Catholic Leadership Critique Rationale
Many people reject and even condemn any criticism of the Pope, the Bishops or the Catholic Church in general. However, I have come to realize that if a person of authority in the Church is in conflict with the perennial Catholic Faith on a particular issue, they are to be resisted, not blindly obeyed. Recall Paul’s rebuke of Peter to his face in Galatians 2:11-14.
In addition, the Code of Canon Law, 212, states:
Christ’s faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the Church. They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They have the right also to make their views known to others of Christ’s faithful, but in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith and morals, show due reverence to their Pastors, and take into account both the common good and dignity of individuals (emphasis added).
Finally, other sources that I deeply respect have weighed in on this:
- Bp. Schneider: Pope has ‘full authority’ but cannot ‘weaken the integrity of the Catholic faith’ – lifesitenews.com – 10/24/22
- Bp. Strickland: Catholics should ‘correct’ bishops whose teachings don’t conform to apostolic faith – lifesitenews.com – 10/25/22 – 25 min. video – refers to Sensus fidei – Sense of the Faithful in the Life of the Church, 2014
- Authority and obedience in the Church are essential but have their limits (lifesitenews.com) – 10/25/22 – Mother Miriam
- We are obligated to resist revolution in the Catholic Church | Michael Matt (lifesitenews.com) – 11/9/23
- False obedience does real harm to the Church: here’s how – Lifesitenews.com – 1/2/24 – false obedience sacrifices the truth whereas true obedience sacrifices oneself for the sake of the truth. False obedience sacrifices the truth incrementally (see Part I) and through allowing the obscuring of the truth by ambiguity. In the movie Nefarious the demon explains that they every so gradually, imperceptibly move their sinning human victims into deeper disobedience until they have possession of them. This possession is not physical but the more dangerous type of slavery to sin.
I will always be Catholic since it is the one Church founded by Jesus Christ, who promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Mt 16:18). However, I believe we must face the cold, hard truth that the Catholic Church has become corrupted in many ways. It is my hope that exposing this corruption will encourage all Catholics to hold Church Leadership accountable and to ultimately repair the damage done to the faithful and to confirm the one true Faith.
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