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Doxiemom: Things are never as simple as they first seem. Many of these historic events have been perverted and twisted out of context by anti-Catholics with an agenda. The truth is, however, that yes Catholics have committed terrible crimes at various points in history. And yes at times members of the Church hierarchy were involved. Does this undermine the Catholic Faith? Not at all! The Truth of Catholicism does not depend upon the personal holiness of her leadership but upon the holiness of Christ! Jesus promised that He would sustain His Church, and despite the constant short-comings of Her earthly leadership, He has done just that: You are Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it! The authority of the bishops and the Pope is real. But they like all of us have freewill. They can choose to use their Christ given authority for good or for evil. We see this in the Old Testament as well. The priesthood was etablished by God, but often (as we see again and again in the Old Testament) the priests were far from God and led the people astray. Even the High Priests, who in a sense were the pre-Christ equivalent of the Popes, were at times ungodly men. The High Priest Caiaphas condemned Christ to death. Yet he was still God’s high priest. The Holy Spirit still used him.
Remember there is always a Judas among the 12.
God bless.
In Christ,
Tyler
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You should also take a look at Matthew 23:1-2. And then read the rest of the passage for context. Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their sinful deeds and hypocritical attitudes. Yet look at what he says:"…and a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being chief priest of that year, said to them, `Ye have not known anything, nor reason that it is good for us that one man may die for the people, and not the whole nation perish.’ And this he said not of himself, but being chief priest of that year, he did prophesy that Jesus was about to die for the nation,
and not for the nation only, but that also the children of God, who have been scattered abroad, he may gather together into one. From that day, therefore, they took counsel together that they may kill him…
(John 11:49-53)
. Christ’s disciples were to obey the Pharisees by virtue of their authority. Their personal lack of holiness did not change this.Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat: all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not. (Matthew 23:1-3)
Remember there is always a Judas among the 12.
God bless.
In Christ,
Tyler
P.S. Check out: