You are 100% right to acknowledge -- and dare I say commend! -- a fellow Catholic's PUBLIC journey. You are 100% right to note that we are ALL sinners, and some of us are TRYING to grow in holiness. Mark Wahlberg IS a perfect example... from Marky Mark and his rap music, to his Calvin Klein ads that didn't leave much to the imagination and led many young ladies into sin ... to his movies, his language, etc ... TO him being in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony for 13 + years and welcoming FOUR children into that union, to him speaking publicly about his Catholicism and his journey, to him admitting he stopped smoking marijuana because of the example to his kids, to him making Fr. Stu. How anyone can cast a stone is obvious: none of us commenting on this has the public scrutiny or following that he has. If all of our sins and faults were laid out for everyone to see, then perhaps Mark wouldn't look quite so bad, eh?
You make good points. If my inconsistencies were exposed, I would crumble under scrutiny. I’m trying. But I also have a phenomenal support system of people who challenge and support and encourage. I know other people seek Christ but fall into the mentorship of really screwed up shepherds and teachers. But for the grace of God therefore go I. That doesn’t excuse or erase his promotion of immorality… and I will vigorously oppose those things… but it allows for compassion and movement in the Body of Christ to pray and support when possible.
I see you pointing out something good someone did. Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s a great thing to highlight good things fellow Catholics do… even if they’ve made numerous mistakes in the past. I only returned to the Faith last year and I still am shocked at what I’m learning that I never knew before. Being at a similar age, I bet he is making some similar discoveries and may be on the path to making some major changes and repenting for things in his past like I and so many others have done when we realized what we were missing. The fact that he made this public statement and making this movie is highly probable that he will make fallen away Catholics like I was say…. Hmm…. “Marky Mark” goes to Mass… maybe I should too. 💜
Melody - so glad to have found you are writing here!! I have been off social media for a while now and it is so freeing, but I still blog and enjoy others blogs. This Marky Mark business seems very clear to me...it's the prodigal son...and the father rejoiced and welcomed him home!! How can we judge anyone's conversion journey when he seems to be on the right path?
Yeah. I have a friend who thought to become a priest but who revealed of his own volition a bit of, um, nonjudicious online viewing?, from his past and was BARRED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD. I just do not understand this attitude, every single one of us is sinful, even the best of us. How can anyone presume to throw the baby out with the bathwater and claim the good one does is somehow invalid because of their sins? So bizarre. I do see their idea of holding someone up as an example who shouldn’t be as problematic, but come on. Have they not met you? ;]
You are 100% right to acknowledge -- and dare I say commend! -- a fellow Catholic's PUBLIC journey. You are 100% right to note that we are ALL sinners, and some of us are TRYING to grow in holiness. Mark Wahlberg IS a perfect example... from Marky Mark and his rap music, to his Calvin Klein ads that didn't leave much to the imagination and led many young ladies into sin ... to his movies, his language, etc ... TO him being in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony for 13 + years and welcoming FOUR children into that union, to him speaking publicly about his Catholicism and his journey, to him admitting he stopped smoking marijuana because of the example to his kids, to him making Fr. Stu. How anyone can cast a stone is obvious: none of us commenting on this has the public scrutiny or following that he has. If all of our sins and faults were laid out for everyone to see, then perhaps Mark wouldn't look quite so bad, eh?
You make good points. If my inconsistencies were exposed, I would crumble under scrutiny. I’m trying. But I also have a phenomenal support system of people who challenge and support and encourage. I know other people seek Christ but fall into the mentorship of really screwed up shepherds and teachers. But for the grace of God therefore go I. That doesn’t excuse or erase his promotion of immorality… and I will vigorously oppose those things… but it allows for compassion and movement in the Body of Christ to pray and support when possible.
I see you pointing out something good someone did. Nothing wrong with that. I think it’s a great thing to highlight good things fellow Catholics do… even if they’ve made numerous mistakes in the past. I only returned to the Faith last year and I still am shocked at what I’m learning that I never knew before. Being at a similar age, I bet he is making some similar discoveries and may be on the path to making some major changes and repenting for things in his past like I and so many others have done when we realized what we were missing. The fact that he made this public statement and making this movie is highly probable that he will make fallen away Catholics like I was say…. Hmm…. “Marky Mark” goes to Mass… maybe I should too. 💜
Melody - so glad to have found you are writing here!! I have been off social media for a while now and it is so freeing, but I still blog and enjoy others blogs. This Marky Mark business seems very clear to me...it's the prodigal son...and the father rejoiced and welcomed him home!! How can we judge anyone's conversion journey when he seems to be on the right path?
Yeah. I have a friend who thought to become a priest but who revealed of his own volition a bit of, um, nonjudicious online viewing?, from his past and was BARRED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD. I just do not understand this attitude, every single one of us is sinful, even the best of us. How can anyone presume to throw the baby out with the bathwater and claim the good one does is somehow invalid because of their sins? So bizarre. I do see their idea of holding someone up as an example who shouldn’t be as problematic, but come on. Have they not met you? ;]