G.K. Chesterton said that the true Christian Church is a church of "both/and", not "either/or". Keep that in mind and it will help you to see the misconceptions that so many non-Catholics have about Catholic teachings:

1. They complain that we focus too much attention on Mary INSTEAD of on God. Well, who says it has to be EITHER Mary (and the rest of the saints) OR God? Isn't love something that grows the more it's shared? Think about it -- would even a human father get angry at his children for wanting to spend time with their mother, brothers and sisters? Wouldn't he, rather, take pleasure in the fact that he has a family that enjoys each other's company?

2. They complain that we follow Tradition INSTEAD of Scripture. Well, where does it say - even in Scripture - that we can't follow both? The very existence of Scripture -- the fact that these books were chosen to be Scripture and others were not -- is itself a tradition, isn't it? If the Church is not the final authority for which books are inspired and which are not, then why not accept the Book of Mormon or Mary Baker Eddy's scriptures?

3. They complain that we spend too much money on lavish churches and not enough on the poor. Why can't we do both? Why can't we have beautiful churches AND feed the poor? (In fact, we do a pretty good job of both, so that's really just nitpicking.)

These are just a few examples off the top of my head (obviously!) but it should give you a good starting point next time someone starts a thread here with the title "Why do Catholics [fill in the blank] instead of [whatever]?". Just tell them, "We're the church of "both/and", not "either/or"!"

-- Christine L. (christinelehman@hotmail.com), November 20, 2002

Answers

Thanks Christine! That's awesome!

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), November 20, 2002.

Thanks Christine! Here's one: It's not faith without works, or works without faith. It's faith "working" through love!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), November 20, 2002.

Thanks, Gail! I knew I had left one out -- that's actually the best one!!

-- Christine L. (chris_tine_leh_man@hotmail.com), November 20, 2002.

I "second" your praise, Jake H!
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 22, 2002.

Gail,
The same folks that protest large families (of Catholics) on account of the ''starving children'' in some parts of the world. They reason there would be more for Africans to eat, with one less child born in every Catholic home, -- or ''How do you expect God to feed all of us?'' The old saying, ''Penny wise and Pound foolish.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), November 23, 2002.

I said this to Gail-- But meant it for Gail, et al, Christine! God bless you.

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), November 23, 2002.