Traitors.

Traitors; they come in all shapes and sizes, and in all institutions, and that includes the mess that has been revealed in the Catholic Church.

When it comes to those who betray their office, whether priest, politician, police officer, school teacher, etc., they scandalize, not only the people, but the institution as well, making people feel that the institution is corrupt, not just those involved.  Yet, if we follow this thinking, the logical conclusion would go something like this: people get divorced, so marriage is worthless, and is corrupt, and the institution of matrimony should be relegated to the trash bin of history.

Or, take for example, a police department of a small town, or a metropolis, it makes no difference, if a cop is on the take, the reputation of the good cops is smeared along with the miscreant.  But does that mean that all police departments should be done away with?

How about a politician who betrays his constituents by taking bribes, or is involved in other illegal activities, does that automatically condemn governance?

Then there is the public school teacher who takes advantage and abuses one of his or her students, should all public schools then be shut down because of one "bad apple"?

Or a priest that uses his Roman collar to take advantage of those under his spiritual charge, engaging in the most heinous activities against the vulnerable. (Keeping in mind that we are talking about homosexuals that are part of the "lavender mafia" within the Church, and must be rooted out and brought to justice.)  But does that mean that the priesthood is to be condemned and terminated?

On this subject, the difference between a corrupt priest (bishop, cardinal, etc.) and the Church itself must be made clear: the Church is spotless, holy, pure, yet is made up of sinners.  (I know, I'm one of those sinners.)  

But how can this be?  

The answer is "simple": the perfect Christ -- the divine Founder -- cannot be the Head of an imperfect body.  (Luther was wrong because he failed to make the distinction between sinners and the sinless Church.)

We are talking here about fallen, weakened human nature.  It is not, for the most part, the office or institution that is corrupt, but those sinful men and women who cause scandal and foster corruption within their respective offices.

One of the obvious results of the maleficence of office, is that those influenced by those who hold that office, will understandably lose faith or confidence in the office, and not just the person holding that position.   

And that is what scandal is all about.  We see this today in the Catholic Church; people leaving, or losing their faith, or going elsewhere.  But, as Christ questioned His Apostles: will you too walk away?  St. Peter answered: Lord, where else can we go, You have the words of eternal life... Remember, the gates of hell will never prevail against her...

Please pray for our country, and pray for peace.

Gene DeLalla