Yes, Catholics are right

My new book has just been published. It is called Why Catholics Are Right, and is a popular, journalistic explanation and defence of the Church. Among the chapters are Catholics and the Abuse Scandal, Catholics and History, Catholics and Theology and Catholics and Life. In other words, I’ve responded to the usual trite but often successful attacks that we hear repeatedly on the Church. It’s published by a major, secular company — McClelland & Stewart here, Random House in the United States — so I genuinely believe that it could make a difference.

I’m not a theologian or an intellectual, merely a journalist who has had years of experience dealing with people who don’t know very much about Catholicism, but still feel qualified to speak and shout their hatred of the Church. One of the reasons I chose the title for the book is because, frankly, I’m tired of apologizing and have had enough of those who should be defending the faith being too quiet, even silent, in the face of opposition.

Of course I believe that Catholics are right. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be one. And, predictably, I’ve already had comments about this being a less than conciliatory name for a book. Why? I don’t want to hurt people who disagree with me, but I respect them enough to acknowledge that what they believe is contrary to my religion and is, according to me as a Catholic, self-evidently untrue.

There are all sorts of Catholics who would prefer a title like Why Catholics Are Sometimes Right, or Why Catholics Are Usually Wrong, and that is precisely why the Church has gone so frequently undefended in the public square for far too long. I have more regard for a Muslim, Jew or Protestant who holds firmly to their beliefs than someone born a Catholic who rejects Church teaching but insists on pretending they are still faithful. Certain politicians come to mind.

This is not a game. If the Church offers the one certain, absolute path to salvation and an afterlife with God — which is what as Catholics we have to believe — it would be selfish if not evil to keep this gold from others. I couldn’t really give a fig for differences of opinion about taxation or interest rates, but where my friends will spend eternity concerns me rather a lot. I need them to know that Catholics are right, not for the sake of winning an argument but for the sake of God’s plan and their fate.

Having said this, there are obviously various degrees of wrongness. Some people are slightly wrong, others horribly so. Non-Catholic Christians and in particular evangelicals and Eastern Orthodox believers are examples of the former. Many of them could teach many Catholics a great deal about love and devotion to God. Alleged Christians who want to edit rather than follow Christ, professional atheists who flood the Internet and part-time Catholic-bashers are the latter.

Which brings me to the anti-Catholicism that has become the last acceptable prejudice in what passes for polite society and has become so obvious and so pronounced that to even repeat the fact seems almost banal. We have all heard comments about Roman Catholics and Roman Catholicism that if applied to almost any other group would simply not be tolerated. It’s bad enough when this is street conversation and pointless gossip, far worse when it passes for informed comment.

One of the reasons for some people’s shock at the book’s title is that while atheists, and in particular Catholic-hating atheists, can write books by the dozen, with the most vulgar and self-consciously provocative titles, there is apparently little worse in modern, Western society than being a devout Roman Catholic. It’s considered an unpardonable sin, from people who don’t even believe in sin! If you doubt me, spend some time working for some of our leading newspapers and media outlets. Islam is beautiful and exotic and to criticize it is a phobia. Judaism is fine unless it’s too pro-Israel. And Eastern faiths are trendy and fun. But Catholicism? No, no, no!

I don’t care. Catholics are right. For all sorts of reasons, and with acres and volumes of evidence. Want more? Read the book.

(Coren’s new book, Why Catholics Are Right, will be published this month.)