My YouTube Post: "Righteous Outrage"
What started out as just a spoofy title, actually becomes real!
Dear friends,
Recently, I addressed a comment on YouTube from someone who claimed to be a former Catholic, stating they were "never introduced to Jesus Christ or the Bible." Such comments, unfortunately, are not uncommon online, and they always stir a mix of emotions in me—concern, frustration, and what I ultimately expressed as "righteous outrage" in my video response.
This particular comment bothered me deeply, not only because of its content but also because the tone struck me as disingenuous. It felt more like an intentional assault than a sincere expression of disappointment. To be honest, I struggled to trust the sincerity behind their words, suspecting that the comment—like so many others of its kind—was more about baiting anti-Catholic viewers for clicks than seeking genuine dialogue.
Yet, my suspicion over intent does not trump my obligation to offer the benefit of the doubt. Even if the commentator’s tone sounded unfair, the possibility exists that the his experience was real. If that’s the case, then we should all be even more bothered. If someone can genuinely say they never encountered Jesus Christ within the Catholic Church, then this becomes a sobering reminder of how much more we need to do to educate, catechize, evangelize, and understand our own faith.
But let me be clear: There is no place in the created world that offers a deeper, more beautiful, and more intimate relationship with Christ than we can experience in the Catholic Church. Where else is the Gospel proclaimed so consistently? Daily? Where else can we find devotion and contemplation so alive and expressive? Where else are we so encouraged to find joy and hope, make sacrifices, love deliberately, and encounter Jesus Christ more intimately—especially in Holy Communion where we receive the literal body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist?
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, our highest expression of prayer and worship, is unparalleled in depth and beauty. Through the sacraments, we receive sanctifying grace that transforms us. Beyond worship, the Catholic Church’s enduring presence in schools, universities, hospitals, orphanages, housing for the poor, and countless social services is a testament to our faith in action.
So yes, I do feel a degree of "righteous outrage" when someone claims they never knew Christ within the Catholic Church. Such a statement demands scrutiny. If the comment was intended to mislead, shame on them. But if the claim was sincere, then we must examine how we are engaging our brethren in faith formation.
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This type of comment is not new to me, and it likely won’t be the last. The digital world is filled with those who, whether out of genuine pain or a desire for attention, attack Catholicism unfairly. I suspect these remarks often have less to do with a genuine longing for truth and more to do with fishing for clicks from anti-Catholic viewers. Even so, the possibility of sincerity demands our humility and a call to action.
Let us take this as a reminder that we, as Catholics, are called to ongoing prayer and evangelization. We must know our faith—truly know it—so we can share it with clarity and conviction. We must live our faith, so that our lives become a witness to the joy and hope we find in Christ. And we must pray for those who attack or misunderstand the Church, offering them not our judgment but the love and mercy of Christ.
In this spirit, I renew my commitment to deeper study, greater evangelization, and more deliberate love. And I invite you, dear readers, to do the same. Let us ensure that anyone who crosses paths with the Catholic Church cannot say they never encountered Jesus Christ, His Word, or His love.
In Christ,
John Henry
Always Toward the Light
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