How can a Priest who abuses children

[adnauseum]

Good enough for me. I stand corrected.

This rule seems like it would prevent a heretic from offering the Eucharist with a false implication - i.e. some goofy view of what the Eucharist is or is not.

 

[Catholic_Tom]

So help then to understand, how the faithful knows whether or not the Priest has the right intent? There is no way to know that, and for that matter, we could be worshipping bread (which would be idolatry) if the Eucharist was not validly consecrated.

Am I wrong about this?

 

[Dr.Colossus]

adnauseum:

This rule seems like it would prevent a heretic from offering the Eucharist with a false implication - i.e. some goofy view of what the Eucharist is or is not.

The priest does not have to understand precisely what the Eucharist is or isn’t. He does not have to believe for himself. What he must do is simply offer the Mass with the intent to do so in the same manner as the Church prescribes. This is similar to how a non-Christian may baptize someone so long as they intend to confer the baptism the way the Church says.
Catholic Tom:

So help then to understand, how the faithful knows whether or not the Priest has the right intent? There is no way to know that, and for that matter, we could be worshipping bread (which would be idolatry) if the Eucharist was not validly consecrated.

Am I wrong about this?

If the faithful are not aware that an invalid consecration has taken place, they cannot be personally responsible for the sin of idolatry.

 

[atsheeran]

The priest does not have to have a deep theological understanding of what takes place in the Eucharist in order to have the correct intent.

The priest does not have to specifically intend that the bread and wine be transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Rather, the priest need only generally intend to do what the Church does.

So if the priest misunderstands what happens at the Eucharist, a valid Eucharist would still be confected so long as the priest generally intends to do what the Church does.

 

[LSK]

May I simply say that I have learned so much from reading these posts. You people make me proud to be a member of the Church.

 

[JimG]

atsheeran:

The priest does not have to have a deep theological understanding of what takes place in the Eucharist in order to have the correct intent. . . . Rather, the priest need only generally intend to do what the Church does.

This is exactly right. An intention “to do what the Church does” is nearly automatic for the priest. He does not need to stop and formulate a specific intention at every Mass. In becoming a priest, in being a priest, his habitual intention is to do what the Church does. He may be still half-asleep; he may be a sinner. Even a sinner can intend to do what the Church does. The rules regarding intention are fairly minimal. No need to worry.

 

[Gratias_Grace]

Catholic Tom:

still turn the Eucharist into the body and blood of Christ? If the person is abusing children at night, just as an example, then the next morning celebrates the mass, how can such a person change the bread and wine into Jesus Christ?

Also, what if the priest is saying the right words, but has very bad intentions, and doesn’t really believe that he is doing anything to the bread and wine…is it still chaning? Why?

Thanks in advance.

The priest has to answer for his own sins on judgmentday. His sin at night or his unbelieve will not affect us. Remember Jesus Christ instituted the Church and has promised to be with it as a body for ever.

It is Christ that acts through the priest at the alter. Chirst died for the priests sins, too. The sins of the priest are already on the shoulder of Jesus Christ. It is not the sins of others we recieve in the Eucaristic meal, its Gods Grace.

G.Grace

 

[robert_ambrose]

Catholic Tom:

still turn the Eucharist into the body and blood of Christ? If the person is abusing children at night, just as an example, then the next morning celebrates the mass, how can such a person change the bread and wine into Jesus Christ?

Also, what if the priest is saying the right words, but has very bad intentions, and doesn’t really believe that he is doing anything to the bread and wine…is it still chaning? Why?

Thanks in advance.

I read where a friar approached Francis of assisi and said that one of their group had a mistress, and what was francis going to do about it.Francis reply was this. " I am still going to receive the Eucharist from his ANNOINTED hands." Look we are all sinners ,some worse than others .

 

[Catholic_Tom]

I was really concerned about this but once again these amazing people in this forum answered this well and I totally understand now.

Thanks everyone.

 

[miguel_delgado]

HOLA:

in the catholic church we have a few bad seeds no one can deny that, some priest are not worthy of there minister, i was once very sad with the church and loosing my faith…UNTIL A PRIEST TOLD ME THIS… “YES SOME PRIEST ARE BAD PERSONS, BUT I ASK OF YOU…DONT BLEND OR CONFUSE THE HUMAN WITH THE DIVINE”
hope youcan understand what i am saying

 

[VociMike]

Turn the question around. How much sin can a priest be guilty of and still be able to confect the elements (if that’s accurate language)? After all, every priest sins. Where is the line between “too much sin” and “not enough sin”?