Episode 2790: The Church is not an Organized Religion - Part 2

The saints, those heroic witnesses to truth, remind us that submission to God’s will is the pathway to true freedom. As St. Augustine once said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” The pursuit of personal autonomy apart from God does not bring freedom or fulfillment; it brings restlessness, emptiness, and ultimately despair. Only in submitting to God’s will in aligning our lives with the objective moral order do we discover the peace and joy for which we were created.
In an age that exalts relativism, the faithful must stand firm in proclaiming objective truth. We are called to be lights in the darkness, unafraid to confront the lies of the culture with the timeless wisdom of the Church. This requires courage, humility, and a willingness to suffer for the truth. Let us take to heart the words of St. Paul: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
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3. Scandals and Disillusionment
The sexual abuse scandals within the Church have inflicted deep wounds on the faithful and have profoundly shaken trust in the Church's hierarchy. The pain of the victims cries out for justice and healing, and it is crucial for Catholics to acknowledge the gravity of this betrayal and to ensure that steps are taken to hold perpetrators and enablers accountable. At the same time, we must remember that the Church's holiness does not depend on the sinfulness or even the sanctity of her members, but on her divine Founder, Jesus Christ.
These grave scandals, while shocking and painful, serve as a reminder of the fallen nature of man and the reality of sin. Even among those called to serve Christ in the priesthood, the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil persist. St. Augustine aptly described the Church as “a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints,” emphasizing that while the Church herself is spotless and holy as the Mystical Bride of Christ, her members whether clergy, religious, or laity are fallen and in need of constant conversion. As Christ said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32).
However, it would be a grave mistake to allow the sinfulness of individual clergy to overshadow the truth of the Church's divine mission. The scandals have led many to doubt the legitimacy of the Church or to abandon the faith altogether, but such a response reflects a misunderstanding of the Church’s nature. The Church is not a merely human institution subject to the same failings as any organization; she is the Mystical Body of Christ, guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Though her members sin and even betray Christ like Judas her teachings remain pure and untainted because they come from God Himself.
The response to such scandals must be twofold: a call to justice and reform, and a renewed commitment to holiness. Justice demands that wrongdoers be held accountable, that victims be given a voice, and that trust be rebuilt through transparency and true repentance. Reform, however, cannot be rooted in modernist ideals that seek to change doctrine or dismantle sacred tradition under the guise of “progress.” Rather, authentic reform must begin with a return to fidelity, fidelity to Christ, to the Church’s moral teachings, and to the sanctity of the priesthood. As history shows, reform in the Church has always been accomplished through the efforts of saints who called for a return to tradition, prayer, and penance not through innovation or compromise with the world.
The scandals also underscore the importance of prayer and sacrifice for priests. The faithful must remember that priests, though chosen by God, remain human and are often the target of intense spiritual warfare. As St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, once said, “When people want to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, for when there is no priest, there is no sacrifice, and when there is no sacrifice, there is no religion.” This crisis, therefore, calls for a renewed devotion to praying for priests that they might remain faithful, courageous, and holy stewards of their vocation.
Moreover, Catholics must resist the temptation to fall into despair or bitterness. Scandals are not a reason to abandon the Church but rather a call to purify it through penance, prayer, and renewed zeal for the truth. The Church has weathered countless crises throughout history heresies, schisms, corruption, and moral decay yet she remains steadfast because she is protected by Christ’s promise: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The faith of the Church does not rest on the moral perfection of her leaders but on Christ, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Finally, the faithful must look to the saints for guidance in times of scandal and disillusionment. Saints like St. Catherine of Siena, who courageously called for reform during times of clerical corruption, or St. Athanasius, who defended orthodoxy when many bishops fell into heresy, remind us that God raises up saints in every age to preserve His Church. These holy men and women did not abandon the Church in times of crisis but remained steadfast, trusting in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
In the face of scandal, let us respond with faith and action: offering reparation for the sins committed, praying for the healing of victims, and working for the sanctification of the Church. Let us remember the words of St. Paul: “Where sin abounded, grace did more abound” (Romans 5:20). Even amid this darkness, God’s grace is at work, calling the Church and all her members to deeper repentance, holiness, and renewal.
The sexual abuse scandals in the Church have profoundly shaken the faith of many. It is crucial to acknowledge this pain and seek justice for the victims. However, it is equally important to distinguish the sinfulness of individuals from the holiness of the Church as an institution founded by Christ. As St. Augustine reminds us, “The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”
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4. A Lack of the Sacred
One of the most devastating developments in the modern Church has been the loss of reverence in worship, which has contributed to a profound erosion of the sense of the sacred. When the Mass is reduced to a mere community gathering, a social event, or even a platform for entertainment, its true identity as the Holy Sacrifice the unbloody re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary is obscured. This shift has led many to lose their understanding of the divine majesty of God and the awe that should accompany His real presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
This lack of the sacred is evidenced by the casual attitudes and behaviors now commonly seen in many parishes: irreverent dress, noisy chatter before the tabernacle, and liturgical innovations that place human preferences above divine worship. When the focus of the Mass becomes horizontal centered on the people rather than vertical, directed toward God, the faithful are deprived of the nourishment that comes from encountering the divine mystery.
In contrast, the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) offers an antidote to this crisis. Rooted in centuries of liturgical development and safeguarded by the Church, the TLM exudes reverence, beauty, and order. The prayers, gestures, and silence of the traditional liturgy elevate the soul toward God and remind the faithful of His transcendence and holiness. The priest, facing ad orientem toward the Lord leads the congregation in worship as a mediator offering sacrifice on their behalf, rather than acting as a mere facilitator of communal interaction.
The Latin language itself, set apart as sacred and immutable, reinforces the timeless nature of the Mass and reminds the faithful that they are participating in something beyond the temporal realm. The solemnity of the Gregorian chant and the use of sacred art and architecture further communicate the mystery of the Eucharist. St. John Vianney once said, “If we truly understood the Mass, we would die of joy.” This joy flows from recognizing that we stand at the foot of Calvary, where heaven touches earth.
Furthermore, the Traditional Mass serves as a powerful catechism, teaching the faithful through its very form and structure about the realities of sin, sacrifice, and salvation. As Pope St. Pius X emphasized, the primary purpose of the liturgy is the glorification of God and the sanctification of souls. This understanding has been tragically diminished in modern celebrations of the Mass, where the emphasis often shifts to inclusivity, novelty, or personal expression, detracting from the supernatural reality unfolding on the altar.
Recovering the sacred in worship is not about nostalgia or clinging to the past but about restoring the proper order of things: man offering fitting worship to his Creator. The Church, in her wisdom, has always understood that lex orandi, lex credenda “the law of prayer is the law of belief”. How we worship shapes what we believe. Therefore, a return to traditional liturgy is not merely a preference but a necessity for reorienting the Church and her faithful toward God, reclaiming a true sense of the sacred, and strengthening belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
In an age of relativism, the sacred liturgy stands as a sign of contradiction a visible proclamation that God exists, that He is holy, and that He alone is worthy of our worship. For this reason, the Traditional Latin Mass remains not only a refuge for those seeking reverence but a bulwark against the forces that seek to undermine the Catholic faith.________________________________________
5. The Traditional Catholic Response
As traditional Catholics, we must work to restore what has been lost. Here are some key steps:
• Teach the Faith Clearly: Emphasize the Church’s divine foundation, the sacraments, and the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
• Restore Reverence in Worship: Beauty and solemnity in the liturgy can rekindle faith in the Church as the gateway to heaven.
• Live as Witnesses: Our lives must reflect the truth of the Gospel. As St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary.”
• Embrace Suffering: Teach the redemptive value of suffering, showing that trials can lead us closer to Christ.
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Conclusion
To those who have left the Church and dismissed her as just another "organized religion," we extend an invitation to look again at her true nature. She is not merely a human institution but the Bride of Christ, the Ark of Salvation, and the Pillar and Foundation of Truth. The Catholic Church, with all her human imperfections, remains the path Christ Himself established for the salvation of souls.
Let us pray for those who have left, that they may rediscover the beauty, truth, and goodness of the Church.
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Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, You promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against Your Church. We entrust to Your Sacred Heart all who have strayed from the fold, especially those disillusioned by sin, scandal, or misunderstanding. Illuminate their hearts with Your truth and draw them back to the sacraments, where Your grace abounds. Strengthen us, Your faithful, to live as witnesses to Your love and truth. Through the intercession of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, may we bring souls back to You, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Closing Remarks
Thank you for joining us today! If you found this episode meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit. Let’s continue praying and working to restore all things in Christ. Until next time, God bless!