“For my part I do separate the individuals who sin from the teachings of Christ — as flawed creatures, their sin, our sin, bears no reflection on the creator who is perfect.”
I learned to separate human flaws from God from a Catholic priest (I am not Catholic). My wife was raised Catholic and I believe that a man should marry in the Church of the woman’s faith so I attended the classes (pre-Cana?) and told the Priest of my honest (but misguided) prejudices against the Catholic church. He patiently listened as I explained my Irish “mixed religion” ancestry and family history...he then was quiet for a moment as he contemplated how to put his thought across and to let my passion quiet down. Then went on to, without malice in any way, explain in a very loving, logical way the fallacy of blaming an entire religion on the actions of a few individuals. It was a pivotal moment in my life and changed me for the better. I will always remember that wonderful priest with admiration and fondness. He did perform our marriage ceremony and was absolutely wonderful in his manner and absolute in his honorable faith.
Or there are far worse out there -- folks who'd look at the slimeball, criminals pastors or priests out there and then denigrate our beliefs because of these scum.