Answer to an article on Father Thomas Reese's views of the Catholic Church
Father Reese’s views
Posting Date: Oct 19 2010
Editor:
After reading the article in The Valley Catholic newspaper of Sept. 14 in which Father Thomas Reese’s views concerning the current state of the Catholic Church appeared, I found it funny that Father Reese called others to “become a do-it-yourself Church” since obviously he himself hasn’t followed through on this advice.
Father Reese has been whining about the Church for a long time, which leads me to wonder: Why has he stayed in a Church for so long that he dislikes?
If I had been in his shoes, I’d have been out of the Catholic Church a long time ago. I’d have gone to some church that featured everything that I asked for, and if such a church didn’t exist, I’d have created my own “do-it-yourself church” as he suggested.
I’d have done anything but stay in the Catholic Church. With views such as his, I wouldn’t have wanted to wear a Roman collar or be identified in any way as a Roman Catholic priest.
I would have simply wanted to be in a church that made me feel good. Whether the teaching of said church jived with historical doctrine or sound biblical exegesis wouldn’t have mattered to me a bit—just being in a church that conformed to my life and to what I alone believed would have been all that mattered.
Addressing Father Reese’s concern on Catholic identity, like many others, I came home to the Catholic Church seven years ago, after spending more than 11 years exploring and studying other faiths.
Knowing well now what the Church teaches, I am a very happy Catholic. Through the Internet and other media, I gladly let the whole world know that I am extremely proud to be Catholic. Is that the case for Father Reese?
S. Thoi
Morgan Hill
This was a letter that I sent to the Editor of the Valley Catholic monthly newspaper of the Diocese of San Jose, California, U.S.A, regarding an article on Fr. Thomas Reese's views on the Church. The Valley Catholic article in question can be found here
The Valley Catholic newspaper posted my letter here
www.happycatholic.org