The Lutherans: A Rant Against Reconciliation and Priests

There are a lot of things about Lutheran Social Teaching that I like. I think that there are a lot of “however” clauses in their teachings makes sense. After all, most cases aren’t cut and dry. I don’t think the world is always as black and white as Catholic social teaching seems to imply sometimes.

I like their stance on abortion, especially because sometimes it is necessary to protect the mother. I don’t think people should use it as a form of birth control, but if your life is in danger, then I don’t think it should be forbidden. I also think cases of rape are difficult enough without having to deal with a pregnancy, and though I don’t know how I would personally act in that situation, I think the option should be there for women in a way that they won’t feel like they’re going to hell afterwards. I liked that Lutheran social teaching allowed for this.

I also think that they points that they make about the world being imperfect are true. We don’t live in a perfect world. I think Catholic social teaching sometimes relies too much on perfection and doesn’t allow for the gray areas.

I’ve had some issues with corrupt priests in the past within the Catholic church and my experiences have made me uneasy with the Catholic view of priests. When a priest confides in you that he’s been stealing money from the church for his own purposes, you’re less likely to see him as a mediator from God and more as a human being full of sin. I think seeing a pastor as a person who has just studied more than you on a certain subject and might interpret it a different way from you is a great way to think.

I also think Martin Luther was right about the Catholic church’s sacraments making people feel like they’re not forgiven. I stopped going to church every Sunday because I was tired of being made to feel guilty. I don’t see how feeling guilty all the time is going to help anyone. I’ve also disliked reconciliation for a long time because of this. I think it’s good to say “I’ve done something wrong, I shouldn’t do that,” but I don’t see how a lot of things that priests have prescribed to me help. Praying 50 “Hail Marys” is rather unproductive. I have had a few that have given helpful penitence, but most of the time it’s pointless to me. I suppose this also has to do with my distrust of priests really being mediators for God. I have trouble with the fact that I just can’t directly say these things to God. Also, because I never do anything REALLY bad, I feel like bringing up tiny things that I’ve done doesn’t help me. One time I even had the priest laughing through my entire confession because I was trying to think of “sinful” things that I’d done. Sometimes it does help to say, “I do this and it’s mean or hurtful, I shouldn’t,” but “I fought with my sister” is one that I constantly have. This is so normal and neither of us gets hurt by it- sometimes it helps us move past things and have a stronger relationship- and yet these are the kinds of things I have to “confess” and feel guilty for. I think constantly bringing things up only allows for people to feel badly about themselves.

That being said, there are some things I’m not entirely sure I understand. This whole “faith first, works will follow”… I’m not sure I like that. I like works to be the emphasis. I don’t think people will go to hell just because they don’t have faith if they were a person who helped others throughout their life. I’ve always considered the works to be the most important thing. I know we’re supposed to love God above all things, but I’ve always thought the best way to show this was through helping others.

I do think the emphasis on human dignity and helping the poor is a good part. The second document we read was very well written and explained things well. I agreed with the points it brought up, and the fact that it was so well written probably helped this. I kind of want to force the Catholics to read it and say, “THIS is what clarity looks like… please follow it.” Of course, I’m an English major, so I suppose I’m slightly over critical.

I haven’t started at the Food Pantry yet (I start Friday), so I’m not quite able to apply what I learned to there yet, but I will be helping those who can’t afford to get food, so I think the Lutherans would approve.