REFLECTIONS on RENEWAL

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 21, 2003

Baltimore Catechism (III), 1891

Q. 491. What is the duty of the Teaching Church?

A. The duty of the Teaching Church is to continue the work Our Lord began upon earth, namely, to teach revealed truth, to administer the Sacraments and to labor for the salvation of souls.

Q. 492. What is the duty of the faithful?

A. The duty of the faithful is to learn the revealed truths taught, to receive the Sacraments, and to aid in saving souls by their prayers, good works and alms.

Q. 999. Why should we show great respect to the priests and bishops of the Church?

A. We should show great respect to the priests and bishops of the Church because:
1. They are the representatives of Christ upon earth, and
2. They administer the Sacraments without which we cannot be saved.

Renewed Baltimore Catechism (III), 2003

Q. 491. What is the duty of the Teaching Church?

A. The duty of the Teaching Church is to bargain away the deposit of faith deftly enough to keep her bishops out of prison without provoking the indignation of the faithful.

Q. 492. What is the duty of the faithful?

A. The duty of the faithful is to feign gratitude for the tactical lies told by their shepherds and to take part in the pretense that mutations in immutable doctrine are often necessary for pastoral reasons.

Q. 999. Why should we show great respect to the priests and bishops of the Church?

A. We should show great respect to the priests and bishops of the Church because:
1. They have a master's degree in liturgy and we don't, and
2. When you look at the hard data, ignoring tabloid sensationalism and taking into account the big picture, the percentage of criminal sexual misconduct among clergy scarcely differs from the population at large.