I was talking with a young man once asking why he had left the Church. He answered, “Because they said I could eat meat on Fridays.” For him, if one piece of the ediface that was the Catholic Church of his youth was removed the entire structure was not to be believed. That is an example of Catholic fundamentalism — defined as taking as fundamental that which is not fundamental. The Bible reminds us of what really matters — heeding the voice of God. Oh, that today you would hear his voice, says the Psalmist. And we recognize the voice of God not so much in this or that ritual action as in the call to make this world a more just, loving and peaceful place.
