It’s interesting that I was already thinking that you (T.A. Stobie) would find some posts not gentle and perhaps even some of mine (although I avoid crossing lines and offensive statements). I have observed your gentleness and I respect it for the right circumstances. However, I have no respect for gentleness that means you have to tolerate evil among religious leaders. St. Paul says not to even eat with a brother who is immoral and he said to be gentle, patient, and kind.
Again it really depends on circumstances. You see, when there are serious issues that offend God, gentleness has to take a firmer form. For the poor and ignorant gentleness is called for. However, for the purposefully deceptive, rich, selfish, powerful, and those who are in positions of religious authority who teach against the Church, I think gentleness must be firm. These are people who have hidden agendas and know what they are doing.
Mathew 23:13-39
33: “You serpents, brood of vipers…”
John 2:15 “He made a whip out of cords…”
The simple fact is that my experience of Catholicism has been that some of the most awe-inspiring teachings that reflect the dignity and beauty of God’s gift of human life to man are dissented against by many clergy. They are BLIND GUIDES who do not see that our teachings on contraception, marriage, penance, respect for the magisterium are the foundation for holiness and how deeply our Holy God is offended today by the practices of “Catholics” who have made a mockery of faith. Not all, but a large percentage of priests I have experienced. This does not call for gentleness: this calls for a cleaning of the temple. I don’t like satan’s lies especially when they are fed to Catholics by Catholic leaders.
Yes, we should all volunteer and do much more, but that’s not going to happen until people can trust their hearts to the heart of the Church which is to be the protector of their hearts so that they can feel safe “at home” that their very own “spiritual fathers” won’t crush them by opposing the fathers of the magisterium especially in the sacred temple of confession.
The time to clean the temple HAS LONG PAST.
The church has fallen asleep and has perhaps become a place for many who don’t fit elsewhere in society to just hang out and become priests because they are gay, or maybe it’s an easy life. It has stopped in some cases to be for solely for the pusposes of God. Again, some not all. Although I would say at least 50% of priests and 75% of the ones I have experienced don’t stand with the Church on what the Church calls a grave sin. Our American society and our sexual revolution has infected the Church. This is satan’s great deception: sex is for fun, have a blast! Amercian society is filthy and disgusting in many areas. Ever seen MTV!!! What has happened to HUMAN DECENCY???
I would never in the past even dream of speaking up, but now I see the snake has entered. Even the commission on the sex abuse said the “smoke of Satan” has entered the church. I am not some melodramatic whiner, I am a very reasonable Catholic who understands Jesus and His Church and I realize that some (NOT ALL) priest don’t even understand the seriousness of some teachings because they are foundational.
People say then help. I am helping!!! I am trying to bring this to the attention of Bishops. I have written priests and Bishops. No one ever seems to get excited. Finally, I think we are having an awakening. WE MUST NEVER ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. The Church MUST BE THE PLACE THERE THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS and OBEY HIM CAN REST THEIR HEARTS.
We can drain our batteries in the secular world but not in the place where they are supposed to be recharged. There is no greater damage to a soul than spiritual damage.
Continued…
