Why Catholic?

By Ray Chidell

This book (2nd edition July 2011) explains the unique nature of the Church of Rome. The text explores the source of the Church’s authority and provides informed commentary on some of the principal areas that divide Catholic and other Christian teaching. The book explains the Church’s stance on such topics as scripture and tradition, Mary and the Eucharist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ray Chidell
• Release date: Apr 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9780955452017

Ray Chidell

Ray Chidell is a professional author and publisher (as director of Claritax Books) working in the field of UK taxation. A graduate of Cambridge University, he is a Catholic convert. The book Why Catholic was written as a non-commercial venture to share some personal insights into the treasures of the Catholic Church.

Book preview

Why

Catholic?

Written and published by:

Ray Chidell MA (Cantab) at Smashwords

ISBN (Smashwords 2nd edition): 978-0-9554520-2-4

© 2011 Ray Chidell

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Contents

Notes on the text

Preface

Introduction

Why Christian?

Why Church?

Authority

Scripture

Tradition

The Eucharist and the Mass

Reconciliation (confession)

Mary

Saints

That they all may be one

Appendices

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Notes on the text

Words preceded by an asterisk (*) are briefly discussed in Appendix 1 (Glossary). The general approach has been to assume a knowledge of Christian principles but to explain terms that perhaps have a special meaning for Catholics.

Brief biographical details are also given in Appendix 2 of some individuals referred to in the book. Appendix 3 contains recommendations for further reading, and Appendix 4 makes very brief comments on the Orthodox Church, to which only passing reference is made in the text.

The text contains many references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (e.g., CCC 27 referring to paragraph 27 of the Catechism). The Catechism is the official summary of Catholic teaching and describes itself as a synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine. The current wording of the Catechism was formally endorsed by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

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Preface

Perhaps approaching the subject of apologetics can prove to be one of the most challenging of all for any Christian author, inasmuch as what can seem to be ‘inspired and new’ has often been conveyed already in various forms. So, what can we say about this work by Ray Chidell that differs from that which has gone before?

It seems that our author is so relaxed in his presentation and clarity that the reader is immediately put at ease, enabling him fully to grasp each truth without the topic becoming laboured in any way. Indeed, for one such as myself, who converted from Protestantism to Catholicism just eighteen months ago, this book has proved invaluable; convicting one where still in error, whilst affirming areas where un-consciously one has ‘grown’, so to speak, in Catholic truth. Ray Chidell is able to uphold and express, without prejudice, the teaching of the Catholic Church against a backdrop of Protestant errors and simple disbelief.

One can happily read and re-read a chapter in its own right or use the book for reference. Moreover, should one be keen to explore more, the glossary, together with suggestions for further research, are most helpful. Therefore, whether you are simply exploring the Catholic faith, a new convert to Catholicism, or indeed, a born Catholic, I would urge you to read ‘Why Catholic?’ carefully; re-read it, ask questions, examine your own heart and continue your pilgrim journey towards perfect love.

Christine Owen MA

Foreword to the second edition

When the first edition of this book was published, I invariably invited readers to let me have any comments and I duly received an array of feedback. I am grateful to all those who have taken the time to respond; it is encouraging that many people feel very strongly about the matters discussed in this book. Although it is not possible (or even appropriate) to incorporate all suggestions made by all readers, every comment has been given serious consideration and this revised text does reflect much of the feedback.

My particular thanks go also to Alan Houghton (see www.torchofthefaith.com) for encouragement and much practical and technical support. Alan has a sharp mind for matters theological, especially for areas where a careless word or phrase might leave the door open for an incorrect interpretation. He has been most patient and generous in helping me to prepare this second edition.

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I shall devote myself for a time to the examination of the

Roman Catholic dogmas, and to a careful study of the

workings of their system: if I find it to be, as I half suspect

it is, the one best calculated to ensure the doing of all

things decently and in order, I shall embrace the tenets

of Rome.

From

Jane Eyre

by

Charlotte Brontë

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Introduction

The picture that people have of the Catholic Church is often a confused one. The Church is seen by some as hopelessly outdated in her social attitudes to moral questions such as contraception and abortion, divorce and homosexuality. Paradoxically, many other Christians will view the Catholic Church as too liberal in certain theological respects, given that she does not insist on a literal interpretation of every part of Scripture (for example, the creation stories). Some people view Catholics as superstitious, as worshipping Mary, even as being hostile to Scripture. Certain Catholic practices (as diverse as confession on the one hand and *genuflecting or making the sign of the cross on the other) are perceived as at best odd and at worst blasphemous.

For the casual enquirer, the Catholic Church may be thought of as just another one of many different churches. Such an enquirer may take the view that any one Christian church is just as likely (or, probably, just as unlikely) to have a grasp of truth as any other. Indeed, in a multicultural society many will conclude that as they cannot believe in Judaism and Islam and Christianity (to mention just the big monotheistic faiths), they may as well not believe in any of those faiths, quite apart from bothering about the tedious disagreements within the overall Christian fold.

This short book seeks to explain a little of what is different about the Catholic Church. It does not presume to do this in any comprehensive manner – there are huge topics that are barely mentioned – but it does bring out some of the key differences between the Catholic Church on the one hand and the Protestant churches on the other. The author’s aim has been to demonstrate that the Catholic Church is not just the largest Christian denomination but is in fact the one Church founded and authorised by Christ Himself.

Brought up as an Anglican, the author converted to Catholicism as a young adult in 1987. His conversion at that time was as much out of practicality as conviction, but he has since grown to love the Catholic Church and to appreciate all that makes her unique. He has also recognised, however, that the Church is widely misunderstood by those looking in from outside, and that even many who profess the Catholic faith do not truly appreciate the treasure that they have (or the responsibility that goes with it).

The text is intended to be helpful to two groups in particular: Christians looking at the Catholic Church from outside, and Catholics who do not really understand the unique nature of their Church (including those, nominally Catholic, who seek to pick and choose which parts of Catholic teaching they wish to accept).

As the text is written for readers who already profess some Christian faith, the approach takes for granted certain core Christian beliefs – beliefs that are broadly shared across the Christian spectrum – and does not seek to justify them at every step. Nevertheless, there are many in our society who take the view that any Christian belief (or, come to that, any other religious belief) is nonsensical, even ridiculous. The first chapter therefore shares a few thoughts on why Christians believe anything at all.

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Chapter 1 – Why Christian?

Christians believe in an all-loving, all-powerful God, a God who created the universe in all its inconceivable dimensions and yet who has also counted the hairs on each of our heads and who knows the innermost feelings and thoughts of every one of us. We believe that mankind cut itself off from God by deliberate disobedience, which we call sin, and that at a particular point in history, God started to reveal Himself to mankind as part of a plan to bridge the divide that such sin caused between humanity and God. Over many centuries, God prepared a particular people for the reception of His Son who would willingly carry the dead weight of all our sins. That Son was Jesus Christ, Himself God and yet also fully human, who accepted an agonising and humiliating death on a cross some 2,000 years ago as *atonement for the sins of each one of us. We believe that within a few days Jesus came back from the dead and appeared to many of His followers, that He stayed on earth for some 50 days after His resurrection and that He then sent the Holy Spirit – the third person of the Holy Trinity together with the Father and the Son – to animate the Christian Church.

These are huge claims to make, and some consider it remarkable that any person of reasonable intelligence should believe in any deity at all. This is a modern, western perception: a lack of belief in the supernatural is, as a factual observation, the exception rather than the rule if we look at human society across the globe and over the ages. Most ancient cultures and societies had some system of metaphysics or religion and many African and Latin American countries remain happy today to embrace some concept of divinity. Even the ancient Greek culture, with its high regard for reason, used to incorporate cultic worship inside the Academy. Religious belief was also, of course, the norm in western countries before the so-called Enlightenment and the various cultural revolutions.

It is by no means clear that most people in the west have truly abandoned belief in the supernatural in our scientific age. Some individuals do, of course, perceive religious belief to be irrational and thus, at least for educated people, rather extraordinary.

The Christian claim is more extraordinary still, of course, to believe in a God who made the vast universe and yet was prepared to humble Himself to share in our humanity, who was willing to die because He loved and loves us so much. As Christians in an increasingly secular and multi-faith world, it is right that we