Because Men Are So Weak

"... he also said that many leaders believe that hardly anyone is really culpable for sexual sins "because men are so weak "even though, theoretically, we believe these are grave sins. At root, it's a crisis of faith, not believing that, with the help of grace, people can repent and change their lives..."- A Church In Crisis by Ralph Martin

Do our Church leaders believe what the Bible teaches? Do they believe the recorded lives of the Saints we are to be inspired by are true? They don't seem to. I say this based on their behavior.

The bar is continually lowered, and behavior slowly worsens. Less is expected of us, and less is achieved. Church leaders used to hold us to high standards, and many more people used to meet them. Then the pill was ok or at least no longer talked about in a negative light. Divorce was ok. Sex outside of marriage was ignored. Increases in drug and alcohol abuse were overlooked. Porn and masturbation became less of a big deal. Gay relationships were seen as better than gay promiscuity. Many of these behaviors are not uncommon throughout the ranks of clergy and religious. I sometimes wonder if it is we they think are incapable of better or if the lowered bar reflects their inability to live to a higher standard.

I think many of the men in collars and habits and women in veils don't have true faith in Jesus, which is why they don't call us to true faith. The sheep are, in some cases, being led by lustful, gluttonous, addicted, power-hungry, unbelieving shepherds. They have no hope of becoming Saints themselves, so they no longer call us to sanctity.

The shutdown of the churches because of Covid was just another example of the lack of faith in many leadership positions. They told people they were fine without the Sacraments because I think many believe that themselves. And they wonder why few are returning to Mass.

I do not want to be part of a country club. I do not want to be called to mediocrity. I can do that all by myself, as is evident in the way I used to live. I want to be called to greatness. I want my feet lovingly held to the fire when I veer from the path. I want to be reminded that our life is not a joke. This is serious business. I know many priests used to do this, and this is what I want. Instead, we get social justice snowflake priests who worry more about Mother Earth and immigration than salvation and sanctification.

"Because men are so weak," tells us what we need: strong male leaders, not feminized cheerleaders. We can help strengthen them by doing what Archbishop Sheen called on us to do. "Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests and your bishops act like bishops. "

We don't need a Church that leaves us in mediocrity. We need a Church that not only calls us to divinization but believes that this is possible by God's grace. If they don't, they are useless Shepherds, and the Church would be better off without them. A smaller Church focused on the mission Christ called us to is far more valuable than a bloated one with lots of beautiful buildings filled with empty, defiled, faithless souls.

We need leaders who believe in us, in Christ's transformative power, and in the truths taught by and the tradition of our holy Catholic Church. Without those qualities, they become therapists, which the world has enough of.

Psalm 31:1-25 "... You have seen my affliction and taken heed of my soul's distress..."

This applies to all the members of Christ's Body. Jesus sees our affliction, and He wants to heal it. But we must have faith. Without that, He can perform no miracles. When our leaders have no faith, they transfer that disbelief to their flocks. So, we need Jesus to penetrate their hearts as He has penetrated mine. No one is out of His reach. However, they need to see examples of Jesus' power as we do. So I ask for healing for myself for the sake of priests' healing, that Jesus' healing power may come to their unbelieving, doubting flocks.

RESPONSORY

Proverbs 3:11, 12; Hebrews 12:7

"Do not resent the Lord's correction,

and take no offense when he rebukes you– for those whom he loves the Lord reproves,

just as a father chastises a favorite son.

God is treating you as his sons,

for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

– For those whom he loves, the Lord reproves, just as a father chastises a favorite son."

Our deacons, priests, and bishops no longer love us like the Father according to the standard set in these Scripture passages. They want to walk with us, not lead us. They want to be friends. They care more if we like them than if our souls are saved. Lord, help us.

Written 2/4/21 AD

Human-written, AI-spell-checked

Image from laborrising.com