Imagine you're part of a big family, but suddenly shocking news comes out about a few members doing something really, really wrong. It sucks, right? Well, that's kind of what it's been like for the Catholic Church in recent years. Horrific sins have shaken things up, and defending the Church in the midst of all of that is no easy task.
To quote Pope Francis:
“‘If one member suffers, all suffer together with it’ (1 Cor 12:26). “These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated,” he wrote. “The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults.”
So, why bother defending it? Because despite the mistakes of some, the Church is made up of millions of people doing good every day.
Make no mistake, defending the Church means being honest about what happened, but also pointing out all the good that remains. It's like saying, "The scandals and sins committed are in many ways unforgivable, but we're still trying to do good in this world."
It's remembering that the Church isn't just a building with stained glass – it's a community of ORDINARY PEOPLE trying to follow the teachings of JESUS, not fallible men wearing clerical collars and funny hats. When someone attacks the Church, they're not just attacking a name; they're attacking real people with real faith.
Sure, it's not easy to defend the Church, especially when the scandals are big and the criticism is loud. But it's worth it because the Church is more than its mistakes. It's a place of hope, forgiveness, and love.
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