To Whom shall we go? You have the words of Everlasting Life!

A strong reaction to what Jesus said; Are you going to leave as well?  (Jn 6: 68)  Yet, in light of the recent sex-abuse scandal and the outcry from so many disillusioned Catholics many are doing just that.  Leaving the pews of the Church, withholding monies from the collection baskets, demanding that the bishops resign their posts; including the Holy Father. 

Let’s look at a possible solution for those who’ve decided to leave their roots, giving a thumbs down to their life-long faith in the Catholic Church for who knows what.  Take a look at history in the Church.  Martin Luther left because of certain abuses within the Church (not that I disagree with some of those Theses) but to lead many astray without some semblance of dialogue has broken the back of the Church Jesus Christ wanted to establish.  How many Protestant denominations have broken away from one another when some disagreements over perhaps petty problems had some starting their own church.  Where will it ever stop?  

Dissatisfied with the way things are going?  One member of a Catholic family decided she wasn’t being fed spiritually so off to a so-called evangelistic church for her worship.  Ok!  being fed spiritually is very important.  When she asked the minister about communion, he said sure you can take communion and believe what you want.  If you say it is Jesus so be it.  If this is the result of trying another avenue for prayer, something is gravely wrong when the very essence of the Real Presence of Christ is denied and we can believe what we want.  You won’t find that on our altars.    

Apostolic Succession, Sacred Sacraments, the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, Sanctifying Grace from the hands of the priests.  What is missing in your lives that you would forgo 2000 years of Tradition?  Peter’s successor sitting on the Cathedra, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and the words of ordination of all these men who still believe and fulfill their promise of obedience to their bishop at ordination still is in vogue with Holy Orders.  

Start your own type of church, if you dare.  You won’t have to give money to some diocesan collection and the ministers would be your own choosing.  If you don’t like them, remove their presence and place them with someone you like.  Careful, the candles may not stay lit too long, and Oh yes, Sacraments wouldn’t exist.  Remember Apostolic Succession.

Who knows, your group would join thousands of new denominations that appear constantly and I assure you most people in the pews are not that enthralled but they stay because the words “Are you going to leave as well?” never entered their listening ability.  Or if the words did, they went in one ear and out the other.  But, go ahead, start another schism as many have throughout history and lots of luck.  I don’t believe the Holy Spirit will be with you in this new endeavor.  

Remember, the Catholic Church has survived schisms, heresies, bad priests, bishops, and even popes throughout history.  Isn’t it amazing that after 2000 years the Church is just as strong, faithful, and alive with Jesus Christ still in charge.  All the attempts at Satan trying to destroy the Church and turn many against God has not succeeded.  The jaws of Hell will never destroy the Catholic Church, and neither will this sex-abuse scandal.  Pray for more priests, as I wrote recently my great-grandson at 3 years of age says he wants to be a priest.  Let’s support the priesthood, the Catholic Church, and those priests who are still faithful to their call.