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TimothyH
Guest
This is an amazingly good post.This is a very important point. From a person who left the Church many years ago, became a Baptist, even preached in a pulpit, and then returned…the issue is one of authority.
For twenty some years the Society has been, at least to me a layman with no education in canonical law, in a kind Limbo. The liberals declare them not Catholic and many trads speak of “new Church” or Novus Ordo Church. It can’t continue that way and I think both Pope Benedict and Fellay know it. You’re either in or you are out, “choose now whom you will serve”. It doesn’t mean all the problems are instantly solved, but they can be better solved from within, not without.
When I returned to the Catholic Church I remember telling my wife "you know we are not trying to find the most ‘perfect, pure. church’ (a rationalization that led me to being Baptist). I said “in a way, we’re walking into a mess!!”
But isn’t that what God’s Church on earth is like? It’s not perfect, filled with perfect people.
But the Catholic Church at the same time is perfect because it is the Church Christ founded, not because everyone in it is a saint.
I can and have sympathized with the SSPX, at the same time I cringe when I hear the polarlizing langage coming from people in their chapels.
Were thier wrongs committed on both sides? Yes.
But lets let the Church do its job, instead of becoming “little popes” and deciding for ourselves.
Here in the south, I hear it all the time from former Baptists, especially men, that at the end of the day for them it was a question of authority. A disagreement occurs in their Church and then sides are taken. It is not uncommon in the Evangelical world for Churches to split over such a disagreement, or just implode and collapse. After seeing friends who went through both, I don’t know which is worse. These Churches have no recourse because there is no authority.
Your words about “Walking into a mess” are sublimely funny. Its a two thousand year old, 1.3 billion people sized mess. I try to do my part to keep my little section clean.
I just wanted to thank you for this good post. You made my day.
-Tim-
