In light of what has happened within the Catholic Church and many who do believe in God the creator; despite your faith, I have my opinion and thoughts, which I would like to give as a Catholic since birth, someone who has studied the faith, and has grown in the understanding of the teachings of Christ.
When the first abuse issues were raised in the middle of 2012 onward, it was devastating to many who are within the Catholic Faith. “Catholic” means universal, the faith that Jesus Christ established is a faith for everyone. Many have looked at the church as a cult, a faith run by men, not of Christ, a faith compared to cannibals that eat the flesh of a human and drinks its blood. Nothing could be further from the truth and these thoughts, as in most cases and in all other subjects, opinions and judgment, are given as a result of lack of knowledge of the Catholic Faith.
Here is what is important to understand:
- The Catholic Church is the Church of Jesus Christ
- Within the church are men who are fallible (not perfect, and men who make choices on their own and are in violation of the Commandments of God
- No one is perfect, although Christ says’ “Be perfect as my Father in Heaven is Perfect.” Yet man cannot obtain perfection,
- In the Catholic Church are Sacraments: Sacraments which hold true to the teachings of Christ, not symbolic but the real presence of Christ
- Everyone who claims to be Catholic Jesus tells us that what more is given, more will be expected.
This is probably the appropriate time to bring up the sexual abuse scandal that has been going on for decades. Believe it or not, well-known names have said that there is a lot of sexual abuse in other faiths that people have no clue about, but let’s stick to the Catholic Church. For me being a cradle Catholic and a prayer warrior for our priests, this latest news was devastating. I actually cried approaching God asking “Why”? In my heart, I know that the church itself is Jesus Christ, not man, but that man makes up the church and men have been directed and appointed to teach, protect and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, not hurt the innocent. I also know based on my Catholic teaching that these men who have done such will stand before God and will receive their just punishment, including those who turned a blind eye to what was happening. “WHAT MORE IS GIVEN, MORE WILL BE EXPECTED”.
Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:6
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves but leave it to the wrath of God
I could write more on this, but for those who do believe in a very loving and merciful God, so not think HE sits in Heaven looking down and is smiling on those of the cloth that have done such things? He is not and I am certain His Holy Mother cries.
So for those who are of the cloth and have caused such pain and injury to the young because of your flesh and immoral desires, God will be your judge. I pray for those who have been hurt and I am saying that I am sorry for all those that failed you. But remember that within the church are men who are – fallible, but the Church itself is Jesus Christ “True God and True Man.” God gave us the Commandments to obey and He appointed his first successor, “Peter” who since have had continued successors with the understanding that they were to feed His sheep, not destroy. Now, God help those who have done wrong while under the guise of the Cross.
Yes indeed NG. Right from the get-go Christ was betrayed by the man Judias Iscarious who was one of his twelve chosen apostles. Sin encompasses “free choice” that leads to betrayal, rejection and abandonment of the truth. Jesus knew this in advanced when he commissioned Peter “the rock” from which he would build his church and that he exclaimed: “The gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Christ will continue to purify and perfect his church. Amen!