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“Ask a Priest: Why Do We Say Catholicism Is the One, True Faith?”

Q: I am a pious Catholic who struggles to square my faith with what I know about humanity. Throughout human history, countless different religions have existed, most long before the beginning of Christianity, and even today Christianity exists alongside a myriad of other religions throughout the world (Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Druidism, Wicca, etc.), the believers of whom adhere to their respective faiths as strongly as Christians do to theirs. And even among Christians, lots of unique perspectives exist, from Protestants to Catholics to Orthodox Christians to Mormons to Episcopalians to Quakers to Mennonites to Seventh-day Adventists, and so many more. That said, considering the enormous multitude of other religions that exist, on top of the mountain of religions that existed before, all of which claim to be the one, true faith, how can we say that our religion, Roman Catholicism, is the one, true faith? I believe it wholeheartedly, yet at the same time I can’t fathom it in the slightest. – G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Catholics believe we have the one, true faith because it is what was revealed by Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as the Son of God. And God cannot deceive us.

Why we do believe Jesus is God? Because he rose from the death as he foretold. Because the Church he established is still with us in recognizable form.

He appointed Peter as the rock on which the Church was built (see Matthew 16:18). The Pope is the successor of Peter.

Christ ordered his disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them” (Matthew 28:19). That is what the Church aspires to do.

Christ gave his disciples the power to absolve from sins. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23). This is what the Church does in the sacrament of confession.

Christ gave his very self in the Eucharist at the last supper, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). That is what the Mass is: a celebration of the Eucharist in memory of Jesus.

Moreover, Catholicism has airtight coherence. And it connects all the dots.

It teaches that we have the image of God in us – this helps explain our intellects and our wills.

It teaches that we are body and soul together – this helps explains how we can be affected by our physical state and yet transcend it, through our intellect and imagination and will.

It teaches that we inherit original sin – a damaged human nature – which explains why we are so inclined to sin. Yet we pine for the true, the good, the beautiful. We want to hope – and we can hope, because of the redemption won for us by Jesus and by the mercy he extends to us when we repent.

Now, you mention those other religions and how much people believe in them. Other religions can certainly have glimmers of the truth.

Buddhism, for instance, isn’t totally wrong when it links desire and suffering. We as Catholics recognize that unchecked desires – greed, lust, etc. – can indeed bring suffering. But we also recognize that not all desires are bad.

(Two quick asides: Among other faiths, Judaism is a special case, since it was preparation for what God wanted to fully reveal in Christ. Also, Roman Catholicism is one way of referring to the Roman rite. There are more than 20 other rites in the Church, all of which are as Catholic as the Roman rite.)

You mention how many folks for so many centuries have adhered to some of their other religions. That is a reminder of how blessed we are as Catholics to have the faith that we do.

But there is a price attached to that gift: We have a duty to evangelize others. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). If there are still so many folks who don’t know about Christ and his teachings, the blame is partly on us.

For critiques of other faiths, you might look at Peter Kreeft’s site or the Catholic Answers site. And for a history of human religious activity along with a creative approach to answering the question of what really separates all the religions, you might enjoy a book by my colleague, Father John Bartunek: Spiritual but Not Religious: The Search for Meaning in a Material World.

And remember, Jesus prayed for his followers, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). He brought one message and established one Church, meant to take in all the nations. Which Church does that sound like?

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: What If I Feel Exhausted Trying to Speak Up for Religion?”

Q: I’ve run into a bit of a wall with my faith. I can’t even in good conscience wear my cross around my neck anymore. My specific problem is not doubt of God’s existence, but rather it’s a sense of exhaustion. So many times I’ve spoken up for faith, not just Christianity but all faiths. Time and again I’ve been called to say something in defense of the concept of religion and religious people in general. More and more I feel outnumbered. More and more it seems like my eventual children will grow up in a world where churches and temples are naught but museums. I now am struggling to even still call myself religious because it seems like nothing I say can change anyone’s mind. I need counsel, a reason to keep this belief in my heart when all I can feel is loneliness and pain. Thank you for your time in reading this. -A.C.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: It is understandable if you feel a bit beaten down by the world. The West has been drifting into secularism for centuries, and that trend is unlikely to do a U-turn anytime soon. This is a moment to recall those words of Jesus, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).

This is also a moment when Christian witness is even more important. This is the moment when the world needs to see believers, maybe more than ever.

You mention that nothing you say can change anyone’s mind. Perhaps it’s not your words but rather your actions that will make a deeper impact. Pope Paul VI noted, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (see his 1975 exhortation “Evangelii Nuntiandi,” No. 41).

So what can you do here and now? Perhaps three suggestions are worth considering.

First, it is good to remember that the Christian faith is about a relationship with Jesus. He is our savior and our redeemer. He suffered and died for us. He didn’t give up on us when things got tough for him. One way we show our gratitude is precisely by our faith in him when things get tough for us.

Even if no one else around us believes in him, we can. Like good soldiers in wartime, we stick with our brothers in arms, no matter what. Your sticking with Jesus in this secularized era brings joy to his heart. That has value in and of itself. And though you might not realize it, you are giving other people something to think about. Often, folks steeped in secularism have a hard time understanding why they aren’t happy.

Second, since we are human beings, and relational, we need the support of others. The whole idea of the Church is that we are a family united in faith. The Church is an ekklēsía (in Greek), a gathering of people. It would help a lot if you could find even a small network of faithful Catholics to bond with.

You might complement such a network with contacts online. Having at least two or three friends who can encourage you, and you them, would be a big help. You won’t feel so alone. You might look for such folks by getting involved in volunteer work or parish work. Good Catholics are out there. You just need to look for them.

Third, once you get a network of Catholic friends, it might help to look for ways you all can grow in your spiritual lives, either through Bible studies or periodic retreats (including RC Spirituality online retreats, and through some kind of apostolate, such as street missions or pro-life work. You personally might benefit from this retreat guide, “A Cure for Discouragement.”

The key point here is to be pro-active. The more we share the faith, the stronger our faith becomes. And the deeper we go in our knowledge of the faith and the richer our prayer life, the more the Holy Spirit can work through us.

You might consider looking into an ecclesial movement of some kind, such as Focolare or Regnum Christi, or a third-order branch of the Carmelites or Benedictines or some other religious group.

Above all, though, keep your personal relationship with Jesus at the center of everything you do. Savor your prayer life and sacramental life. And stay close to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I hope this helps. Count on being included in one of my Mass intentions, OK?

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!