Why Is It That ?The Church Has To Change??

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Gary Zimak

I was speaking to a fellow Catholic and the topic of young Catholics came up. This person recently attended a talk where a Catholic priest discussed the fact that many younger Catholics are abandoning the Faith because they don?t agree with some Church teachings. My friend then made the point that the Church has to ?change with the times?. I have heard this argument many times and my reaction is always the same ? Why is it that the Church has to change? Why shouldn?t we change?

This attitude is not unique to young Catholics. It is shared by people of all ages. If we can?t get Catholics to follow Church teaching about such things as artificial birth control, in vitro fertilization, missing Mass on Sunday, pre-marital sex, homosexuality (all declared to be gravely immoral by the Church in case you haven?t heard it lately), many feel that we should change the rules or risk losing people. Fortunately, this is not the position of the one, true, Church founded by Jesus Christ. It is not the opinion of the Church who is protected from teaching error by the Holy Spirit (as promised by Our Lord). Rather it is the opinion of people who are influenced by the lies of the modern world. Furthermore, these people are flat out wrong and should be ignored!

Approximately 25,000 Christian denominations have changed ?the rules? to suit the needs of the people. For many non-Catholic Christians, if you don?t like the teachings of one local Church, you simply shop for another one. It doesn?t work that way with the one, true Church. Our Lord still speaks through His Catholic Church today in the same way as He did 2,000 years ago. Instead of changing the rules, we need to explain the teachings of the Church in a positive way. For many Catholics, this involves first learning and understanding the teachings themselves. Furthermore, this education is not just the job of the priests, deacons and sisters?It is the job of lay people like you and me. By virtue of our baptism, we are all called to evangelize and spread the TRUTH of the Catholic Faith. While it is important that we be charitable when explaining the teachings of the Church, we also should avoid watering down the message. Even after explaining the truth in a logical and charitable way, you will encounter some people who will not listen. They will need to explain that to the Lord someday (and it?s not our business to judge them), but you will have done your job.

It is up to us to proclaim the true teaching of the Catholic Church at home, in school, in the workplace?always remembering that when we remain united with the Church?s teaching, we are united with Christ. If you have any doubt, always remember the words of Our Lord when He said, ?He who hears you, hears Me.? (Lk 10:16)
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The Name Change ? Part 2

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Gary Zimak

I received many comments (mostly negative) about my decision to change the name of The Catholic Truth to Following The Truth. Firstly, let me thank all of you for your comments. I really appreciate that many of you feel very strongly about this. It tells me that you care about my work of promoting the Catholic Faith and I am grateful for your support.

In an effort to quickly publish a short explanation for the change, I may have unintentionally misled some of you to believe that I was changing the name only to appease non-Catholics. While I do think that it will be one of the positive effects of the change, there is another reason for the action.

It has recently come to my attention that, according to the Code of Canon Law, any organization that uses the title ?Catholic? must first be officially approved by the Church. Specifically, ?Since they participate in the mission of the Church, all the Christian faithful have the right to promote or sustain apostolic action even by their own undertakings, according to their own state and condition. Nevertheless, no undertaking is to claim the name Catholic without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority.? (CIC 216)

While everything I do is fully supportive of Church teaching and that?s one of the main messages of my work, I don?t legally have the right to speak for the Church. By taking the word ?Catholic? out of the title of my ministry, I am now in total compliance with the above paragraph of Canon Law. While I would love to use the word ?Catholic?, I would be a hypocrite if I did so. How could I preach total obedience to the Church and not obey her myself?

I would like to make it very clear that nothing about my work is going to change. I am totally dedicated to spreading the message of the one, true Church that was founded by Jesus Christ. My mission is to help people grow closer to Christ by learning more about His Church and that will not change. There are many fine Catholic organizations that do not use the word Catholic in their title. Mother Angelica?s Eternal Word Television Network, Marcus Grodi?s Coming Home Network, and Johnnette Benkovic?s Living His Life Abundantly are a few that immediately come to mind. On the other hand, many groups that use the name “Catholic” (I’m not about to mention any of them…I don’t want to give them publicity!) completely distort the teachings of the Church. Therefore, a name is just a name…the message is what counts!

The Catholic Church is the true Church that was founded by Our Lord, Jesus Christ. I have no plans to water down any Church teachings or ?sugar coat? my message. I will continue to preach the truth as taught by the Catholic Church. Please join me in ?Following The Truth? that will lead us and others directly to Our Lord!

In Christ,
Gary Zimak

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Introducing Following The Truth Ministries!

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Gary Zimak

In order to more accurately represent the work that we do and to be able to reach out to a larger group of individuals, The Catholic Truth has been renamed “Following The Truth Ministries”. We want to be able to reach everyone with the teachings of the Catholic Faith, including those who may avoid a website that contains the name “Catholic”.

Our website can be found at:

https://followingthetruth.com

Originally formed to assist Catholics in learning about their faith, we are now dealing with many people who are not Catholic, but want to learn about the one, true, Church founded by Jesus Christ. Everything else about our work remains exactly the same, especially our loyalty to the Holy Father and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

I have some exciting new projects in the works and I will be sharing them with you in the weeks to come. In the meantime, I hope that you continue to “follow the truth” as we journey closer to Our Lord, Jesus Christ!

In Christ,
Gary Zimak
Founder, Following The Truth Ministries

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Spread The News?Jesus Is The Savior For Everyone!

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Gary Zimak

As we celebrate the feast of The Epiphany today, let?s be thankful that Jesus is the Savior for ALL people. In today?s gospel (Mt 2:1-12), we learn about the ?magi from the east?, who were the first Gentiles to worship Christ. They came from a foreign land and followed a star which eventually led them to the Lord in Bethlehem.

As Catholics, we need to share the teachings of the one, true Church founded by Christ with EVERYONE. Even if it?s not considered politically correct, people need to hear the truth. There are so many confused and hurting people out there who really need the ?Good News? of Jesus Christ in their lives. There are even many Catholics who have been fooled into believing that they can ?make up their own rules? and redefine the Faith to suit there needs. In fact, Jesus told us just the opposite with His words, ?Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.? (Mt 5:17-18)

If you?re not sure what the Church teaches, consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church (available online here). Once you know the truth, share it with others, but always remember to be charitable and patient. In the year 2010, just as in the time of Christ, the truth is still the truth and some actions are really morally wrong. It?s up to us to share that message with all of our brothers and sisters so that they too can have the peace associated with following Jesus?who is the savior of ALL!
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Basil and Gregory ? Wisdom From The East

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Gary Zimak

?Much time had I spent in vanity, and had wasted nearly all my youth acquiring the sort of wisdom made foolish by God. Then once, like a man roused from deep sleep, I turned my eyes to the marvelous light of the truth of the Gospel, and I perceived the uselessness of the ?wisdom of the princes of this world, that come to naught?. I wept many tears over my miserable life, and I prayed that I might receive guidance to admit me to the doctrines of true religion.? (St. Basil the Great)

?Are you still in the flower of youth? If so, you should fight courageously against all sinful movements of the soul and then reap the harvest which comes from not having given in to those inclinations to such an age is exposed. Are you entering old age? If so, do not allow your spirit to grow old, and look forward to death as a time of your certain liberty; you will go forth from this life fully content with that situation which comes afterwards, where none are children nor are there any old people, but all are perfect adults in the state of perfection. Do you have beauty of body? Then see to it that the beauty of your soul can stand comparison with it. Have you good health? Then make use of that strength of body. Are you suffering some illness? You must fight and should this not avail, you will really gain the victory ? that of never having to fight again.? (St. Gregory Nazianzen)

Today, the Church remembers two great 4th century Fathers of the Eastern Church, St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. The two childhood friends studied together at Athens and went on to do much to advance the teaching of the Catholic Faith. Their works serve as a reminder that we are all called to holiness, no matter what our state in life. The road to sanctity may be different for each person, but it?s important to remember that it can be found in the course of our ordinary daily lives. As we celebrate their memorial, let’s ask for their intercession in finding our own personal road to holiness.

St Basil and St. Gregory, pray for us.

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New Years Resolutions ? Catholic Style

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Gary Zimak

?Time passes and does not return. God has assigned for each of us a definite time in which to fulfill His divine plan for our soul; we have only this time and shall have no more. Time ill spent is lost forever.? (Divine Intimacy, Fr Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen)

The above quote from one of my favorite spiritual books provides a good source for meditation on this New Year?s Eve. As we look back over the past year, it is good to reflect on how we spent our time. Are there things we could have done to get closer to God? Could we have put our time to better use? For just about all of us, the answer to both of these questions is ?yes?. Rather than panic, the best thing to do is make a resolution to improve in the upcoming year. Here are a few suggestions:

Get up a few minutes earlier and say some extra prayers.

In addition to Sunday, try attending one daily Mass per week.
If it?s been a while, try returning to the Sacrament of Confession.

Spend ten minutes a day reading the Bible or the daily Mass readings.
Pray the rosary.

Volunteer for something in your parish.

I would recommend that you don?t take on too much in the upcoming year, instead concentrating on one or two activities that will bring you closer to the Lord. This will improve your chances for success. You can always add more as the year progresses. What is important is that we try to make good use of the gift of each day that is given to us by the Lord.

Wishing you all a Blessed New Year and don?t forget that tomorrow (January 1) is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and is a holy day of obligation. Be sure to attend Mass and ask Our Lady to help you become closer to Christ in 2010!
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Defending The Family

Posted on December 27, 2009 by Gary Zimak

Through God’s mysterious design, it was in that family that the Son of God spent long years of a hidden life. It is therefore the prototype and example for all Christian families. It was unique in the world. Its life was passed in anonymity and silence in a little town in Palestine. It underwent trials of poverty, persecution and exile. It glorified God in an incomparably exalted and pure way. And it will not fail to help Christian families-indeed, all the families in the world-to be faithful to their day-to-day duties, to bear the cares and tribulations of life, to be open and generous to the needs of others, and to fulfill with joy the plan of God in their regard.

At a moment of history in which the family is the object of numerous forces that seek to destroy it or in some way to deform it, and aware that the well-being of society and her own good are intimately tied to the good of the family, the Church perceives in a more urgent and compelling way her mission of proclaiming to all people the plan of God for marriage and the family, ensuring their full vitality and human and Christian development, and thus contributing to the renewal of society and of the People of God.

(Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO, November 22, 1981)

Today the Church celebrates the feast of The Holy Family. We look at Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the model for all families. There is no doubt that there are many in today?s society who are seeking to destroy the concept of the family. One of the biggest threats is the attempt to redefine marriage under the guise of civil rights. My friends, don?t let anyone try to fool you into believing that you are being intolerant by having the opinion that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is the way that God designed it. A family does not consist of two mothers or two fathers. When God?s Son became flesh, He was placed in a family with one mother and one father. That was not an accident. That is part of God?s plan.

The above words of Pope John Paul II are even more meaningful now than they were in 1981. The threat of gay ?marriage? is very real and we must not be bullied into keeping silent. By speaking out (and voting) against it, you are not being intolerant. Rather, you are preserving God?s plan for what a family should represent. As evidenced by the example of the Holy Family, marriage is between one man and one woman. Don?t let anyone fool you into believing otherwise!

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Following The Star

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Gary Zimak

As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ, it?s easy to forget the fact that many people are not joyful. Illness, poverty, loneliness, unemployment and other difficulties do not take a break for Christmas. For some people, looking into the future is a scary proposition ? all that they can see is darkness.
We all go through periods like this in our lives and they are not pleasant. However, I find it comforting to remember the story of the wise men and their search for the newly born king. Initially, they saw a rising star which told them that the Lord was born (Mt 2:2), but then it was no longer visible to them. They traveled to Jerusalem to inquire about the birthplace of the Lord. King Herod sent them to Bethlehem and, on the way, the star reappeared and led them directly to Jesus.

Don?t panic when you feel lost and your star disappears. As Blessed Charles de Foucauld points out, sometimes the Lord allows it to happen in order to remind us that this world is not our permanent home:
?God sometimes allows us to be in such profound darkness that not a single star shines in our skies. The reason is that we must be reminded that we are on earth only to suffer, while following our gentle Savior along a dark and thorny path. We are pilgrims and strangers on earth. Pilgrims sleep in tents and sometimes cross deserts, but the thought of their homeland makes them forget everything else.?

We must continue to travel the road to our home in heaven. If you feel lost and alone, imitate the example of the wise men and ask for help. We are all on the journey together and need to pray for and assist one another. More importantly, ask Our Blessed Mother to help you discover Jesus in the midst of the darkness. Eventually, your star will reappear and the road will be clear. In the meantime, take one day at a time knowing that the Lord is always with you…even when you can?t see Him!
Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
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Obeying Your Conscience

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Gary Zimak

When you call your apostolate ?The Catholic Truth?, there are times that you need to speak the truth about the Catholic Faith even though you know that some people are going to get annoyed. This is nothing new. The prophets, the apostles and even Jesus all went through the same thing. Unfortunately, many people don?t like to be told that their behavior is sinful?especially when they are really enjoying themselves. What I am about to say may offend some people, but sometimes the truth hurts (Mt 10:34-39).

I don?t normally like to give publicity to groups who claim to be Catholic and openly dissent from the teaching of the Church, but from time to time I make exceptions. If you ever hear of “Catholics For Choice”, please disregard anything they say as these folks completely distort the teaching of the Catholic Church in almost every area imaginable, from abortion to contraception.

For the record, this is what they state on their website:

At CFC, we strive to be an expression of Catholicism as it is lived by ordinary people. We are part of the great majority of the faithful in the Catholic Church who disagrees with the dictates of the Vatican on matters related to sex, marriage, family life and motherhood. We are part of the great majority who believes that Catholic teachings on conscience mean that every individual must follow his or her own conscience ? and respect others’ right to do the same.

The problem with this group and all of the other Catholics who promote ?freedom of conscience? is that they always state (correctly) that we must obey our conscience, but they always seem to leave out one important fact: that our conscience must be INFORMED. How? By following the teachings of the Church!

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed. (CCC 1790)

Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings. (CCC 1783)

In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church. (CCC 1785)

The Church teaches that abortion, artificial contraception, premarital sex, homosexual sex, in-vitro fertilization, missing Mass on Sunday, and many other things are gravely immoral acts. If you are Catholic and dissent from these teachings based upon ?freedom of conscience?, I urge you to study what the Catechism says about informing your conscience. If someone you care about is in this situation, please do them a favor and make them aware. Jesus still speaks through His Church and, personally, I don?t want to ever be in a position where I have to explain why I didn?t listen.

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The Journey To Bethlehem is Not Comfortable!

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Gary Zimak

During the season of Advent, we are all invited to travel our own personal ?road to Bethlehem?. When we arrive at our destination on Christmas Day, we will hopefully be closer to the Lord than when we began the journey. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will have the opportunity to look at our lives and attempt to find ways of becoming closer to Christ. One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to ?take the easy way out? and do nothing or choose only those spiritual practices with which we are comfortable. If we look at the lives of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men ? there was nothing easy about the journey to Bethlehem. For each of these individuals, however, their efforts produced great fruit. Let?s explore how the Lord often calls us to leave our ?comfort zone? in order to encounter Him more deeply.

If our vision of the Lord?s birth is confined to looking at nativity figures and watching sentimental Christmas movies, we can easily fool ourselves into believing that this was a very cozy event for all involved. When we reflect on the facts more deeply, however, we can see that the journey to Bethlehem was difficult for everyone involved. Mary and Joseph had to leave the security of their home and travel to the city in order to register for taxation. Mary was about to give birth and the couple had nowhere to sleep, but they needed to make the trip in order to fulfill the prophecy (Micah 5:2) that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. The shepherds were at work, watching their sheep, when the angel appeared to them and announced the birth of the Lord. Ignoring their fear, they left the familiarity of their workplace and traveled ?in haste? to visit the newly born Savior. Upon their return, Scripture tells us that they ?glorified and praised God for what they had seen? (Lk 2:20). The wise men (or magi) were astrologers who were aware of the common belief that the Messiah?s birth would be announced by the appearance of a great star. While studying the stars, they were alerted to the great event by the appearance of a star in the East. Like the shepherds, they left their jobs and traveled to Jerusalem in order to inquire about the exact location of the Lord?s birth. When King Herod found out about their mission, he sent the men to Bethlehem, asking them to inform him of the exact location so he could also ?worship? the Messiah (in reality, he wanted to eliminate a potential rival to his throne). They rejoiced as the star led them to the newly born Savior and presented Him with gifts upon their arrival. After being warned in a dream to avoid returning to Herod, the wise men boldly returned home by another route. Upon realizing his orders were disobeyed, the evil ruler became furious (Mt 2:16). According to Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, the king was an insecure and cruel man who killed over half of his ten wives and some of his children. Disobeying Herod?s orders was a dangerous act which most certainly put their lives in jeopardy.

We can each prepare for the arrival of Jesus in different ways, but our ultimate goal should be that we end up with Him ?in Bethlehem? instead of somewhere else. As with all spiritual activities, we will ?reap what we sow?. We can leave our ?comfort zones? and journey to Bethlehem or sit back and remain secure?the choice is ours. However, just like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and wise men, what better way could there be to express our love for Jesus than to honor Him in those in ways which we find difficult? If we listen carefully, the Lord frequently provides opportunities to visit Him by traveling roads that we would otherwise choose to avoid. It could be an invitation to a ?painful? family party, a request for help from an elderly neighbor, a phone call from someone you might find annoying, or any number of other situations. In addition to listening for God?s call, you can actively seek out ?uncomfortable? ways to travel to Bethlehem. If you are not a ?morning person?, maybe you could wake up a little earlier and say some prayers. If it?s difficult for you to share your faith at work, you could offer to say a prayer for a troubled coworker or talk about something you heard in a homily. If you love watching television at night, try substituting some prayer time instead. How about reaching out to a family member or friend whose personality may be difficult to handle? Maybe you?ve been away from the Sacrament of Confession or the Eucharist and can make a vow to return during Advent. In my own life, I have received the greatest blessings when I have responded to those promptings which I found to be difficult. It is often said that God will not be outdone in generosity. When we offer sacrifices to Him, we always get back an abundance of graces. When the apostle Peter asked Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” (Mt 19:27), Our Lord?s words were very clear:

“Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.? (Mt 19:28-29)

In a way, our entire life is a journey to Bethlehem. By following God?s commandments and leaving our sinful ways behind, we look forward to one day seeing Christ in all His glory. There we will join Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men in kneeling before Our Lord and Savior. Why not use this Advent season to leave your ?comfort zone? and explore new ways to follow Jesus? We have no guarantee that we will have another Advent to prepare, so let?s do our best right now to make sure we?re ready?and don?t settle for being comfortable!

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