As conversation drifted around the breakfast table, the epidemic that is raging within the Catholic Church revealed its presence. One man blamed Vatican II for undermining devotion to the Blessed Virgin. A lady spoke of the importance of ecumenism and how this meant that the Church should compromise some doctrines in an effort to build bridges with other denominations. Down at the end of the table two women discussed whether the Church's teaching on birth control had to be obeyed or was only to be understood as friendly advice. A young man asked if it was true that the Church no longer gave much attention to saints and angels, having come to realize that these were prescientific concepts.
Catholics are confused.
They do not know how to identify authentic Church teaching from the thousands of impostors. So many do not know even the basic tenets of their faith. In an age when Church instruction is being rejected and replaced by secular values, it is not hard to understand why. It is easy to ignore what you do not know. It is also easy to discard what is misunderstood.