12 September 2018

The Church Remains Spotless Even When Her Members Sin...

A reminder that the Church is not some sort of fancy resort for Saints, but a hospital for sinners. There always have been corruption and sin in the Church, and there will be until Our Lord comes again.

From La Salette Journey

In these times of scandal it is critical to remember that the Church remains spotless even when Her members sin. There is absolutely no doubt that the human history of the Church, like all of human history, has its dark pages. But if anyone cares to take an objective look at this history, one must quickly acknowledge that the doctrine of the Church has always implicitly condemned abuses introduced by Her members.

In the words of Dr. Dietrich Von Hildebrand, "There were sinners in the Church yesterday and there are sinners in the Church today. But the Church Herself, in her divine teaching, emerges gloriously unspotted in a history stained by human weaknesses, errors, imperfections, and sins." In the words of the great Cardinal Journet:

"All contradictions are eliminated as soon as we understand that the members of the Church do indeed sin, but they do so by their betraying the Church. The Church is thus not without sinners, but She is without sin. The Church as person is responsible for penance. She is not responsible for sins....The members of the Church themselves - laity, clerics, priests, Bishops, and Popes - who disobey the Church are responsible for their sins, but the Church as person is not responsible...It is forgotten that the Church as person is the Bride of Christ, 'Whom He has purchased with His own blood.'" (Acts 20:28).

Do not use scandals as an excuse to leave the Church.  Faithful Catholics need to stay and pray, to fight against the forces of dissent and perversion.

Our Lady has assured us that, in the end, her Immaculate Heart Will triumph.  In the end, Our Lady's heel* will crush the Devil's head.

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