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December 6, 2018
Stephen Firenze
San Mateo
With sadness I read the letter, “A painful farewell,” (Nov. 15). The anger is something many of us feel at this time. However, we have to realize that the Catholic Church is not the pope, bishops, priests, laypeople, be they good or bad. The church is a person, the second person of the blessed Trinity, Jesus Christ. We are members of the mystical body of Christ, his body. Jesus thru his sacrifice on the cross and his sacraments, particularly the Eucharist thru the holy sacrifice of the Mass has given his life to us.
No priest regardless of his holiness, has any right to ordination. Through God’s infinite love for his creatures, and in an infinite act of humility, he allows himself to be sacrificed on the altar in Mass to give us his life. The consecration of the bread and wine into his body and blood is not dependent on the holiness of the priest.
When a Catholic walks away from the church as a result of the current scandals, they are not leaving bad bishops or priests. They are betraying the one person, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, who gave his life on the cross and continues to give us his life thru the sacraments.
Instead of leaving, it is time to double down on prayer and sacrifice for all those victims of the scandal and for those who have perpetrated it because they are at particular risk of losing their souls. Jesus himself wills that all be saved, particularly sinners.
A shout-out to the Padua Dining Room (“Padua Dining Room: No fees, no questions, and no one turned away,” Nov. 15). This is just another example of what Catholics do far better than anyone else: Helping the poor. Every day
Catholics, all over the world, do these works of charity. They do it because they were called to by Jesus and the strength they get from the sacraments, His life and grace. Do not betray him by leaving his church.
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