http://happylittlecrittersband.com/

Happy Little Critters Band, 10 Archbishop May Drive, St. Louis, MO (2026)

02/24/2026

A HAPPY ORGANISM
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music.”]

In the Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB), I introduce myself as “a Roman Catholic priest who doesn’t mind whether or not you belong to my church or that you even believe in God. I want you to be happy.” But I insist that we can’t be happy without learning the basics about this universe. At least, we must learn how the Earth interacts with our Sun and Moon, and what it means to be an “organism”—just a basic grasp of things.

Sadly, people who lack a basic knowledge of this world are bound to distort and abuse the bible and reality, as they preach destruction, CONTROL and other nonsense. We can never understand the bible, or anything else, without understanding the nitty-gritty of where we live and move and have our being.

How many of us have ever observed a total solar eclipse? How many of us even know what it is? One woman who was told the danger of looking directly at an eclipse of the Sun responded, “If a solar eclipse is so dangerous, why are they even having one?”

How many of us know about the Moon and why it shines? A college graduate (a straight A student) insisted that the Moon glows, by generating its own light.

How many of us have ever looked up to see the moon during the daytime? A woman posted a video of herself, horrified and desperately pleading for help. She was terrified by seeing the Moon and the Sun appearing next to each other in the sky. She was shouting, “This never used to happen! What’s going on?”

No wonder so many people, intelligent people, are fooled into believing conspiracy theories about visitors from outer space and terrible dangers from being vaccinated. No wonder it took so long for humanity to agree that the Earth was not flat. No wonder most of us still cling stubbornly to our faulty perception that we are separate “objects,” like jelly beans in a jar.

If we are merely a collection of chaotically colliding individuals, we can trash the soil, water and air. We can kill, r**e, rob, reject, neglect and abandon other people—all done without suffering any consequences to our own personal well-being. However, terrified that others might do the same things to us, we obsessively begin to CONTROL [or let others CONTROL us], just in order to BELONG.

On the other hand, our HLCB believes that everyone and everything in the cosmos is part of the ONE ORGANISM (God). Thus, our relationships with God and others radically change. Every part helps the others, because whatever is done to the least part of an organism is done to the whole—we are totally safe from SEPARATION. And, if SEPARATION is no longer possible, CONTROL it is no longer necessary.

Our HLCB’s “Soul Music for the Mind” demands that we learn the ABCs of how the parts of this cosmos evolve and interact with each other—at least, we should know the basics. Anyone unwilling to encounter this world outside of their own mind cannot seriously claim to desire happiness in this life.

The HLCB is all about entering into physical (not merely ge***al or purely mental) relationships. INTIMACY with others is not about CONTROL or clinging. INTIMACY allows each of us to roam and explore our world, responsibly looking for opportunities to watch, listen, feel and share with our companions in this life—the amazing people, pets, plants and planetary wonders. Anyone who can freely give and receive, in relationships with other parts of this ONE ORGANISM (God), is sure to be A HAPPY ORGANISM.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

02/17/2026

BEING SAMMY
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music."]

Everyone wants to BELONG, so we desperately try to earn acceptance by measuring up to artificial standards. It seems that few of us have fully embraced the message of thousands of children’s stories, movies, fables and self-help books that teach, “JUST BE YOURSELF.”

One such parable is about Sammy and the Rabbi. Sammy asks, “Will God be displeased with me when I die? I haven’t been like Moses, David, Deborah or Isaiah.” The Rabbi replies, “If God is disappointed or displeased with you, it is only because you have never allowed yourself to be Sammy.”

But the litany of “don’t likes” is endless in this world: too tall, too short, too thin, too fat, too loud or too quiet. It includes: race, religion, politics and tastes in music, food, sports, movies and clothing. Many of the things and people we hate include things we “don’t like” even about ourselves. What’s our problem?

As we humans violently erupt from the safe, dark home of a mother’s womb, the harsh “SEPARATION” of birth leaves us with a condition of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). This simple REALITY explains “Original Sin” and all the complications and messiness of human existence—as individuals and as a species. The fear that we might lose our BELONGING keeps getting triggered, and we immediately begin to CONTROL.

To make matters worse, we create artificial structures (nation, religion and economy) that assume CONTROL is needed “for people’s own good.” Forms of exclusion (prison, excommunication and starvation) are means of keeping people in line. Even the natural structure of family gets corrupted. Few mothers would ever disown their children, but they won’t say so. They fear that kids will do bad things, if not threatened with “exile.”

Our Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB) believes we will never be free of CONTROL unless we abandon the idea of SEPARATION. We must not even imagine the idea of SEPARATION. We are all parts of ONE ORGANISM (God). We reject the assumption that BELONGING has to be earned—EVERYTHING ALREADY BELONGS.

So being the best version of ourselves is not a choice; it’s a given. Nor can we live alone, unconcerned for others. A body’s parts (eyes, thumbs and feet) can never be their true selves, without nurturing and sharing with the other parts of the whole organism. Though we can’t choose our true nature and identity, we must sort through and strip away all the “false selves” we have chosen to assume for protection.

In the long run, HLCB wants to gradually increase the number of folks who demonstrate that they no longer believe in division, death or any so-called objective SEPARATION. Our full and final victory is what Christians call the “KINGDOM…ON EARTH.” Jesus led the way, giving images to describe its basic traits.

As a hopeful Christian, I proclaim that we only need one more thousand years to grow into a people who generally think and act as ONE ORGANISM. We will reject our present unhealthy economy and culture (or reality will strip it away). Civilizations have fallen in the past, and people arise to build something better. And we will certainly rebuild this civilization, with structures that will foster healthy inter-dependency.

The Happy Little Critters Band makes it possible to imagine the creation of a whole new and better civilization. For now, our part is to merely do the best we can with what we have, to be the happiest and best versions of ourselves. Finally, we humans can relax and fully accept diversity. “BEING SAMMY” means we embrace each and every human as wonderful, marvelous, unique and awesome.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

02/10/2026

BEING SELF-ISH [Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music”]

Many folks give up something for Lent (e.g. beer, coffee, chocolate, shopping, watching sports, “Judge Judy” or some other TV favorite). Other people learn to use Lent as a time to add something (e.g. rosary, bible study, exercise or almsgiving). Such practices are more or less helpful for most people, but our Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB) suggests that we all work at being more SELF-ISH.

What the hell do we mean by “SELF-ISH”? We do NOT mean selfishness—a kind of Individualism where we only care for ourselves, apart (SEPARATED) from others. Rather, we urge people to take care of themselves for the sake of the whole. If we don’t care for ourselves and take personal responsibility for doing our own business, we are of no use to the whole. We must not rely on others to do what we can do for ourselves.

The HLCB is totally dedicated to happiness for everyone. But none of us can be completely happy apart (SEPARATED) from the happiness of the rest of the world. We share in the same ONE ORGANISM (God)—whatever is done to the least part is done to everyone.

Developing a habit of being SELF-ISH means that each of us learns to ask, “Whose business is it?” In a healthy organism, every single part does its own job and completely shares the results. By contrast, unhealthy people are drowning in CODEPENDENCY or CONTROL. By doing other people’s business, and insisting that others do the same, they create a world in which everyone usurps the responsibilities of others.

An episode in the comic strip FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE illustrates the problem: Elly (the mom) tells Michael (her 12-year-old son) to pick up candy wrappers that he and his buddies scattered in the backyard. Michael murmurs under his breath, “It’s your fault…. You’re the one who gave us the candy.”

Before Lent begins, let’s examine our own love-communities (family, church and friendships). They are probably drenched in examples of unhealthy “love”—people doing other people’s business. Too often, what we mistakenly called “love” is codependency. No wonder lots of people are afraid to form close relationships.

Occasionally (e.g. with kids), it may be appropriate to do another’s business, but we must follow three rules: First, it’s got to be really important. Second, it’s got to be temporary. And, finally, it must be possible without causing more harm than good. For instance, a legal ban on abortion is bound to do more harm than good.

THIS LITANY OF MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA (paraphrased) COULD BE CALLED “BEING SELF-ISH”:
People are illogical, unreasonable, self-centered and controlling. -
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish motives. -
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. -
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, you are vulnerable. -
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. -
Build anyway.
If you offer help to people in need, they may attack you. –
Offer help anyway.
If you will not bow to their control, they will call you arrogant. –
Don’t bow anyway.
After all, it has NEVER been about them or you SEPARATELY; it’s ONLY about being ONE ORGANISM (God).

Muscle-stretching exercises might hurt a little, but pain is not their purpose. Likewise, Lenten works of penance aren’t intended to cause pain; they’re meant to improve our relationships with God and others. Our HLCB can think of no better way to build up the ONE ORGANISM than for each individual part to be more SELF-ISH—by fully assuming responsibility for its own health, and caring for its own business.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

02/03/2026

TAKING SELF TOO SERIOUSLY
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music”]

We often hear it said, “Don’t take yourself too seriously.” What does that mean?

George H.W. Bush, also known as George Bush Sr., was the 41st president of the United States (1989 to 1993). He loved to tell this story on himself: As president, visiting patients at a nursing home, Bush cheerfully asked an old man, “Do you know who I am?” The resident replied, “No. But, if you ask a nurse, she should be able to tell you.” President Bush used that story to let us know that he didn’t take himself too seriously.

Yet, the same President Bush, as the lone survivor of a plane crash in the Pacific theater of World War II, asked, "Why had I been spared and what did God have for me?" After surviving close encounters with death, both saints and sinners often say the same thing. However, that question could be a sign that we are TAKING SELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

Our Happy Little Critters Band does not believe that we are “chosen,” apart from others. Everyone and everything ALREADY shares life, in the ONE ORGANISM (God)—there is no SEPARATION. Rather than searching for that special place where we BELONG, we need to be watching for possibilities to serve the needs of our species and the whole Earth. By caring for all, we automatically care for ourselves—and vice versa.

By thinking that God has a predetermined plan for us alone, and fixating on what we envision our specialness to be, we’re likely to miss other opportunities shouting for our attention.

Let’s illustrate with a variation on an old story: Brother Martin, a young disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, believes himself to be called by God to preach the Gospel. As Martin travels into town, he passes a child shivering in the cold. Then, the brother passes a hungry beggar. Finally, on the steps of the Cathedral, Martin delivers a passionate sermon on the subject of clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. Duh!

Pride—superiority—is another danger of imagining oneself with a special calling. Israel was blessed, but Jews started acting like God loved them more than “the nations.” Various prophets, as well as the whole Book of Jonah, had to constantly remind the “chosen people” that God loves everyone equally.

Christian Europe was blessed with nurturing the earliest centuries of the Gospel of Jesus. Thus, arguably, Europe developed the sciences and arts faster and more extensively than other civilizations. But Europe’s brazen colonization of the rest of the world belies a demonic degree of arrogance and superiority.

The enslavement of Africans, the rise of N**i Germany and even today’s American White Christian Nationalism give evidence of a generational and prideful superiority that threatens the Church’s work of uniting humanity and building the Kingdom of God “ON EARTH.”

The blind determination of people who image that God counts on them to fulfill a specific mission can literally take on the worst features of a “jihad”—a holy war. Perhaps President Bush answered his question, “What did God have for me?" by waging war against the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Certainly, when Bush’s son, George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States (2001-2009), started the 20-year-long second Iraqi war, he believed he was on a “mission from God.” Countless “just” wars have been waged in the name of God.

Being “called by God” can NEVER take the form of SEPARATION. “Priesthood” is ALWAYS a mission to join people to God and one another, but authoritarianism is a sure sign that we are TAKING SELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

01/27/2026

SACRAMENTS
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Because we humans are so limited in how we directly know reality, it is absolutely necessary for us (religious or not) to be people of faith—we depend on languages (outward signs) to discover things we cannot sense (see, hear, smell, taste or touch). Nature’s hidden realities (e.g. atoms and black holes) can only be known through signs. Even our thoughts and feeling are invisible, until we express them through outward signs.

Some of the most important signs (language) that Christians use to express their Faith are SACRAMENTS. Yet, Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB) questions the way sacraments are usually taught. Teachers confuse the sign with the reality; or they imagine that the sign causes the reality to happen. Furthermore, both Protestants and Catholics cause more confusion by assuming that God and the parts of creation are all SEPARATE.

Our HLCB says that everyone and everything BELONGS—we are all parts of the ONE ORGANISM (God). We say the only exception is that (by nature) the all-inclusive God Life supports a Trinity of “Persons,” and each of us human forms of life supports its own individual “person.” Just as a shadow cannot exist without an object, a “person” cannot exist without a life form to support it. [NOTE: “PERSONS” are not the same as “souls.”]

Now, it’s important to recognize the distinction between signs that are only “SYMBOLS” and signs that are “SACRAMENTS.” A “symbol-sign” SUBSTITUTES for a reality (e.g. the picture on my license is a symbol of me). A “sacrament-sign” IS PART OF a bigger reality, for which it is a sign. Both my hand and my face are sacraments of my presence, but the face is a clearer and more specific sign of me.

We can apply that distinction to the Eucharist: Protestants normally think of the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of Jesus’ loving presence; Catholics insist that it is the Real Presence of Jesus (God). However, to explain the Real Presence, Catholics employ the philosophical concept of “Transubstantiation”—the belief that the “substance” of bread and wine instantly changes into the substance the God-Man (Jesus), at the words of the priest.

Classic Catholic theology uses the same “magical” explanation for the Real Presence in all seven Sacraments. Yet, because our HLCB believes that everyone and everything is part of the ONE ORGANISM (God), we can get the same Catholic bottom-line (Real Presence) without all the magic. We say the Real Presence is everywhere.

The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) called the Church “the universal sacrament of salvation.” Thus, God communicates Love to all peoples (universally) through the Church’s very flesh (words and actions)—“where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

However, the Church has yet to grow into a clear sacrament of God’s Love. Reflecting on that sad reality, Pope Paul VI said: “The Church is an evangelizer, but she begins by being evangelized herself…she always needs to be called together afresh by Him [God] and reunited” (EVANGELII NUNTIANDI, #15). The Seven Sacraments, Liturgy, sacramentals, etc. are all ways (languages) designed to evangelize the Church herself.

In summary, our HLCB removes the need to call upon “divine magic” to explain how a remote God comes to help us at critical moments. We teach that this whole cosmos, and everything in it, is the ONE ORGANISM (God). Yet, we still honor and depend on Church and its sacraments to make us aware of God’s presence.

The HLCB definitely does not see SACRAMENTS as mere “symbols.” Just as my face is “a clearer and more specific sign” for revealing my real presence than my hand is, so the Church and its Seven Sacraments reveal more perfectly, to all of humanity, the “God who is with us” (Emmanuel).

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

01/20/2026

SURRENDER—AA & ST. PAUL
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music."]

All of us can probably relate to the problem St. Paul articulated about himself in his Letter to the Romans (7:15-20): “I don’t understand myself. I do the things I don’t want to do and I don’t do the things I intended to do. I agree with the Law of God in my mind, but, in my flesh, there is another law at war with the Law of God” [paraphrased].

Conventional wisdom tells us that we just need to try harder, but the wisdom of AA and other 12 Step Programs dictate a whole different approach--SURRENDER. Yes, the first three steps tell us to quit “trying.”
1. We admitted we were powerless with our so-called “free will”—that our lives had become UNMANAGEABLE.
2. We came to believe that a POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to SURRENDER our will-power and our lives to the care of what we understood as God.

UNMANAGEABLE LIVES: In my many years, I have done rather well, living the delusion of “free will.” I imagine that God gives me the power to say “yes” or “no”; and I hope to be capable of maintaining my correct decisions, even though thousands of temptations and situations each day pull me in different directions.

However, despite my many successes, I have never had character strong enough to live my principles faithfully and consistently. I always get worn out “trying.” So, during a particularly successful period of my life, I heard a warning in my head: “Lord, beware of John. He will betray you” [attributed to St. Phillip Neri]. Attempting to CONTROL my life with free will has always been (more or less) “unmanageable.” I finally admit that I am powerless.

I admit that, in reality, my “free will” is useless. I admit that my life is unmanageable. Our common understanding of free will has always been a delusion. The only thing our free will can choose is to SURRENDER—e.g. a little boy can never sustain his will to fight sleep, but he can always SURRENDER.

A GREATER POWER: The second step should be rather easy for me. I am well trained in taking it for granted that God exists and loves me. Yet, I have to pay attention. By choosing to rely on my own CONTROLLING mind to save me, rather than trusting in the goodness of reality, I have created my own hell—I have created my own insane world.

Prayer (contemplation) helps me to stay aware—the power of the Holy Spirit is not only available, but is ALREADY within me, calling for me to leave the insanity of my SELF-CONTROLLED world. I pray daily and share my faith regularly.

SURRENDER TO THE CARE OF GOD: The third step, to SURRENDER my will and my life to the care of God, is not a matter of silliness and irresponsibility. A seasoned Christian tells this story about himself: “When I first got ‘saved’ at a revival, I was determined to let Jesus make all my decisions—letting him take over the ‘throne’ of my life. I opened my closet the next morning and asked, ‘Jesus, which tie should I wear?' I distinctly heard him say, ‘I am not your mother!’”

SURRENDERING to God means that I no longer have to agonize. I no longer need to “negotiate” with the Spirit over what is best for me. In most situations, I know what the Spirit wants for me. For insistence, I know that I don’t need that sugar in the ice cream, or that alcohol in the beer, as a “reward” at the end of a hard day.

The Happy Little Critters Band reminds me that nothing can SEPARATE me from the ONE ORGANISM (God). Everyone and everything already BELONGS. When I occasionally face a serious choice, where I am not sure which way to go, I simply apply a process of discernment and do the best I can. I know I can entrust my life to the loving care of the Spirit, who is bound to take better care of me than I have ever been able to do with my own power.

My advice to St. Paul, and to everyone who wants a life of sanity, is to follow the proven wisdom of AA (or any 12 Step Program). Honestly reflecting on the first three principles, and making the wise decision to SURRENDER our “free will” to the care of God, is necessary to position us in the really real world. Then, working the other 9 steps will lead us to sanity and happy lives. Only then will the Good News of Jesus Christ begin to make sense for all of humanity.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

01/14/2026

DETACHMENT
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music."]

The film YOU HURT MY FEELINGS (2023) focuses on aspiring novelist Beth, her therapist husband Don and their young adult son Eliot. Unwilling to “discourage” his wife, Don pretends to enjoy the draft of Beth’s new novel. But Beth overhears Don tell his brother that her book stinks. Though Beth is upset with Don, she hides her anger. To protect the other’s feelings, neither Don nor Beth is being open and truthful.

Meanwhile, Eliot decides to finally unload on his mother, for what he calls her excessive “encouragement.” She keeps telling him to shoot for goals that he really doesn’t want to achieve. He claims that she has “forced” him to live up to her expectations for him, instead of letting him fulfill his own desires.

The movie brutally unmasks the unhealthy codependency that dominates our behavior, particularly within families and close relationships—everyone is doing everyone else’s business, and they call it “love.” (No wonder so many people have given up on “love.”) The characters in the film finally find a bit of relief, when they realize that their true love and acceptance is not based on superficial talents, abilities or achievements.

Our need to CONTROL is obsessive. St. Paul described it this way: “I do the things I don’t want to do, and I don’t do the things I intended.” Think of the power struggles in your own life: Do you argue with yourself and others over food, alcohol, buying stuff, politics, religion, the TV remote, clutter around the house, use of the car, studying for school or choosing a career? Please, don’t ignore or deny your obsessiveness—it’s in us all.

Behind such a universal compulsion is the fear of SEPARATION. Every human has suffered the traumatic experience of being born. That “violent” beginning scars all of us with what should truly be considered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—the “Original Sin.” We go through life expecting (more or less) to fail and be rejected or abandoned. The fear of SEPARATION spawns an obsessive need to CONTROL or be CONTROLLED.

We really need to develop DETACHMENT. We need the HUMILITY that comes from knowing that none of us has CONTROL of our own or anyone else’s worth, value and BELONGING.

We can learn a few tricks about DETACHMENT from traditional practices recommended by Christians and other “gurus”—practices like meditation, centering prayer, yoga and mortification can be helpful. Generally speaking, most healthy practices of DETACHMENT are merely ways to coax and challenge our conscious minds to surrender CONTROL and be attentive—even 10 minutes of silence (or giving up candy for Lent) can help.

Our Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB) finds it impossible even to imagine SEPARATION—everything and everyone belongs within the ONE ORGANISM (God). Our “Soul Music for the Mind” may not be capable of healing ALL our fears. However, freeing our CONSCIOUS minds of the belief in SEPARATION will go a long way in overcoming the rest of our wounds.

The HLCB’s “Soul Music for the Mind” gives the conscious mind a tool to take initiative in the process of freeing itself. Otherwise, the mind will surely become “Satan”—lying, cheating, sneaking and finding ways to sabotage our efforts to develop DETACHMENT.

In summary, humble DETACHMENT allows us to enjoy absolute BELONGING—without a need to cling to anyone or anything. As we happily live our brief lives without the need to CONTROL, we also are changing humanity itself. Ultimately, a critical mass of mature humans will consistently heal very young children of the obsessive need to CONTROL. Humans will live in peace and joy, as long as our species exists on Earth.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

01/05/2026

CATECHISMS
[Visit the link at the end of this message to learn the "music."]

Ever since Jesus of Nazareth lived and articulated his Good News (Gospel) 2,000 year ago and commissioned his individual disciples to keep spreading his message to the ends of the Earth, the phenomenon of the Catholic Church has been fermenting on Earth. We have the Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew, according to Mark, according to Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, Jude, Ambrose and Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

For centuries, theologians, saints and ordinary Christians have lived and taught the Gospel of Jesus, according to their own understanding. Yet, the Catholic family maintains a remarkable degree of unity—relying on the bible and tradition for guidance, but also on pastors (bishops and pope) to stay together.

Now, think of a family living in the same house for 2,000 years. Can you imagine the clutter in the attic, garage and basement? The accumulation would certainly include everything from treasures to trash. Wouldn’t it be helpful to occasionally organize and clean out all that stuff?

In the case of the Church, every few hundred years, popes have commissioned a group of experts to create a CATECHISM—reordering all the teaching and beliefs taught by the Church, up to that time. The most recent such project was authorized by Pope John Paul II in 1985. The results were published in Latin, and then translated into other languages, throughout the 1990’s. The English translation was approved in 1994.

Many folks could not wait to get their hands on the NEW CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. Especially fearful and immature people were seeking the security of a single source of authority that would have all the answers. They fanaticized, living a “safe” life, shielded by a “bullet proof vest” of two extremely thick books—the bible and the CATECHISM. However, they missed the whole point of the project.

The CATECHISM says it is a tool, not a solution: “This work is intended primarily for those responsible for catechesis: first of all the bishops, as teachers of the faith and pastors of the Church. It is offered to them as an instrument in fulfilling their responsibility of teaching the People of God. [Also,] it is addressed to redactors of catechisms, to priests, and to catechists. It will also be useful reading for all other Christian faithful.” ( #12)

When the new CATECHISM was first published, future Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) explained that it only told us where the Church had come so far. He said that it is up to theologians to open new insights and avenues for the continued growth of the Church. “Those who search for a new theological system in the Catechism, or for surprising new hypotheses, will be disappointed. This is not the concern of the Catechism.”

Indeed, almost immediately, the paragraph dealing with the death penalty (2267) was revised by Pope John Paul in 1997, and again by Pope Francis in 2018. The original text allowed the conditional justification of executions. But both popes put restrictions on capital punishment, eliminating any moral justification.

So, we already have seen the CATECHISM change on the death penalty; our Happy Little Critters Band (HLCB) foresees it drastically changing in its description of Creation, Evil and the Four Last Things (Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell). The Good News of Jesus never changes, but our understanding is constantly developing.

Cardinal Ratzinger said: “After the fall of ideologies, the problem of man—the moral problem—is presented to today's context in a totally new way: What should we do? How does life become just? What can give us and the whole world a future which is worth living?” CATECHISMS will continue to collect, organize and cull the answers to those questions; but it is up to us to blaze new trails, with better answers for humanity.

© 2026 Rev. John Vogler [HappyLittleCrittersBand.com]

Happy Little Critters Band

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