At first glance, your question seems to be a reasonable one. But I am troubled by the underlying premise, which appears to be something like this: ‘If you belong to a faith community and find that you can no longer agree with all of their doctrine, you don’t belong there.’

Why is that the case?

With all due apologies to my Catholic friends, I see no evidence that any person or denomination—or political party, for that matter—is infallible. What I do see are fallible, flawed human beings who have created fallible, flawed organizations.

If one disagrees with so many of the organization’s positions that he or she is uncomfortable being affiliated, then it may make sense to move on. But otherwise, why not stay and open a dialogue with other members? This is especially true if the issue is a moral one.

As a nation, our sense of community is badly frayed. In both the political and relgious realms, we have withdrawn into our own amen corners, and we preach to choirs that only sing the songs that we want to hear. We pride ourselves on shunning the temptations that the world has to offer, smug in our self-imposed isolation.


Where is the learning or growth in that? Or do we really think tnat we have mastered everything of consequence and that those who disagree with us have nothing of value to share?