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Originally posted by hotpinkurinalmint
I know many Catholics are extremely upset by what the Church is doing (or not doing) regarding abused children. Many Catholics may have left the church. Others may continue to stick with the Church, despite their disgust, because for one reason or another the pros outweigh the cons. I am not interested in what these Catholics have to say.
I am interested in Catholics who more or less are sticking with the church and support it.
Human and divine elements in the Church
Just as in Christ there are two natures, both a human and a divine one, so by analogy we can refer to the presence in the Church of human and divine elements. No one can fail to see the human part. The Church, in this world, is for men, who are its raw material. And when we speak of men we speak of freedom, which permits the co-existence of grandeur and meanness, of heroism and failure.
If we were to focus only on the human side of the Church, we would never understand her. We would still be distant from the threshold of her central mystery. Sacred Scripture uses many terms derived from everyday life to describe God's kingdom and its presence among us in the Church. It compares her to a sheepfold, to a flock, to a house, to a seed, to a vine, to a field in which God plants or builds. But one expression stands out and sums up all the rest: the Church is Christ's body.
I would also like you to consider that even if human failings were to outnumber acts of valour, the clear undeniable mystical reality of the Church, though unperceived by the senses, would still remain. The Church would still be the Body of Christ, Our Lord himself, the action of the Holy Spirit and the loving presence of the Father.
The Church is, therefore, inseparably human and divine. It is a divine society in origin, and supernatural in its aim and in the means that are directly ordered to this end. But in so far as it is made up of men, it is a human community. It lives and acts in the world, but its goal and strength are not here but in heaven.
Read more: Source
I would like to know what you are thinking. Do you think the media is being unfair? Do you think the media is blowing things out of proportion? Do you think the media has ulterior motives?
So to speak, the Church is something bigger
I hope I made myself clear.
Bless you, brother.
Originally posted by hotpinkurinalmint
reply to post by FortAnthem
Thank you for your participation. I was not calling you out!
I do not mean to belittle your beliefs, but they do not make much sense to me as a non-catholic.
To me, the "divine" element of the church would be corrupted if the human element did terrible things. How can an institution offer any sort of divine salvation if it is headed by a man who deliberately turned a blind eye towards men who were abusing children? Is there a better institution or church out there one can look for for divine forgiveness that is not tainted by pedophilia?
Originally posted by hotpinkurinalmint
***snip***
Do you think the media is being unfair? Do you think the media is blowing things out of proportion? Do you think the media has ulterior motives?
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
***snip***
Here is why I support the Church:
First, most of these accusations are just that - accusations. One accused is innocent until proven guilty.
Secondly, the Catholic Church has taken the necessary steps to avoid this evil of child abuse in recent years. Psychological testing, criminal background checks, etc. are standard fare
***snip***
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
I fully support the Church.
***snip***
Thirdly, the Catholic Church is being inappropriately singled out for this abuse scandal. By best estimates, only 4% of priests have ever abused children, and this, compared to 8% in the general adult population. The 4% figure is comparable to other clergy in other religious institutions.
***snip***
Originally posted by CookieMonster09
I fully support the Church.
***snip***
Finally, the Church is engaged in a great deal of spiritual, charitable, and philanthropic works that benefit mankind. No other institution on Earth does more to help the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden, the sick, the suffering, etc. than the Catholic Church. Anyone that investigates the Church's work in these areas would know this to be true. The Church is one of the very few institutions that publicly stood against the Iraq War, and stands up for the rights of the unborn. These scandals in the press are deliberately meant to demonize the Pope, and defame the Catholic Church in general.