Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: SoothingDave; Revelation 911
>>>So, using your test, we need to be absolutely sure that the priest has no sin before we can be sure if the sacrament is valid. Or we can realize, correctly, that the state of the man performing the Mass does not affect its efficaciousness.

Similarly a sinful Protestant pastor reading the Bible to his flock does not affect the truth or efficaciousness present in the Bible. The Bible is not effective because of the pastor. It is effective because it is God's Word, God is the actor, He is the one who wrote it, He is the source of its authority and power. No sinful man can change that. Similarly, a sacrament is not done by the priest, like the pastor he is merely the human instrament. Rather, the Sacrament is perfected by Christ, and no matter how sinful the priest is, he cannot corrupt Christ's power.

He is truly unworthy of the sacraments though, as noted.

patent

24 posted on 01/09/2002 7:18:17 AM PST by patent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies ]


To: patent
Similarly a sinful Protestant pastor reading the Bible to his flock does not affect the truth or efficaciousness present in the Bible. The Bible is not effective because of the pastor. It is effective because it is God's Word, God is the actor, He is the one who wrote it, He is the source of its authority and power. No sinful man can change that.

Amen Jesus - I would ENCOURAGE such a sinful man to read Gods Word.

Similarly, a sacrament is not done by the priest, like the pastor he is merely the human instrament.

whom the Church has charged with holding a high degree of piety and grace

Rather, the Sacrament is perfected by Christ and no matter how sinful the priest is, he cannot corrupt Christ's power.

He can however, blaspheme the Altar and Godly works through his sinfulness. This being known only between God and the pedophile priest, the decption then being foisted upon the Church and the congregants as both have made the presumption the man performing the Altar work is Godly, humble, pious and full of grace.

43 posted on 01/09/2002 8:20:23 AM PST by Revelation 911
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson