[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.

[Retro Llama]

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.

[Salvation]

Catholic Ping!

[thesaleboat]

Great post Salvation! Thank you always. God Bless you.

[Tribune7]

We must also keep in mind that when we criticize the Church (or her clergy), we criticize Christ.

That is not true.

[Jack of all Trades]

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.

[HangnJudge]

[The Barrister]

I have to concur with the comments regarding criticizing the clergy. I understand where you were going, and it's a fair statement, but that comment misses the mark. We criticize precisely because the clergy failed to follow Christ. By their actions these clergy have heaped far more criticism on themselves AND the Church than we can ever do by our words. If people perceive us as criticzing Christ, that can't be helped. 'Tis better to publicly trim the dead branches than let the entire tree die.

[schmootman]

The American bishops (with a few exceptions) have been in de facto schism for 50 years. That couldn’t have happened without the knowledge and consent of the laity. So we must pray for both clergy and laity, and we must call out the bishops’ transgressions when necessary. For example, I still am absolutely shocked that more Catholics aren’t raising the alarm about Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The bishops are getting away with spending millions on leftist, anti-Catholic causes and few lay people seem to care. http://www.reformcchdnow.com/

[Heart-Rest]

Thanks for posting this interesting article.

Most reliable sources cite that less than 1% of Catholic priests worldwide have credible "sexual predator" claims against them. That is roughly the same percentage of "bad" priests in the world as the numerical percentage Judas Iscariot (who Jesus also called) was to all the 12 apostles.

[LomanBill]

"...who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world, and through all time;"

 

"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY TO EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN"

--The Virginia Act For Establishing Religious Freedom
--Thomas Jefferson, 1786

http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/vaact.html

 

[Campion]

We must also keep in mind that when we criticize the Church (or her clergy), we criticize Christ.

I think Gary is seriously wrong here. While there's probably a sense in which it's wrong to criticize the church per se, it certainly isn't wrong to criticize particular members of the clergy when correction is warranted. In fact, it may be our duty as confirmed Catholics to do so in some circumstances.

It's rather odd that Gary cites St. Paul's conversion as his prooftext, because the same St. Paul went on to criticize St. Peter "to his face" for refusing table fellowship to Gentile believers in order to placate Jewish ones -- not only that, but he then goes on to recount the incident in the pages of Scripture (Galatians ch 2)!

I'm also reminded of St. Catherine of Siena who -- very respectfully and lovingly, but also very clearly -- told the Pope of her time that he belonged in Rome, not Avignon. She was neither a cleric nor even especially very educated. She was, however, right.

[Syncro]

We must also keep in mind that when we criticize the Church (or her clergy), we criticize Christ. 

The Church is not Christ, it is the bride of Christ

The Church is make up of every single Christian in the world.

The Church meaning in the quote, is the Catholic church.

Which is make up of infallible human beings.

Including the clergy.

We should not be prevented from criticizing either a denomination or those in the denomination, clergy or lay people.

In fact in scripture we are admonished to do so.

It's my understanding that it is Catholic doctrine that every Christian in the world must "come back" to the Mother (Catholic) Church in order to be in God's good graces. (The Mormons have a similar belief, that all must be Mormons to be saved)

There are many Christians that have never been in the Catholic church, so of course cannot come back to it.

There is only one Christian church, as I said above, which is made up of all believers.

One Church, many denominations, of which Catholicism is one of many.

All Christian denominations.