When Godly People Do Ungodly Things

By Sonja Corbitt
2/27/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Scandal, scandal everywhere. As, then, Cardinal Ratzinger prayed, [The] Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side

"Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers." When the Church seems like a boat about to sink, like a boat taking in water on all sides, there is safety in obedience, and it is the measure and mark of the Saints.

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NASHVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - Priest, deacon, bishop, parent, or god-parent, whether serious or minor in comparison, sin makes us doubt their leadership. We question their legitimacy to guide. We question their Catholicism, their holiness, their credibility. We question the Church. We question everything.

Scandal, scandal everywhere. As, then, Cardinal Ratzinger prayed, "[The] Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In your field we see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion." (Cardinal Ratzinger's Meditations for the Stations of the Cross, Prayer at Ninth Station).

"Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers" (CCC 675). A sign of the times, even orthodox Catholics grow anxious and faint while the enemy - in seemingly too many forms to fight - surges and exalts within the ranks.

What better way to "deceive even the elect" (Matt. 24:24) than to cast doubt on the leadership? "All of you will be scandalized...for it is written, 'Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter'" (Matt. 26:31). The sheep race in every direction, terrorized into fleeing the safety of the flock so they are easily devoured.

"Be sober. Be watchful. For your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8).

What is our duty when the sin of our fathers and leaders is on full display, when we are sick with grief over their real or perceived falls from grace, when we are subject to a disappointing or even treacherous leader who raises questions of legitimacy in our hearts?

Deceiving ourselves into thinking we are fully on the side of purity and truth, their sins often draw forth self-righteousness from us. They provoke us to division, to a lack of charity and to gossip, when we are, instead, instructed to pray fervently: "He that knows his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask: and life shall be given to him who sins not unto death" (1John 5:16).

The temptation is, like Martin Luther, to abandon ship and do our own thing, to stop discerning the Providence and direction of God through the authority, or to place our orthodoxy above our obedience. According to the Saints, this is a grave mistake. To do this is to follow the false doctrine of Satan, whose sin was rebellion.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves" (Rom. 13:1-2).

Obedience is the measure and mark of the Saints. When there is sin in the ranks of the authorities we are instructed, "[I]f your brother offends you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church" (18:15-17). As far up the hierarchy as is appropriate and necessary, we can avail ourselves of the authority of the Church.

And then? The Lord has providentially spoken. Sit down in sackcloth and ashes. Shut your mouth. Pray. And wait on God's deliverance. Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter by the hierarchy of his faith, yet "He opened not His mouth" (Is. 53:7). He obeyed unto death, "even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:8). Why? Because they occupied the position of legitimate authority, even in their sin.

Don't stone me. I didn't say it. Jesus did:

"The scribes and Pharisees sit on the Chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach and do not practice" (Matt. 23:1-3). Until they have been legitimately removed, they are legitimately in authority. We are commanded to obey legitimately placed leaders and submit to them, for they are responsible for our souls and will have to give an account to God for those under their leadership (Heb. 13:17).

Look, my whole life has been one loooong, painful instruction in authority and obedience (see Healing the Father Wound. I know this is difficult. But what is faith, if not this? We worry we will be treated unjustly and abandoned. Do we not trust God will provide for and deliver us? We worry that others will be led astray. Do we think God does not care for those? We worry the sin of our leaders will scandalize others. Do we not trust that God leads His Church, and that He can and will remove "bad" leaders when and ...

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

Yvonne
2 months ago
Thank you for this article. Reading this article this morning is just another example to me as to how Great our God is!! In the past several days, I have seen answers to several prayers, this is just another one. 30 minutes ago, I was just having a discussion with my neighbor regarding those in the church who have fallen and why some question whether or not we should continue to follow the church with fallen leaders. But truth be told, we have all fallen, it just so happens, that many of us are not in the public eye and it's not broadcast throughout the media and cyberspace. While the Pope is infallible in certain cases, he is still human, as are our priests, bishops, and cardinals. I once read where the Pope, I believe it was Blessed Pope John Paul II, received reconciliation every few days. The Church is where we look to for guidance for that is it's job, to lead us. Not to say that it is perfect, it is not, it is run by humans. However, the existence of the church is to preach Christ's message and to help us along on our journey of Faith to our ultimate goal, living an eternal life in Heaven with our Lord. Thank you again for granting me some hope when I was feeling a bit defeated, God Bless.
ana
2 months ago
woah - John speaks that, " if a man say he sinneth not, he is a liar," - all men sin ; he then differentiates venial sin versus mortal sin. We are made new in Baptism and grace but we still have the effects of original sin and may sin in small ways ; and this is not to justify sin, however, these kind of inadequate comments and Scripture quotes taken out of context, before this comment of mine, can lead people to despair and/or question forgiveness and grace and how the Trinity loves them. Holiness is an ongoing, lifelong process.
abey
2 months ago
Them born off the Spirit cannot sin, the state of Godliness which is called Holiness, unto God, but to know that greater than being called the sons & daughters is the "Inheritance of God", the eternal word.
Stephen
2 months ago
.........then they are no longer Godly people until they sincerely repent, are forgiven, and vow to "go and sin no more."
Erin Pascal
2 months ago
May we all remember that no one is perfect except Jesus Christ. Hence, our faith should be founded on Him alone. As it says in Hebrews 12:2: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
kathy
2 months ago
Its sad, when I talk with the elderly, who have been devout their whole lives, and are questioning their faith. This is a wonderful article. I am sure all of us at one time or another have questioned the church and or our faith. We must stay strong, and must pray for each other. Pray the Rosary daily. THAT WILL BE OUR WEAPON AGAINST EVIL. God bless all.
james in colorado
2 months ago
Sonja, you are a Blessing to have in our Catholic Church. As a revert, I can attest to the power of the sacred scriptures being proclaimed and expounded upon with accuracy and exhuberance. You are called (and i'm sure many others will follow) at such a time as this to help feed the sheep, so that they will not perish for a lack of knowledge. Our Bishops and even our Pope have lamented over losing so many Catholics who have left the Church for the Evangelical "experience" (my daughter being one) and the reason is because they find "the Word of god being broke open so that they can understand it". Keep up this good work and may Our Lord Jesus abundly bless and multiply your efforts so that all may be drawn to His one, holy catholic Church.
joselyn
2 months ago
Actually Dennis, Matthew wasn't written for "just Jews" it was written for all of God's people and the Sermon on the Mount and the all rest are for us. What you are doing is calling "dispensationalism" it's a heresy where you chop up the bible to make excuses for not following Jesus's/Paul's commands by claiming "that wasn't for us". The "elect" those verses in Matthew is the same elect throughout the NT...for those that believe and follow Jesus Christ.
Dennis McLelland
2 months ago
Informative article. However, "deceive even the elect" (Matt. 24:24) is misplaced. The "elect" of Matthew is Israel, not Christians. See Isaiah 42:1, 45:4, 65:9, 65:22.

Christians are found elect in Titus 1:1 and 1 Peter 1:2.

Two separate definitions of the word elect. It would be wise to differentiate this term "elect" for your readers so as not to cause confusion. Matthew is written for the nation of Israel. Jesus is speaking to his disciples - not the Church.
Cheryl Melody
2 months ago
We need the Church and the Church needs us more than ever.

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