Posted on 12/01/2011 8:07:57 AM PST by Salvation
Gary Zimak is the founder of Following The Truth Ministries (http://www.followingthetruth.com), a lay apostolate created to assist Catholics in learning more about their Faith. He is a regular guest on EWTN Radio’s “Son Rise Morning Show”, Ave Maria Radio’s “Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo” and appears frequently on several other Catholic radio programs. In addition to writing for CatholicLane. Mr. Zimak hosts a daily program on BlogTalkRadio and posts frequently on his blog, Facebook and Twitter. He is a member of Catholics United For The Faith and the Knights of Columbus and resides in New Jersey.
Oh, puh-leeze. Christ didn't cover up crimes; certain church officials did. For the latter to shield themselves behind the name of the former borders on blasphemy.
Catholic Ping!
He references St. Paul on the road to Damascus there. Don’t you read or believe St. Paul’s description of Christ’s words?
You’re taking that quote out of context. Did you read the article???
Great post Salvation! Thank you always. God Bless you.
That is not true.
***From the article: We must also keep in mind that when we criticize the Church (or her clergy), we criticize Christ.***
“Oh, puh-leeze. Christ didn’t cover up crimes; certain church officials did. For the latter to shield themselves behind the name of the former borders on blasphemy.”
Mr. Zimak is not advocating any coverups it seems to me. Note what he also says:
***I want to be absolutely clear that I am in no way recommending that we cover up any illegal acts committed by members of the Catholic clergy or ignore the horrible agony experienced by the victims. If you or someone you know is the victim of abuse by a member of the Catholic clergy, you should immediately report the issue to the police.***
I think you misunderstood his point.
Most welcome.
Well, if one considers that Jesus is the rock upon which the true church is built, then there is absolutely no reason to fear Satan. That is actually what it says in Matthew.
Other interpretations will produce different results.
RSV:
| For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. | |
| 13 | Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. |
| 14 | Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, |
| 15 | and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; |
| 16 | besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. |
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**principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. **
I believe all these words refer to fallen angels and the devil.
Jack, that is where you are wrong, the rock is Peter, in Matthew, even prominent non catholic theologians admit this...and any and all attempts to bypass that plain and clear statement by christ to peter, is simply a denial of reality.
Children put their trust in clergy. To have ones innocence stolen in this way leaves the child/adult with a lifetime of emotional struggle.
Many times unable to trust or function within relationships, often leads to all manner of sexual dysfunction to multiple marriages/divorce.
This more times than not translates into a dysfunction in their faith life as well. Feelings of guilt, shame, unworthiness and a warped perception as to who their Lord truly is to them. Some run away from God, never to return.
Folks need to look much deeper into the type of damage something like this causes.
Reading C.S. Lewis’ discussions on this has permanently modified any illusion that Evil is merely a human issue
The Screwtape Letters
The Space Trilogy
The Narnia Septology
and many other examples
Tear the Veil between Satanic and Human Evil
Oh, Satan is most happy these days, I am sure. We must keep praying.
The evil within the hearts of men, men in the Church, will never destroy Christ’s Church, but will certainly smear it in most ugly ways, not unlike enemies outside the Church with eveil likewise in their own hearts.
The Church will be cleaned up by those who have faith, hope, and charity in their hearts, be they priests and up or the laity. Jesus will make use of both.
And He has been. Praise Him.
Now, universities and schools and non-profits and other faith ministries will look to the most publicized example for direction as the Church continues to figure out how to protect human dignity and bring Justice as well for the violated.
After the bubonic plague, when 2/3 of priests were dead and 1/3 of Europe, the Church needed priests and there weren’t the seminaries to educate them. This lead to abuses that led Martin Luther to break. The Church began to reflect and clean up its act - leading to seminaries to better teach the faith. Our seminaries broke down in the last century - and our Church is making changes.
Thank You Jesus. Help the violated - both the victims and the wrongly accused.
Faith, Hope, Charity. That’s what we need. The three theological virtures.
Google: analysis of matthew 16:18 in the original greek
Jesus is the rock of the church. There can be no other.
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