Ashamed of being Catholic

[1] And the people seeing that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, gathering together against Aaron, said: Arise, make us gods, that may go before us: for as to this Moses, the man that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has befallen him. [2] And Aaron said to them: Take the golden earrings from the ears of your wives, and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me. [3] And the people did what he had commanded, bringing the earrings to Aaron. [4] And when he had received them, he fashioned them by founders' work, and made of them a molten calf. And they said: These are thy gods, O Israel, that have brought thee out of the land of Egypt. [5] And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and made proclamation by a crier' s voice, saying: Tomorrow is the solemnity of the Lord.
 -- Book of Exodus 32:1-5

This comment from Archbishop Désiré Tsarahazana of Toamasina in Madagascar says it all.

Archbishop Désiré Tsarahazana: “Oh, yes.  But its director here is not a Catholic.  Yes, that’s what the [whole] problem is. Yes; it’s precisely that mentality – of bishops in Europe – that it’s necessary to change.  At times I wonder if most of them [i.e., bishops in Europe and North America] are not ashamed of being Catholic, ashamed of wanting to help Catholics.  The problem, I think, comes from the Church itself.  They say we’re in a ‘new era’ an era of ‘openness’ [to other sects, and religions, and views.  And so it’s appropriate for “Catholic” organizations to be run by non-Catholics.  On the other hand, you won’t see that on their side.]   It’s as if a Catholic parish were to be run by a Protestant pastor!  [Laughing]  I’m exaggerating, of course, but that’s really what it’s like at CRS.  They’re people of good will [at CRS] but…”

He was responding to questions regarding the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) operations in Madagascar.

How did we get here where North American and European bishops are "ashamed of being Catholic"?

These are the fruits of the changes to the Catholic Church made in Vatican II. The Church has changed from being proud of her special God given mission to being ashamed of being different and set apart.

Under the guise of "ecumenism" changes were made to the Church to make her appear to the outside world more like just another Christian denomination.

Not only has this caused the destruction of the Church's identity, but it did not even achieve the stated goal of ecumenism. Even as the Church transformed herself to become more protestant-like, the protestants were transforming themselves to be more secular-like.

I have been wondering recently what the 60s would have been like if the Church would have retained her true identity. Would the culture in the US and the world have been radicalized the way it was? At least the Church would have put up a good fight, and with the help of God, the Blessed Virgin, the angels and all the saints many Catholics would have been saved from the moral, political and religious corruption that swept the world.

If we would have marked ourselves as God wanted -- as Catholics and therefore a people of God that is set apart -- then He would have given us the grace of passover -- to be passed over while the plagues raged and infected the rest of society. But instead many in the Church leadership from priests, to bishops decided to worship the gold calf.

Until the Church returns to the true worship of God, it will continue to wander aimlessly through the desert.