> Date: 22 Dec 95
> From: Radu
> To : Father Mateo
> Subj: History?
>
> Father, How do we defend Catholicism against arguements brought
> out about the bad popes in history? I've had it asked a couple
> of times on how I explain the evil popes (Benedict IX, etc...), I
> couldn't come up with any defense. Thanks, Mark
Dear Mark,
On my bookshelf I have a book by E.R. Chamberlin (Signet, 1969),
entitled "The Bad Popes". The writer finds seven popes that he
calls bad, seven out of now almost three hundred. Does this
historical fact that some popes lived lives unworthy of their
calling discredit the claim of the Catholic Church to be the true
Church of Jesus Christ? Let's see what light we can find in Holy
Scripture.
Our Lord chose twelve of his disciples to be Apostles, pillars
and leaders of the Church (Mark 3:13-19). One of these was Judas
Iscariot, who betrayed him, whom Jesus himself called "a devil"
(John 6:70-71). The failure and fall of this apostle, personally
chosen by Christ, does not discredit Christ's Church. His power
is with the Church always (Matt. 28:20), and his Spirit is mightier
than the weaknesses of his members.
No sinful pope has ever taught error or tried to change the rules
of morality to justify his own bad behavior. Jesus defended the
teaching authority of the scribes and Pharisees while attacking
their sinful behavior (Matt. 23:2-3). Similarly, even if a pope
is a grievous sinner, Jesus is faithful to his promise that the
gates of hell will never prevail against the Church of Christ,
built upon Peter (Matt. 16:18). Peter and his successors the
popes, whatever their failings great or small, infallibly teach
the truths of Christian doctrine and morality, always sustaining
the Church of the living God, so that she is unfailingly the
pillar and foundation of truth (1st Tim. 3:15).
Therefore, like Judas in the college of apostles, bad popes in
the Church cannot discredit the work of Christ. Indeed, they are
a proof of the Church's truth and vitality, that she has
survived, in spite of all her sinners, to produce a marvelous
array of saints.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
-- | CIN (619-449-6030) Fido: (1:202/1613) http://www.cin.org/cin | St. Gabriel Gift & Book Nook: http://www.stgabriel.com/gabriel