligence and severity of discipline ought to be relaxed and omitted is not taught by those same writings but is deceived by his own conjecture... In our times, when the sword has ceased to be visible in the discipline of the Church, what must be done is point out by degradations and excommunications." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 413 A.D.) [*Note: The reader is reminded that discipline of children should obviously be done within reason. One should not abuse children.]
  
  
  [*] Emphasis Shift - In contrast with Holy Scripture, which tells of God's love and mercy, yet often explains the rigorous punishments for disobedience to God, the Post-Conciliar Church tends to focus rather heavily on love and mercy. As the Baltimore Catechism reminds us, "The forgetfulness of God's justice will lead us into the sins of presumption."
  
  
  [*] Apparent Unwillingness to Discuss "Negative" Topics (e.g. judgment, purgatory, hell, etc.)
  
  
  [*] Changes to Rituals Which Cause a Widespread Loss of Reverence & Solemnity, Frequent Incidents of Liturgical Abuse, Sacrilege, and Profanation
  
  
  [*] Toleration of Undue Freedom
  
  
  [*] Apparent Refusal of Shepherds to Act as Such - "Bishops and other ordinaries should remember that they are shepherds... and that they must so rule over their subjects as not to dominate over them but to love them as sons and brothers; they should endeavor by exhortation and admonition to deter them from wrongdoing lest they be obliged to administer due punishment after the faults have been committed." (Council of Trent)
  
  
  [*] Apparent forgetfulness on part of shepherds that their primary job is to save souls - "Now priests seem to think their job is to make us feel better about ourselves or to act as psychiatrists"
  
  
  [*] Frequent Distortion / Corruption of the Concept of Love / Charity
  
  
  [*] Apparent Changed Outlook on Death Penalty - Contrary to what has always been held in the Church, the post-conciliar Church appears to condemn the concept of the death penalty for those guilty of certain grave crimes
  
  
  [*] Changed Treatment Regarding Those Who Commit Suicide - Since the Second Vatican Council, it is commonly assumed that persons who take their own life are not responsible for their actions. While this may make the survivors feel better, it shows great forgetfulness that such an action is objectively a grave sin against God (the unlawful taking of one's life, the sin of despair, etc.). It also tends to ignore the fact that the Church holds that one who is guilty of an unrepented mortal sin will suffer eternal damnation. Further, it does not discourage others from taking an action which may lead to their eternal damnation.
  
  
  [*] Increased Democracy in the Church - Note, of course, that democracy is contrary to the Church's hierarchical nature, as established by Christ
  
  
  [*] Shift in Emphasis From Truths to Feelings
  
  
  [*] Apparent Exchange of Certainty for Relativism
  
  
  [*] New Bible Translations - New translations of Holy Scripture have been approved which "give the Church's enemies much to be thankful for". In addition to "watering down" passages relating to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the new translations may also be criticized for certain footnotes, headers, questionable translation choices, inclusive language, "heterodox tendencies", "linguistic imprecision", etc. In fact, in one well-known, widely-used translation, the word "hell" is completely excluded.
  
  
  [*] Changed Architecture - In contrast to the splendor of Solomon's temple and to the beautiful, holy and inspiring Catholic churches of times past, many modern churches are plain, functional, barren, and even ugly. Before, they gave honor to God and "instructed and raised the heart and mind to God". Nowadays, churches tend to be egalitarian and often fail to achieve the lifting of one's heart and mind to God.
  
  
  [*] Shift From Individual Responsibility to Community Responsibility / Near Elimination of Personal Responsibility
  
  
  [*] Less Emphasis on the Value and Necessity of Suffering
  
  
  [*] New Canonization Procedures - The numerous changes have led to an unprecedented number of canonizations, and have also led some of the faithful to express concern over various aspects of the new procedures [e.g. elimination of the "devil's advocate", reduction of the waiting period (allowing the process to be conducted while 'emotions are high'), loosening of procedures, reduction in the number of required miracles, concerns over conflicts of interest, concerns over the elimination of unfavorable witnesses deemed "unsuitable", concerns over "political correctness" in the canonization process, concern that the process may not prevent factual errors, concern that the process has become politicized (e.g. using canonization to advance certain causes), concern over lost confidence in the process, concerns regarding the reduced role of the pope, and even some concern regarding the infallible nature of canonizations, etc.] Click here for more on this topic.
  
  
  [*] Altered Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary & the Saints
  
  
  [*] Changes Which Give the Impression That Traditions & Dogmas May be Open to Compromise
  
  
  [*] Changes Which May Imply a False " Absolute Equality" of Sexes
  
  
  [*] Concessions to a Harmful Feminist Agenda / Discounting Traditional and Scriptural Concepts Regarding the Proper of Role of Women [wife's duty of obedience, wife's primary role as mother, etc. ( try here for more info)] - "Such support also tends to encourage women to become 'units of production', sacrificing their families to work outside the home"
  
  
  [*] Certainty of Truth Replaced by "Search for Truth"
  
  
  [*] Clear Unity Replaced by "Search for Unity"
  
  
  [*] Shift from "One True Church" to a Near Universal Religion
  
  
  [*] Increased Concern Over Public Opinion
  
  
  [*] Apparent Relinquishment of Authority in Favor of a "Desire to Please"
  
  
  [*] Changed Vocabulary / Terminology (Often Ambiguous, Less Precise) - For example, rather than refer to the Church as the Catholic Church or Catholics as Catholics, they may simply be referred to by the generic term "People of God"
  
  
  [*] Frequent Surrender in the Face of Pressure
  
  
  [*] Heterodox Teachers / Prelates Frequently Tolerated -"It is a miserable time when a man's Catholic profession is no voucher for his orthodoxy, and when a teacher of religion may be within the Church's pale, yet external to her faith." (Cardinal Newman)
  
  
  [*] Over-emphasis on Human Dignity
  
  
  [*] Widespread Lack of Awareness of One's Own Sinfulness
  
  
  [*] Apparent Forgetfulness of the Reality of Evil
  
  
  [*] Toleration of Actions Which Tend to Threaten the Indissolubility of Marriage (e.g. unprecedented number of annulments)
  
  
  [*] Reduction in Demands Made of Catholics - "Relaxing of rules teaches that duties can be eliminated when they prove difficult, it also results in the relaxing of the will, and provides no checking of natural impulses". According to Cardinal Wyszynski, "[The post-conciliar Church] is reducing its demands and no longer resolving problems in accordance with the will of God, but in accordance with man's natural capacities".
  
  
  [*] Revolutionary New, Protestantized Liturgies - "With all due respect, some Catholic churches have become Protestant churches or community halls." (Msgr. Campell) Cardinals Ottaviani & Bacci have even stated that "To prepare a complete study of all the pitfalls, dangers and psychologically and spiritually destructive elements the new rite contains, whether in texts, rubrics or instructions, would be a vast undertaking." Note: Click here for more on this topic.
  
  

This thread has electrified Salo.

This is how "This is how ____ will be remembered" threads will be remembered.

Homosexual Catholic priests are a major problem in the United States, and parts of decadent Western Europe:

"It has been estimated that at least 33 percent of all priests in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States are homosexual."

"Homosexual men entered the [Roman Catholic] seminaries in noticeable numbers from the late 1970s through the 1980s",[13] and available figures for homosexual priests in the United States range from 15–58%."

"Asked if a "homosexual subculture" (defined as a "definite group of persons that has its own friendships, social gatherings and vocabulary") existed in their diocese or religious order, 17 percent of the priests said "definitely," and 27 percent said "probably." 53 percent of priests who were ordained in the last 20 years (1982-2002) affirmed such a subculture existed in the seminary when they attended.[14]"

"Studies by Wolf and Sipe from the early 1990s suggest that the percentage of priests in the Catholic Church who admitted to being gay or were in homosexual relationships was well above the national average for the United States of America."

"One report suggested that since the mid-1980s Roman Catholic priests in the United States were dying from AIDS-related illnesses at a rate four times higher than that of the general population; with most of the cases contracted through same-sex relations, and the cause often concealed on their death certificates. A followup study done the next year by the Kansas City Star found AIDS-related death rate among priests was "more than six times" the rate among the general population in the 14 states studied."