The most obtrusive Enemies of God: Apostates in the Church!

The Most Obtrusive Enemies of God:  Apostates in the Church!

Really;  Look at the Nominal Catholics in modern America.  Nominal means “In name only” and there are plenty of them around.  They carry their baptism on their sleeves but can only look for a nanosecond and keep on running away from its conviction.

Some time ago, I wrote an article bemoaning the schism of bishops in China.  I named them accordingly since Pope Francis allowed the Chinese Government to choose and appoint their own selection of bishops.  We could call this also nominal because the Church really had no direct connection to their appointments or Catholic Holy Orders.  Who are these prelates that became a Communist regime?

I recently wrote an article that spoke of Apostasy in the Church.  This one will go much further by exposing the thoughts of many Catholics who are asking the same questions.  The most ominous question is “who is running the Catholic Church” and why are we moving in a direction towards a Church that no longer holds God and the Traditions of Catholicism dear to its participants?

To clarify the term apostasy:  “an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith.”  or abandonment of a previous loyalty (defection) of.  These definitions certainly fit the mode of many who have left the Church.  However, for Catholics who have changed their denomination for another Christian sect, the term doesn’t fit too well since they still adhere to Christ and all he came to us through the Incarnation.  It is more the symptom of wolves in sheep’s clothing that Jesus referred to: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.  By their fruits you will know them.”  (Mt 7: 15 - 16  This warning is prevalent in Jeremiah:  23: 9 ff.   

Where could this type of intrusion occur in a Chhristian endowed community like the very religion we adhere to is sound and flourishing?  Most of us probably never heard of this terminology growing up.  Yet, it is rampant now and its tentacles are reaching out from Washington, D.C. and Rome as well.  Both Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, President of the United States and Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively, fit that scenario.  Both have openly promoted disrespect for human life by abortions and do not care about the law of God; “Thou shall not murder.”  And by their selfish action have committed a sin that will take a lot of God’s Forgiveness.  

But, it isn’t just the wolves of Washington that have found apostasy from their own Catholic faith, we need only look to Rome, the Vatican and the allowance of our Catholic leaders to get in line of disregard for the very tenants of the Sound Teaching of the Magisterium and our adherence to God’s will in order to reach the gates of Paradise.  

We have all just gone through the sex scandal by many priests and upper escalon of bishops and cardinals using a blind eye to this destructive crime of negligence toward the destruction of mental and suicidal inclusions of innocent children (altar boys and girls).  Even further, the halls of the Vatican are becoming too reluctant to protect these children.  What is more pronounced, the very dictates we grew up believing are now in question of where our Catholic faith begins and keeps us close to Almighty God.

I must add that this is not a counter initiative to remove the pope from his position as the paschal leader of the Church.  But, when the Apostolic successor to Peter is voted in as his successor, the position calls all Roman Catholics to pray for his ability through the Holy Spirit to carry out the teaching of Jesus’ confidence handed onto Peter.  Each prophet, apostle, and ordained minister that has been called by God, none is already a saint without sin or weaknesses.  Jesus Christ is the only pure servant of God and only through mistakes will all of these people evangelize the Church to which each of us has been called to.  

Remember the Vatican and the Church are not a democracy but following the rules of fairness  should lead to holiness in every soul.   

Since the Church is not governed by a political structure there is no way the lower prelates can do much to expel a pope who has gone awry.  However, when the complete array of bishops and cardinals are in concert with the actions of a pope who has become unable to intelligently lead the Church to the teachings of Christ, then we are in terrible trouble.  This has not happened, but there are too many rumblings within the Magisterium that lean towards a church going in the wrong direction of our faith.  The dictates of faith in the Roman Catholic Church begin with complete adherence to the original mandate as provided through the CCC.

“The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways:  she was and remains built on “the foundation of the Apostles,” the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself; with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the”good deposit,” the salutary words she has heard from the apostles; she continues to be , sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ’s return, through their successors in pastoral office:  the college of bishops, “assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor”:  You are the eternal Shepherd who never leaves his flock untended.  Through the apostles you watch over us and protect us always.  You made them shepherds of the flock to share in the work of your Son”  (taken from the Roman Missal, Preface of the Apostles I.)   (CCC 857).  

What happens when or if the Supreme Prelate of the Church loses his way and interjects policies that are simply his and not led by the Holy Spirit?

A question many bishops and cardinals in the Church must discern with the most conviction of God’s direction and act judiciously in the name of Christ.

Ralph B. Hathaway