No Offense Intended, but Wrong! I AM Catholic Because of Priests!

This meme has been floating around social media sites all week.  At first, I was “well, ok”.  But the more I saw it, the more I grew to hate it because it gives a totally wrong message and from my perspective is inaccurate (at least the first part).

 

I AM Catholic because of priests –

• the very men who started the Church were Priests (the Apostles)
• a Priest Baptized me
• a Priest and dear Sisters taught me my Faith
• a Priest prepared me for Confirmation
• a Priest hears my Confession and in Persona Christi absolves my sins
• a Priest continues to inspire and teach me every Holy Mass I attend
• a Priest has taken on the responsibility as my Pastor for my soul
• a Priest is the instrument Jesus chose to bring me Himself in the Eucharist
• a Priest will anoint me when it is my time to leave this earth

I AM Catholic because of bishops –

• a Bishop is a Priest
• a Bishop ordained the Priest that did/does the things listed above
• a Bishop Confirmed me in my Faith
• a Bishop leads the Diocese that offers me training to participate in various Catholic ministries

I AM Catholic because of the Pope –

• a Pope is a Priest
• a Pope installed the Bishop that ordained the Priest that did/does the things listed above
• a Pope established the Church (Peter)

These are just a few of the reasons I am Catholic because of the very men that this meme says I am not.

How I became Catholic was solely through the Grace of God.  How I remain Catholic is solely through the Grace of God.  How I will die Catholic is solely through continued Grace of God.

But I would not be Catholic without Priests – because without Priests, there is no Catholic Church!

When you get down to it, in actuality, I am, remain, and will die a Catholic because of a Priest – Jesus, the Most High Priest!