Recently a well known priest was charged with sexual misconduct. A staunch Catholic friend wrote that she was conflicted because she and her family admired that priest so well. It made me write out my thoughts on this very concept of being conflicted when a seemingly righteous man is revealed as imperfect. Perhaps you share my sentiment?
My family was received by The Church at just about the same time the first sex scandals broke. Many of my Protestant friends asked, “Now what are you going to do?” It didn't matter to me.
I am here because of the deposit of faith given to the apostles that has been protected by the Holy Spirit for 2000 years. It has never been protected by any man. I am here because regardless of what any people do or say, even those who are in a position that should never do or say some of those things, what The Church believes for all time, it will believe for all time.
What if I would leave? Where would I go? To a more perfect church? There is no such thing. Churches are led by man. People in every church on earth have done similar and, if you can imagine, worse to their trusting flocks. If I am on a quest for a perfect church, I will be moving from place to place until the day I die.
It is the soul of the church that matters. The soul of The Church is unchangeable and perfect. That's what counts. I always know where She stands.
It is He alone who allows and who brings justice and grants wisdom and who gives mercy. And it is He alone whose face we should turn ours to, never to any man regardless of how devoted, kind, knowledgeable, or loving he seems. It is He alone who brings Good News.
Let us not fret. Only pray. And rest in that place where He dwells within and we in Him.
The people in His Church are not perfect but, again, I am not here for them. I am here because His Church was founded on a Rock that will not waiver. At His table I give thanks.
This Christmas I will worship God who became Man for us, Christ the King. I am imperfect, I will worship with imperfect people and be led in worship by imperfect people.
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