We'll start with The Crimen Sollicitationis published in 1962.
Big stuff huh?
The Church is human. Let's not forget that. Do not confuse Papal Infallibility with Human Perfection. Papal Infallibility applies ONLY to areas of Church Doctrine. If the Church Dogmatically declares something, then as Catholics we follow it.
We do not however pretend that no Pope, Bishop, or Priest can ever be in error. So what was The Crimen Sollicitationis? It was a human idea with intention of covering up an embarrassment. Much in the way that you might fart at the dinner table and try to pass it off by imitating the noise with your chair. It was a human decision. It was wrong. And we recognize that. Did God support the Crimen Sollicitationis? No.
But does God support the Catholic Church? Yes.
Because the Crimen Sollicitationis is NOT Church doctrine. It was an error on the part of the Church. A human error. Much in the way of the torture conducted upon heretics during the middle ages. We don't recognize that as just either, in face JPII prayed that God might forgive us for those actions.
However, the fact remains that the Church has sinned yes? In your eyes this probably rules them out as having any sort of truth whatsoever. However, let us look to scripture to see if sin has ever destroyed the credibility of a man who has repented:
Mark 14:50 - they all left him and fled from the garden of Gethsemane
Mark 14:66-72 - Peter denied Our Lord, three times.
John 20:24-25 - Thomas refused to believe in his resurrection from the dead
Romans 3:3-4 - will their infidelity nullify the fidelity of God? No!
2 Timothy 2:13 - if we are all unfaithful, God remains faithful
You believe that each of these men that had forsaken the Lord turned around and preached the good new and many wrote the "God-breathed" words in your Bible! How is this possible? Peter denied the Lord THREE TIMES! How can he have any truth in him whatsoever?
Because he is human. Because he repented. Look at the passages of Romans and 2 Timothy. Even though we sin, it does not destroy any truth established by God. This sin of the Catholic Church has been forgiven, and the truth later proclaimed by the one who as been forgiven (remember Peter?) is no less Truth because of the sin.
In fact, if there was no sin, why do we need a Church? The Church take sinners "clasping them to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."
And furthermore, would you say (Even if you thought Peter's actions made him an abomination to Christ) that because of Peter's denial that John was also made a liar? Peter sinned, and John was just like Peter, so they both must not posses any truth? That is your claim with the Catholic Church. That, because of the pedophilia of the minority of priests, ALL priests are untruthful as they are all from the same source, just as Peter and John stemmed from that same source. But the sins of the few cannot be used to judge the multitude of the faithful.
Peace.
Big stuff huh?
The Church is human. Let's not forget that. Do not confuse Papal Infallibility with Human Perfection. Papal Infallibility applies ONLY to areas of Church Doctrine. If the Church Dogmatically declares something, then as Catholics we follow it.
We do not however pretend that no Pope, Bishop, or Priest can ever be in error. So what was The Crimen Sollicitationis? It was a human idea with intention of covering up an embarrassment. Much in the way that you might fart at the dinner table and try to pass it off by imitating the noise with your chair. It was a human decision. It was wrong. And we recognize that. Did God support the Crimen Sollicitationis? No.
But does God support the Catholic Church? Yes.
Because the Crimen Sollicitationis is NOT Church doctrine. It was an error on the part of the Church. A human error. Much in the way of the torture conducted upon heretics during the middle ages. We don't recognize that as just either, in face JPII prayed that God might forgive us for those actions.
However, the fact remains that the Church has sinned yes? In your eyes this probably rules them out as having any sort of truth whatsoever. However, let us look to scripture to see if sin has ever destroyed the credibility of a man who has repented:
Mark 14:50 - they all left him and fled from the garden of Gethsemane
Mark 14:66-72 - Peter denied Our Lord, three times.
John 20:24-25 - Thomas refused to believe in his resurrection from the dead
Romans 3:3-4 - will their infidelity nullify the fidelity of God? No!
2 Timothy 2:13 - if we are all unfaithful, God remains faithful
You believe that each of these men that had forsaken the Lord turned around and preached the good new and many wrote the "God-breathed" words in your Bible! How is this possible? Peter denied the Lord THREE TIMES! How can he have any truth in him whatsoever?
Because he is human. Because he repented. Look at the passages of Romans and 2 Timothy. Even though we sin, it does not destroy any truth established by God. This sin of the Catholic Church has been forgiven, and the truth later proclaimed by the one who as been forgiven (remember Peter?) is no less Truth because of the sin.
In fact, if there was no sin, why do we need a Church? The Church take sinners "clasping them to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."
And furthermore, would you say (Even if you thought Peter's actions made him an abomination to Christ) that because of Peter's denial that John was also made a liar? Peter sinned, and John was just like Peter, so they both must not posses any truth? That is your claim with the Catholic Church. That, because of the pedophilia of the minority of priests, ALL priests are untruthful as they are all from the same source, just as Peter and John stemmed from that same source. But the sins of the few cannot be used to judge the multitude of the faithful.
Peace.

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