What should distinguish a Catholic blog from a non-Catholic one?
Is it that they talk about Catholic things? CNN’s religion section has a lot on Catholic news. Is it that they defend the Church? Maybe, but even atheists and Protestants defend her from time to time. Is it that it is written but a Catholic? I think we all know blogs written by small-c catholics that are not particularly Catholic.
The Church is not about the institution, it is not about being Republican or Democrat (Conservative or NDP for Canadians). It is about a personal relationship with Christ that attracts others. Some otherwise Catholic blogs I read seem to forget this. Twice recently, I have pointed this out in the comments.
Once, a person questioned that the author quoted a radical right-wing website and was virulently attacked by others in the comments. (I don’t remember or really care about which exact website.) I posted stating that being Catholic is about being in love with Christ and charity to our neighbor more that supporting one political party or the other. I was attacked even more harshly that the original commenter.
A second time, the blogger transformed a children’s song into an insult towards a certain problematic group. Initially, several people wrote similar comments. Then, I pointed out that such lacked charity – even if we need to denounce their errors, personal insults are not the way to go. After I posted this time, I got one or two supporting me while others said they deserved it. Even if they deserved it, charity tells us not to say it.
(For obvious reasons, all others involved in both incidences shall remain anonymous.)
How easy it is to forget the essence of Christianity. I think one of the aspects all of us Catholic bloggers need to remember is Christ’s charity (our characteristic trait). When Christ came, he told us to love one another – that’s still Old Testament morality – but then added – transforming it into his New Commandment – “as I have loved you.”
