Defiled Church

“...the things that proceed out of a man are what defile a man.” Mark 7:15

Many are disturbed and furious and want to leave the Catholic Church because of all the abuses that were exposed, and now with Cardinal Vigano’s 11 page letter implicating even Pope Francis and other top prelates, even more so. 

I never thought the Catholic Church was perfect or filled with holy men and women. Ever since the time of Christ, there were snakes in the grass like Judas. There were Popes who were corrupt and who had mistresses and several children. In 1 Peter  5:8, the first leader of the Church warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The enemy is out to destroy the Church, the same way he is out to destroy our country, our community, our families, our souls! 

I understand people who want to leave the Catholic Church. Superficially there is nothing that makes you want to stay, the homilies of a lot of priests are generally bad, and although churches in the Philippines are usually packed, most who attend are at best nominal Christians who don’t open the Bible. 

But those who read the early Church fathers will discover that true worship the way it was done in the early Church can only be found in the Catholic Church. In all the earliest churches built in Israel, Turkey, Egypt and Greece, at the very center you could find an altar where the sacrifice was offered. The very first Christians went to mass on Sundays and received what they also called the Eucharist. They went to Confession. These first Christians lived, worshipped, and died without the New Testament to guide them but they were willing to die for the faith! There was no such thing as “Sola Scriptura”! 

Just because there’s something horribly wrong with our family, we don’t leave it. We pray hard and help to fix the wrong. We don’t abandon the ship and look for a raft to bring us home. We stay on the ship and fix the leaks. 

Father, forgive us our sins. Heal our Church. Heal those who have been hurt. Bring to justice those who have committed unspeakable sins, and those who have covered for them. Cleanse our Church O Lord. You are our only hope. Your will be done!