By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – A local priest has been holding discussions about what he calls the "Five Ways of Catholicism." But it is not just about Catholics.
Reverend Harry Winter of the Oblates of Mary, and pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Church in North Buffalo, has been speaking about Christianity in a unique way.
He appeared in Chautauqua late last week for discussion on religion at the United Methodist Church. He has identified five groups that co-exist within the church:
The Catholic - those baptized into the Catholic church as infants and who grew up in the church with structure and receive their sacraments.
The charismatic/evangelical - a preacher type who loves the Bible, but isn't too sure about the Catholic sacraments.
Then, Winter identifies the next groups: the Neo-Orthodox-Vatican-Two, those who realize a need for change, the Liberal -and the fundamentalists.
Winter said if people recognize and discuss these groups together, it should create more respect and understanding of all christianity without causing a divide.
"And I am hoping that people will now say, oh, that is why my friend behaves this particular way - he's Evangelical, or she is Charismatic, or I am a reformed Christian, like some of the protestant reformers, that we call Neo-Orthodox, some the people of the 1950's," said Winter.
Winter said the dialogue between liberals and fundamentalists is the most imposing.
"But if liberals can realize that fundamentalists have something to say, and fundamentalists realize that liberals have something to say, maybe we can concentrate on what we have together," said Winter.
Winter said it is important to note that these five groups exist in every Christian denomination, not just within the Catholic Church, but also within each of the Protestant churches.
He said the five groups can create a positive or negative effect for churches. It could lead to very enriching dialogue, or very divisive.