Motion of the debate The Catholic Church is a force for good.
Archbishop ____, Christopher Hitchens, ___________MP and __________ had a debate about the Catholic Church and how good it is for the world. (feel free to put in the names!)
Of course there will be millions of Catholics all over the world who can give millions of reasons for how is it a good force. The 10 commandments, its rules to live a good life and many many more. Then there are those who can find fault with The Catholic Church, about child rape and molestation, view of homosexuality and the list just goes on.
We here are talking about The Catholic Church and NOT Catholicism. Please read the Background of the Catholic Church as by the Intelligence Squared Debate:
"The Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian church and says it has over a billion members. Its claim to authority rests on the doctrine of the apostolic succession, through which the Church claims to be the true successor of the original Christian community founded by Jesus in his selection of Saint Peter, and through which its bishops and priests claim spiritual and sacramental authority.The Catholic Church over the years have gone through many years of name calling, negative press regarding issues near and dear to many. Some of those issues include contraception, abortion, divorce, and homosexuality. Contraception plays a big role in the spread of HIV in places like Africa where the numbers are sky rocketing every day!
The Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Spirit reveals God's truth through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. These are interpreted by the Magisterium, the Church's teaching authority, which – through apostolic succession – is exercised by the Pope and the college of bishops in union with the Pope. Catholic theology divides the functions of the Magisterium into two categories: the infallible Sacred Magisterium and the fallible Ordinary Magisterium. Matters which the church claims infallibility include such "moral" issues as contraception, abortion, divorce, and homosexuality, all of which are addressed by definitive Church teachings, as well as doctrinal issues such as the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is not alluded to in the Bible.
While doctrinal authority is highly centralised, since the Second Vatican Council of 1962-65, the Church has pursued a contrasting policy of greater openness and dialogue. Vatican II modernised the liturgy, enhanced the role of lay Catholics,
opened dialogue with other churches and non-Christians, and identified the church as the "pilgrim people of God" – on the move, alive to the problems of the modern world, an open church rather than a static, unerring, defensive citadel. Vatican II
sparked a period of more open debate about the Church's mission and discussion of its most fundamental doctrines, but the attempt to build bridges between Christianity's ancient truths and the contemporary world has not been an easy one."
The leadership of the church needs to re-work and tell people what is really good and not what they think good is. Its for the betterment of the world and not just the church. Just like many religions, they have become not a force for good but a force of business. MONEY and POWER and the key words in business.
Help people in need, not just by sending money, but by building water systems, houses, education systems. Teach people to live, not just give them the things needed to live. (Guess who gave me the idea for this?)
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