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Consider:
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To begin with, it should be noted that many faithful Catholics are
also scandalized by the behavior of other Catholics. However,
misdeeds don't make the Catholic Church false any more than the
many scandals in the Old Testament made the Jewish religion false.
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If scandals in the Church should trouble persons so greatly as to
call the entire Church into question, why doesn't Scripture speak
this way concerning Judas' betrayal of Jesus? Or Peter's denial of
Jesus? Or Thomas' failure to believe? Or over the fact that Christ's
disciples all fled Jesus in His agony (see Mt. 26:56)?
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Why should persons be so troubled over the fact that scandals have
occurred when Christ clearly
tell us to expect them (see Mt. 13:24-30, Mt. 18:7, Lk.
17:1)? [Note: This is not to imply that scandals are not
scandalous, of course, but rather that scandals are,
unfortunately, to be expected.]
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Even if certain actions of popes have been scandalous, this does
not mean the Church is false (just as King David's sinful behavior
didn't make the Jewish religion false).
What would you have thought of a Jew in the Old Testament who
abandoned the Jewish religion simply because of David's sins?
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Scandals are not caused by the Church herself, but because her
members fail to live up to her teachings.
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Even if the actions of certain prelates (or even popes) have been
sinful, this in no way calls into question the entire Church.
Scandals of her members cannot make the Church itself false. The
Church is either true or false, regardless of the behavior of its members. We must be able to draw
distinctions between the sinfulness of her members and the
sinlessness of the Church itself (see Eph. 5:27). We know from Scripture
that the weeds and the
wheat will grow together (see Mt. 13:24-30). And, remember that sin and scandal
can in no way disprove the dogma of papal infallibility
since infallibility has nothing to do with preventing the
sins of a person, but with preventing errors in official Catholic
doctrine. Note: For more information on the limits of
papal infallibility, click
here.
*
Persons should not be overly scandalized at sin in the Church
considering that the Church is "a Church of sinners, for
sinners, so that they can do something about their
sinfulness." We are all sinners and there will never be a time on earth that
the Church does not contain sinners.
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Why do you blame the Church for the sins of her members,
especially since she tells them not to sin and requires them to
repent of their sins if they do sin?
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Remember that the chosen people in the Old Testament also were
guilty of sin, but it didn't make them members of a
false religion or evil or tools of the devil or anything else the
Church's enemies say about her.
*
Why is it you blame the Church for her members' sins, but when
American citizens act wrongly, you do not blame the entire country? *
Do you not realize that some who call themselves 'Catholic' are
Catholic in name only? Why should the Church be blamed for this
instead of the individuals themselves? *
If you are troubled by the bad example of certain Catholics, have
you considered that many do not even understand their faith
properly (some may not even know the true Catholic faith!)? Why
blame the Church because some of her poorly educated members act
wrongly and not in accord with her true teachings? *
How exactly do you expect the Church to be able to stop all her
members from sinning when even Christ couldn't do that?
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Even Christ had a Judas. Would you walk away from Christ because
of Judas?
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The Church can make mistakes of a non-doctrinal nature because she
is composed of weak and sinful human beings. Do you expect her to
be perfect, to be God Himself?
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Why is it you are so troubled by certain sins of the Church's
members, but ignore the unparalleled sanctity of her many saints? *
Why is it you are so troubled by certain sins of the Catholic Church's
members, but virtually ignore the sins of those in your own
denomination? *
Considering that "the value of a thing must not be judged by its
abuse," why do you judge the Catholic Church based on abuses
of her teachings and not by those who truly follow her teachings?
*
One's sins are one's personal failings, and not the teaching of
the Church. It is not the Church's fault if Catholics do not live the life of true
Catholics - rather, it is their own fault.
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One can only imagine how much worse a person would be if not for
the moral teachings of the Catholic Church!
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Evil is committed precisely because Catholics do not live up
to Church teaching - not because they do! *
Even abuse by clergy is no reason to
reject the authority of the Church. Judas was an apostle even
though he betrayed Christ. A bad
president still remains president - and one certainly wouldn't overthrow the entire
office of the presidency because of a bad president or refuse to admit
presidential authority. Obviously the person, not the office, is the problem.
Note also that "far greater
is the damage done to society from the unlimited number of heresies promulgated than bad acts by some clergy members." *
Even false religions that complain about events in Catholic
history have "unpleasant events" in their own history, many
of these heinous and bloody. And, other so-called 'Christian
churches' have also experienced 'clerical abuse' (although
such occurrences may be much less likely to be reported by the
mainstream media).
*
Yes, there have been scandals and sin in the 2,000 year history of
the Catholic Church, but that is to be expected. We are all sinners.
But, do remember that at least we have a history! Many of those who
criticize us have no history, since their religions were founded
so recently.
*
If not divinely guided, the Catholic Church would have fallen many
years ago. Since the founding of the Catholic Church by Christ, many
(most?) other human societies have fallen.
*
Sinful members or not, the Catholic Church is the only Church founded by God - the
only true Church. And, membership in her fold is necessary for salvation.
Note: Click here
for more information on this topic. *
If you have been hurt by a Catholic, please allow us to express
our regret and sorrow. We know that God sees everything and will
repay all persons for their sins. Do not forget, however, that
Christ does expect you to forgive even your enemies in order to
gain forgiveness for your own sins (cf. Mt.5:43-48, Mt. 6:14-15,
Lk. 6:35). *
Finally, if you do not have personal and complete knowledge of some "evil" the
Church (or her members) is supposed to have committed, would it not make sense to
give them the benefit of the doubt? Often those outside the
Church portray things in a completely inaccurate light and confuse
the issue. Not all negative things
are true, many are out of context, some are misunderstandings, abuses
which are not sanctioned by the Church, and some are lies. Remember that
the Church has fierce enemies - including the prince of lies
(Satan) - that
would like nothing more than to see her destruction.
"[Like
our Lord, the Catholic Church is both divine and human:] Treat the
Catholic Church as Divine only and you will stumble over her
scandals, her failures, and her shortcomings. Treat her as Human
only and you will be silenced by her miracles, her sanctity, and
her eternal resurrections." (Benson)
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