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Does the Catholic Church need major reform?

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    Louis DeThomasis says the death of the institutional church would be a good thing

  • Duration 8:31
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Welcome back to this that it may -- be Catholic Church is embroiled in a political fight over the health care mandate but one Catholic leader says.

There it is the church itself that may be in need of a major reform brother Louis the thomas'.

Heads -- saint Mary's university of Minnesota and is the author of flying in the face of tradition.

And he joins me now from Minneapolis welcome.

Hi nice to be here -- nice to have you here welcome.

So why do you say that the Catholic churches in need of reform.

Well I think it's a -- reform because I've been in.

Education now and they Catholic Church for over forty years and I've seen generations of young people.

Who are -- ingests it and not resonating with the church there they're leaving little they're not in tune with the church and this seems to be -- that the official -- is talking a different language than the young people.

And and that's -- concerning to me.

In one of the things that you say that with a Catholic Church should do.

And we have a full screen that shows this is has ordained women redefine what it means to be a good Catholic.

Adapt to the globalized world embrace a new communion -- -- Knology.

All of those things but you're saying and this is one of them some of the things that the temperatures should do but -- as I've talked with Catholics I'm not Catholic.

But I talk about what happens -- says you know the temperature just not run by democracy it's not.

You know we don't.

-- and it's not theology by consensus and so their idea is that you know this is not for the people say if there's something wrong with young people -- getting.

You know become a surge there must be something wrong with how it's being communicated or there is that it's the culture that's you know at it at odds with the Catholic Church to the Catholic Church about the culture what -- -- -- Well -- Yeah -- got a couple little distinctions first.

When you say -- that the Catholic Church is not a democracy.

Well in one sense it's not a democracy.

But it certainly isn't a dictatorship.

From and -- and what I think isn't a -- -- of -- great deal of the problems today in the churches that.

The institutional church and by that I don't mean to church the people in the pews every one in general I'm talking about the human structures.

There was who -- the leadership of the church.

Many.

Our part of their tradition of the church in your obligation.

Is to listen.

To the -- experience of the people of the faithful it's not just a matter of dictating.

Something that would you believe this and let it end the discussion.

Some in -- share in the institutional church took this way.

What -- -- suggesting is not so much that tomorrow we just change everything but what I'm saying is is that if we're going to win back.

Not just the young people but so many of -- the adults who have been leading the Roman Catholic Church.

It's necessary.

To bring up a dialogue.

To not many people fear to talk about these things.

This can only be a healthy discussion.

Because in essence the basic foundation of the Catholic churches that.

We believe the holy spirit is with all the faithful.

Not just a particular.

Not just the -- point not just a cardinal not just a bishop but this is the holy spirit is with -- the faithful.

And anything that is what is important -- we open up dialogue let's talk about things and not be condemned the -- Yeah the -- are -- -- -- -- singing I think you kind of sound like a Protestant and you Alito from the point of view upon as he's angle didn't didn't just go through that a few hundred years ago.

There are a lot of things you know -- I -- I'm just saying is that.

There are a lot of things of the Catholic Church is -- not really.

You know.

That lot of people -- lot of without just because of what they do but.

Protestant point USA while there are other truth is out there -- were also Christian why stay with the Catholic Church why not just.

Go.

Right well I I think another distinction is important.

Is that unlike the Protestant churches we are.

The scripture is really what is the essential core ingredient.

In the Roman Catholic Church it's scripture.

And it tradition.

Into the -- over 2000 years the live the experience of the faithful.

Interpreting scripture in people giving input in people -- Opens holy spirit saying today.

In essence what I'm saying is is that tradition.

Doesn't mean traditional.

I'm not some in the institutional church look upon tradition as traditional they're trying to bring back the past.

And got this in what they Roman Catholic sense of tradition is the Roman Catholic sense of tradition is read the signs of the times.

Look at tradition looked at what people are seeing.

And then create a future.

Create the future of the kingdom of god yeah -- is the genius of that a Catholic church.

You used your talk about it ordaining women and you know this is a big story that -- we cover everyone -- -- because of who wants a -- -- -- the -- -- -- -- -- become -- -- ordain women.

But they never do and from what I conceded that will never happen but why do you think the Catholic -- should Begin.

Ordaining women.

Well.

I'm staying at the Catholic Church should start exploring.

Listening to the faithful and see.

Should we ordain women that -- -- -- you should be nothing in neatly against in the religion of the Roman Catholic faith.

We have women should be excluded I am saying they should but -- look into ordaining women because.

We are equal all male and female in the kingdom of god there is neither male nor female.

That was Jesus I'm sure there is viewed as saying is that very equal in terms of that they -- equally.

Blessed by god but each has a different role.

And and they -- over -- they're different roles -- -- that they have even though there.

Yes -- -- but you know I wouldn't give any the evolution of how -- understanding of the human person and what we're finding out personhood.

Personhood is shared by men and women we talk of the divine trinity wide -- three divine person -- Net three divine men from the three divine person.

And I think what emphasis that's why we could see a justification for.

The ordination of women as we look at wouldn't say well they are just as a man is -- is Jesus was.

Any person.

How was psychology.

What evolution in thinking -- brought us to the point here.

We not looking just at male female in any that.

Physical sense but we're looking at personhood just like the trinity three defined persons and we -- we -- to believe.

That is the Christians believe the Catholics believe.

We made in the image and likeness of god.

Well.

I don't think god looks like for me I mean at least I told not.

Left I think it can have to go on a diet.

-- but after what I think we -- -- the image and likeness of god in this sentence.

That we have an imagination.

That we can in engine.

God's kingdom we can imagine what love can bring to the world.

What Jesus sports -- the world we must imagine in the world of 2000 years passed.

-- in the future.

Well thanks so -- -- the excitement.

A lot of again.

I want to thank you so much Lewis beat Thomas is a they have enough perhaps your -- to battling.

It just ignoring just wondering -- one correction the idea not to currently president and say brilliantly summer for as I was the former president yes anchor while I thank you very much the -- -- flying in the face of tradition.

Listening to that live experience of the faithful I -- thank you so much.

For being here thank you very much it's been a pleasure.

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