There is no middle ground...

Trying times...

For months, I have felt the need to write about the madness which besets us now.

The Church is the Body of Christ. Not the hierarchy, not the laity, not some particular group of people, but all of us. All men are sinners, and Christ died to redeem all of us.

It has become all too common to see one group or another within the Catholic Church attacking another. By what right? We are all STILL sinners.

There are those who say the trads are troublemakers or worse. Really? Define "trad." And once you have done so, explain how those who take comfort in the liturgy of the ages are in some way less worth than those who proclaim the liturgy of the last 50 years.

No? I grant, the case is all but impossible to make.

The enemy we face is not new, but the same Evil One who tempted Jesus so long ago. But Jesus stood fast, and we seem to lack the will. Or the faith.

In our time, we have seen priests and bishops betray their vows. So? All men are sinners. We have seen this before. Read the history of St. Peter Damien. Man up. Faith is not easy. We are flawed, and predisposed to take the easy path, the path of immediate comfort. Of sin.

But we are called to follow our faith, and to act out of virtue. It is not easy. But it is right.

I have too often seen that there are some (few) priests and bishops who remain steadfast in their faith, committed to their vows, and are found wanting. By God? We know not. But they are found wanting by their fellow men. Because they are not sufficiently strong, not sufficiently outspoken, or whatever. Oddly, those who would condemn these good men have usually done less in support of the faith.

Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

I will not be casting stones, but I shall ask that we all reflect, and that we also consider whether we seek so defend our faith, the one true church, or whether we seek to offer aid and comfort to the Evil One.

There can be no middle ground.

Update:

I had a comment which I will not publish, as the writer insisted upon reading my post through the lens of his prejudices. I won't enter into a debate with anyone who insists on challenging me on the basis of assertions I did not make.

Contrary to his assertions, I made no attack on those who prefer the Novus Ordo. Nor have I attempted to justify those priests -- and bishops and cardinals -- who have broken their vows and indulged their sexual desires on youth. Predatory priests should, at the very least, be removed from parish work. 

Each of us must work out his own salvation in fear and trembling.