Remaining Roman Catholic

MY question is if they knew how could they continue to trust in them on spiritual matters (or any matters) knowing that?

 

And you are right, one could not trust the particular person guilty of this on any level with such a wholesale violation of Christian principles. However, there are bad apples in every barrel and one should not equate the whole with the actions of a few.

I myself have had some good experiences with Catholic religious in the past 20 years. I have had a nun as a friend, a sweet and holy woman of God and 2 priests who led different parishes who were on fire for the Lord.

There is a movement afoot now with these latest revelations by the faithful to see the church cleaned up and there are several Bishop's from around the country who are also making the call for something to be done. The leaders of the Catholic Church work for us, they need to serve others as Christ served and there had better be some resignations or the leadership will not hear the end of it.

 

We shall see. This could be what broke the camel's back, i.e. Pope Francis lifting the sanctions on Cardinal McCarrick that had been placed on him by Pope Benedict. The Church is the people, not the leadership, and we have to make sure that things are turned around and I think the laity will not rest until things have been put right. Just about all of Catholic media is on the case, so it won't go away. Plus, there has already been a call for a special synod to be held to deal with this matter and I just do not believe that status quo will be tolerated - too many people are up in arms about this.

 

When I came into the Catholic Church one of my concerns were the abuse. Having children myself and not knowing the priest well, I kept a close eye on them. Here are my simple thoughts. First is my experiences, even on the mission field, is that men and women still have a proclivity towards sin. Just because one is involved in ministry doesn't change that fact. Not all give in to sin but there will be those who do. I had no illusions that the same would be true of the Catholic Church. The problem with this scandal in the Catholic Church is exasperated by a few things. As, I say these things keep in mind they are my personal observation and thoughts. First, the majority (though not all) of the abuse of young people were perpetrated by homosexual men. I think there is a cabal of homosexual men that have infiltrated the Church and have been working hard in an attempt to change the magisterium to be accepting of this behavior which the church has consistently taught throughout history is disordered and sinful to engage in. In order to protect their group and people who think like them they have used the institution to from seminaries to moving priest around to recruit more homosexuals and to protect those involved in these scandals. Another issue is that there are clergy who are bishops, cardinals, etc.. who are political animals and I question their personal faith. They seem more like our politicians ready to go to extreme lengths to protect themselves and their reputation. These have participated in the scandal as well. The next thing I think is that there is a natural tendency of generational Catholics to put clergy members on a pedestal. This complicates the issues because in their minds the priests can do no wrong. This of course is fallacious because popes, bishops, and priest are men just like us with the same struggles of sin. Some of these men do not have what Catholics call "supernatural faith" or what a protestant would call being "born again". Fortunately, for me the Bishops I have met and he priest I have met are not like these other men I've just described. When the Scandal broke in Pa, I wasn't surprised but it really didn't challenge my faith because my faith is based on Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Not the righteousness of men. Men betray, sin, and do all sorts of evil. That is why we need Jesus Christ. His grace delivers us from that and leads us to be like himself. Catholics who feel betrayed, I think, must ask themselves this question: "What do you base your faith in? Is it Jesus Christ or these men." If it is in Jesus Christ then your faith shouldn't be shaken. If in these men then you are subject to their proclivities. If you say "I believe in the Church" then I ask "which Church?" If you say "Catholic Church" then I must ask you what you mean do you mean? The trappings you find in the institutional aspect of the Church or the supernatural church which spans both this world and the next." Because if your faith does not stretch beyond the poor behaviors of such men I question where you have put your faith. Or if you do indeed have faith, (I'm saying "you" in the general sense). Because, if you don't have faith then why be Catholic unless it is to gain faith. Another issue I find is that many Catholics have put off their personal faith and practice of it on the back burner only to allow the "religious" do the "heavy lifting" for them. This is an opportunity for Catholics to realize that they I need to take personal responsibility for their faith and that of their family rather than treating religious education classes like a day care for kids and not take it upon myself to follow through with daily prayers, scripture reading, and keeping up that relationship with our lord. Why stay? You need Jesus. But if Jesus is secondary then you're not really Catholic and why stay? Many disciples left Jesus. I don't recall him chasing down people. He invites them to be his disciples and then leave the choice to them to follow him or not. This might seem harsh of me and it is my own thoughts. This post is really targeted to Catholics rather than Baptist but I think many denominations could probably relate. Finally, the majority of clergy I have met I believe to be men of faith and they do not have these issues following them. I find many faith filled Catholics as well. My above observation is a minority in my personal experience. As far as Bishop Barron. I say stop encouraging people to stay but to evangelize people to be converted to Christ.

 

As bad as this sexual situation jhas been with the RCC, the theology that damns sinners is still far more pressing need to repent of anf change!

 

I know, and that is why those who are redeemed need to flee out from among them!

 

I think sinners damn themselves which is why they are called to repentance.

 

As far as the Priest's comments in the video, calling for the people to stand up against the Leadership, how has that worked out for the people in the past? Even when Priest from within stood up against them, what was their demise? The RCC cannot and will not be "fixed". For it to be fixed would be for a Pope to stand in front of the cameras and declare 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved, believe not and ye shall be condemned'. This will never happen, what will happen is God will use the RCC to usher in the Antichrist, for it will take a Pope to cause the people to worship a man on earth showing great signs and wonders who comes in Peace and claims to be the Christ. The Pope will say yea and the people will do as they are told. As born again Christians the most we can do is warn people and try to persuade them to come out from her before it is too late.

 

And here we go with the Catholic Church and the anti-Christ charge one again! You folks are like a broken record. Kerplunk, kerplunk, kerplunk - the same old spin. Come on , can't you come up with something new to entertain us?

 

Thank you for your observation. I myself spent 8 years attending a Catholic grade school and there was not one incident of clerical abuse of children - and we had like 6 or 7 priests in the parish no less! In my adult life after my return to the Catholic Church at age 28 I have met nothing but true and holy people, the members of religious communities, who have dedicated their entire lives to the Lord.

All the stuff now happening constitutes but a minority of those in the Church which is why the windows and doors need to be opened wide for a thorough airing and we the faithful are not afraid in the least to see this happen. When some paedophilia or homosexuality happens in other Christian denominations little is made of it, but oh boy, when it happens in the Catholic faith tradition it's Katy bar the door for all the hubbub that is generated amongst the press and other Christians.