My Case for Catholicism

I’ve had many discussions with varying types of believers and non-believers in Christ and even those who only believe in “a god.”  I don’t go looking for a fight, but I do wear my Catholicism outwardly.

I wear a visible crucifix (not only a cross) on a small chain around my neck. My car has two large white signs on either front door advertising my website that read “what if it’s all true?” with what (I hope) is interpreted to be a dove representing the Holy Spirit.  When someone bites, and says to me, “what if what’s all true?”  I respond with, “The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit….”.  At this statement they usually brighten a bit, sometimes smile and begin to agree.  But when I continue on with “……Our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” I tend to see the smile fade, and sometimes a look of consternation replaces it.

That’s OK with me because I’m ready with a smile and a “have a great day”.  I don’t push things on anyone, but if someone wants to have a discussion, I stick around and engage.  Most times I’ll just answer the questions they begin to shoot at me like, “well, what about that ‘body of Christ thing’ do you really believe that?”  Or “why do you have to go to mass EVERY Sunday?’ Or even, “I’m spiritual but not religious.”   I usually say something like, “well, you asked me, so if you’d like to talk, I’m open to a discussion. Would you like to know why I’m Catholic?”

And that’s why I’m writing this today; to lay out the few main reasons I’m a Catholic. While the reasons for my Catholicism are myriad, or as the demons say in Mark 5:9  “Legion”; there are just a few main points I try to make at the outset of any discussion; here they are:

I was born Catholic and claimed for Christ through the sacrament of baptism at a very early age. Can someone really make a decision to “become Catholic” at one month old?  Of course not, but that’s not the correct question to ask (but it has been asked to me). Nor are we even going to discuss that question today.  I mention it as a starting point.  I am what’s known as a ‘cradle Catholic’ – born into the faith.  What a Gift!

Jesus Christ Himself established the Catholic Church.  “Psahw!” You may say.  “Poppycock!” you might add; and that’s OK.  You are allowed to disagree, but I ask you to stay with me for a few more paragraphs.  Hear me out. There are three places in the New Testament that unequivocally point to the Catholic Church as Jesus’ church:

1. First and foremost, words mean things. In Matthew 16: 17-18 we read: “And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you Simon Bar Jonah.  For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”  Let’s be clear here about what this verse is saying.  Jesus is setting Peter above all his other disciples here.  (The man) Jesus is astonished that His father has revealed His own divinity to Simon!  Jesus’ response to (Simon) Peter’s insight is “OK…I get it Dad, this is our guy.”  Jesus is establishing the leader of His Church here on Earth.  He’s making Peter the first Pope of His church.  He gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  He also gives Peter the power to bind and loose.  You can twist yourself into a pretzel trying to say Jesus’ words here were NOT establishing just one, only, singular Church. Theirs is no translation that that argues for Jesus meaning anything plural about the word Church. Church is singular.  The Catholic church is the meaning here.
2. On that first Easter night, when the Apostles were scared and hiding in the upper room and the doors were locked, Jesus appeared. John 19: 22-23 tells us that Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit, If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” What is this if not the Sacrament of Reconciliation?  He bestowed this power to His first bishops – the Apostles. God knows we will sin.  He immediately establishes a way for us to return to communion with our brethren and Himself. Only the Catholic Church has this sacrament.
3. The third main point is at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, at His ascension. Matthew 28: 18-20 reads, “And Jesus came and said to them , “All Authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Again, who is present here?

To summarize: Jesus establishes a “Head of His Church” (Peter, the first Pope). Jesus then establishes a sacrament and gives a bunch of people (his first bishops) the power to forgive sins in His name.  Just before He leaves them physically (ascending to His Father) He tells gives them the mission to “go into the whole world and teach”.  Better men than me have made eminently more cogent arguments for the Truth of Catholicism, but these three moments are what convinced me of the Truth.

My final point is Jesus’ prayer for Unity that is found in John 17: 20-23. It reads:  “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may be one, as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me. And I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

This prayer is Jesus knowing that the Evil one will try to separate his disciples, try to sow disunion and foster enmity between believers.  Satan tries to introduce uncertainty.  What did the evil one say to Eve?  “Did God really say……?”  And what a great job old hairy legs is doing, right?

There are thousands of denominations and churches of this and that, right?  Boy, is His church divided.  Even within His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church there’s lots of infighting and differences of opinions and even doctrinal divergences.  However, for 2000+ years His One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church is still standing.

Jesus Christ established His One True Church on Earth and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, and to assist His bride, the Catholic Church. And His bride exists to guide us to Heaven.

God made all 8 billion of us to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this world, and to be with Him forever in the next. For this sinner to know how to do those first three things, and ready myself to receive the merciful gift of the fourth I need the guidance of the Catholic Church here on Earth.