FAQ on the Profession of
Faith
"What? You agree with all the dumb things Popes have
done throughout history?"
We often say, tongue-in-cheek, that the only thing we hate about the Catholic religion are the Catholics themselves. Strictly speaking, the only thing we hate about the Catholic religion are the sins of the people claiming to be Catholics. According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, Popes, Bishops and Priests can go to Hell. Saint John Chrysostom is reported to have said that "Hell is paved with the skulls of Catholic Bishops". The Church is partly divine and perfect, and partly human and subject to sin. The Profession of Faith targets the divine part of the Catholic Church, not the unfortunate shortcomings of its members.
"Isn't it stupid to believe everything the Catholic
Church teaches?"
Another thing we often say tongue-in-cheek is that we've never met anybody who disagreed with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Strictly speaking, a prehistoric caveman cannot "disagree" with Quantum Mechanics, because he doesn't know Modern Physics. He can be prejudiced about Quantum Mechanics, or decide to have very strong negative emotions about Modern Physics, but he can't really disagree.
So far, all of the people we've met who claimed to disagree with the teachings of the Church turned out to be ill-informed. Perhaps you're different, in which case we would be most grateful if you could free us from our false beliefs, provided you do so in a kind and courteous way.
"A Vow of Martyrdom? Isn't that exagerated?"
If you think it's exagerated to have a Vow of Martyrdom, it's because you don't see all the people who claim to be good Catholics, faithful to the Pope, and who agree that the Church in Quebec is in sad shape, but whom, when it is time to act, suddenly remember their car is double-parked, or that it's Wednesday today, and that Wednesday is wash day, so for the Profession of Faith, don't call us, we'll call you.
"Martyrdom? So you want to blow up people in the name
of Jesus Christ?"
Some journalists use the term "martyr" incorrectly. A "martyr" is not the same thing as a "suicidal assassin". Strapping a bomb to yourself and detonating it on board a school bus filled with children is not martyrdom. Only God can correctly judge the guilt (or lack thereof) of these misguided killers, but they are certainly not martyrs in the Catholic sense.
A martyr doesn't actively attack, he or she resists non-violently. A martyr doesn't kill innocent women and children, but is killed by unjust people. A martyr doesn't die for some political motive, but to bear witness to the Truth. But most of all, a martyr doesn't hate his or her ennemy, but on the contrary asks God to forgive their sins, "for they do not know what they are doing".