24/05/2016
"The sinfulness of priests and bishops is not in debate. They are sinful. We are. And the Church has, both universally and locally, publicly acknowledged its sinfulness and the transgressions of its leaders. There is no need to take this up in a public debate. All that the Church will say in true Scholastic fashion is “concedo…I concede,” but so must all who have been notoriously errant if not contumacious in their criminality! The Church has been ashamed of the sinfulness of its members and has begged for forgiveness for the waywardness of its leaders. It has never boasted of its failings!"
"When Super Typhoon Yolanda leveled most residences and buildings in Tacloban, did not the Catholic Church open its doors and host homeless families for days, if not weeks, when government was characteristically inutile and the loud-mouthed were nowhere to be found? Have not Catholic charities attended to indigents consistently and continually, even those who do not receive a share in the aspersions of government largesse? Are not thousands of Filipinos schooled at Catholic institutions, including lawyers who earn their degrees at Catholic colleges? Has not the world taken courage to be more merciful from the shimmering example of a simple man like Pope Francis who has won the following of millions without ever having been abrasive or provocative?"
"The Church will never claim these to her credit. But it will be well to remember those times we applauded the Church and her leaders whenever we are inclined to dismiss her as irrelevant!"
The sinfulness of priests and bishops is not in debate. They are sinful. We are. And the Church has publicly acknowledged its sinfulness and the transgressions of its leaders.
