In a world where conflicts over religion may lead to violence and even war, Father Ray brings us back to reality, reminding us that battles over superior beliefs should not be confused with using religion to find balance in our lives. As Father Ray demonstrates, faith is peace, respect, and showing others you care, rather than a tool for excluding those who are different from you. Father Ray is a true and honest man, and he renews this perspective of religion in the BSM community.
He has a unique ability to get students involved and connect to all who have the opportunity to hear him. He’s not afraid to share his passion for his faith, and his positive attitude seems to permeate throughout the school whenever he comes to deliver Mass at BSM. Regardless of whether you are Catholic or not, you can’t help but smile at the look of happiness on his face when he sings and dances, encouraging students to join him. Father Ray embodies a deep love and shining enthusiasm for his work as a leader in the faith community; we here at BSM are so privileged to have the chance to listen to a man who carries such heart and soul everywhere he goes.
Charles Le Jeune • Mar 4, 2009 at 10:38 am
I wonder what Fr East would say about this infallibly defined, dogmatic teaching of the Catholic Church :
‘The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the “eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41), unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.’ — Pope Eugene IV, Cantate Domino (1441)
Benilde-St. Margaret’s should spend less time teaching social Marxism and should focus on teaching the Catholic Faith, that the souls of the students do not fall into Hell.
Faith is not some vague attitude of being nice towards others ‘who are different than you.’ Surely holding the true Faith means possessing the virtue of charity and willing good for all men; but that means willing their eternal salvation. There is no charity in telling a man on the road to Hell that he is doing fine and should not change himself, just as there would be no charity in seeing a man about to walk off a cliff and not warning him. THE Faith, not ‘a’ faith, is in Jesus Christ, the only saviour of men. He is the only true peace, and He is only found in the Church that He created. Real peace is not found in so-called ‘tolerance’ or in esteem for an abstract principle of ‘diversity.’
Pax Christi,