Comments on: Saturday March 30, 2019: Pharisaic Clericalism

By: John J Ciribassi

John J Ciribassi — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 12:58:54 +0000

Anonymous. Remember that it is not a man that is forgiving you in confession. It is Christ working through the priest. The priest is merely an instrument or tool of forgiveness. Even an imperfect tool can be used to accomplish a task. We are all sinners, yet God continuously uses us as his hands to do good in the world. In the same way, a broken priest, a sinful man, can still do the work God intends him to do. We still allow sinful people to serve us in restaurants, to take care of plumbing problems in our homes, to care for our children. In the same way others count on us every day to provide service to them in the jobs we are trained to do….in spite of our sinfulness. As it is with our priests. They continue to do God’s work while struggling with sin. Only God is perfect and in confession we not only receive forgiveness from God through the priest, but in a way we are also offering forgiveness to the priest through our presence.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 22:30:42 +0000

I just realized why I do not go to confession. There is no way a man can absolve my sins, when he is also a sinner, and some of them may have known about children being abused, or were the abusers themselves, and my sins are absolved because they said so? I love the Catholic Church and the worship and reverence towards my Lord and Savior, and the Holy Euchrist. But confession is between me and my holy perfect Savior

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 16:13:24 +0000

24-hour news reporting and social media have blown wide open what an incredibly disordered world we live in. Jesus said “for nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light” (Luke 8:17 and Mark 4:22). That is exactly what is happening today and not just the scandal in the Catholic Church. The scandals being blown open in our governments, the massacre of innocent people at prayer. I can’t help asking “where is God in all of this?”. I remember praying Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner, before confession, before receiving holy communion. I remembered saying, Father, forgive them (forgive me), for we know not what we do. I still cling to my faith in God, but barely these days …. I can’t help wondering why God does not intervene in these scandals. And I’m still waiting for a personal intervention. I keep hoping.

Have a blessed weekend. God bless.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 13:47:24 +0000

A great reflection and I think you hit the nail on the head with some of your comments John.The sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has done untold damage.My faith in God remains strong but I have lost confidence in our clerics and cardinals.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 09:17:48 +0000

A new view on this Gospel passage. Humility is the key to reform and repentance. The tax man got it right. Hail the tax man…in this case. Thank you John

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 05:44:42 +0000

Thanks for the reflection.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 04:08:09 +0000

Thank you for the meaningful & helpful reflection. Agree that humility & repentance enables to ask for forgiveness from God & accept His mercy & love. We can then find peace in our hearts & life.

By: P

Fri, 29 Mar 2019 15:53:03 +0000

Wow! I am a Catholic forever,86 years and I never heard of clericalism. I am totally educated in Catholic s school s so when I first heard of this I was in the dark. I am so glad to read that you to were new to the title. This is not about me but only having lived so long and never experienced this. Nothing has changed with my relationship with my church, just extreme sadness. Prayer is the answer. Marilyn
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