There seems to be a growing tendency among Catholics to pick-and-choose which beliefs we want to hold, and which we think are outdated, archaic, or unnecessary. And wouldn’t it be so much easier if we could just believe what we want? Absolutely. But did Christ promise us an easy time? He did the exact opposite. He told us that the world would hate us, just as it hated him (John 15:18).

JPII talked about the idea of selective religion over 20 years ago:

It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today do not adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage. Some are reported as not accepting the clear position on abortion. It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church’s moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a ‘good Catholic,’ and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere.

- Blessed John Paul II, 1987

We can’t pick and choose. To disagree with one issue is to disagree with all of them… we are essentially saying that the Church, in all it’s infallible teaching, is wrong, but our own wills are superior. In picking and choosing, we value our own intellects above the collective wisdom of the 2000-year-old Church. It is like turning up our noses at God’s revelation and saying that we know better. Many use the excuse that Jesus was all about love, and that he was this nice guy who got along with everyone, accepted everything, and tried not to ruffle too many feathers. Newsflash: Jesus wasn’t “nice”. He had a temper! Check out the time he flipped out in the temple (written about in every gospel!)- Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45–46, and John 2:13-25. He wasn’t here to please everyone- in fact, he KNEW he wouldn’t (Luke 12:51). He predicted divisions, but it never stopped him from speaking out against moral wrongs. He didn’t come to make everyone get along… he came to shake us out of our complacency. We are called to love, called to serve, and called to witness, but we are NOT called to “tolerate” moral issues that are clearly wrong. That cannot and should not be our goal. We must either accept the whole Truth, or no truth at all.

Christ said, ‘I am the Truth’; he did not say ‘I am the custom.’

- St. Toribio 

Just some food for thought! God bless.