Volume 44 Number 9 May 2002
At the time of this writing, we are hearing fresh stories of sexual
immorality among Roman Catholic priests. News headlines ask questions
similar to the one above while people wonder how this problem will be
handled and whether or not the Catholic church can withstand the blow of
these recent revelations. With all due respect to the Pope, the priests,
and to all who accept their authority, the following suggestions are
humbly submitted to Scripturally explain what should be done to resolve
this pernicious problem.
First, for the specific problem of church leaders who molest children or
commit some other form of fornication, please read I Corinthians 7:1,2;
then read the qualifications of a Bishop in I Timothy Chapter 3, noting
especially verse 2 where the Holy Spirit plainly says that he “must be
... the husband of one wife...”. Have you ever wondered why the
requirement for the Roman Catholic Bishop is just the opposite, “must not
be ... the husband of one wife”? Do you think the answer might be found
in the next chapter? (I Timothy 4:1-3)
Second, why stop at just this tradition? What about the very idea of
calling religious leaders “Father”, when the Lord Jesus commanded us not
to call anyone by that title? (Matthew 23:9.) Do you think if we all
acted more like “brethren” (Matthew 23:8), that we might have less
incidents of the powerful preying upon the weak?
Third, there needs to be a recognition of the great truth that Jesus
never established a clergy/laity distinction in the church. Instead of
picking out one group of Christians to serve as priests, we read Peter (I
Peter 2:5,9) calling all of his brethren, “a holy priesthood” and “a
royal priesthood”. Therefore, all Christians ought to be encouraged to
draw near to God without having to depend on any mediator besides the One
God has chosen. (I Timothy 2:5)
If it is objected that the Pope now has final say on all matters of
faith and practice, maybe it is time to reevaluate his claim to being
“Deus Alter in Terra” and “Deus Noster Papa” (“Another God on Earth” and
“Our Lord God the Pope”). If Christ has truly been risen and lifted up
to heavenly places to be the Head of the Church, His Body (Ephesians 1:20-23.),
why do we need any other head? A body with two heads is a headache.
Maybe it is time the Temple of God was measured by the Divine Reed of
the Holy Scriptures (Revelation 11:1, 2; II Peter 1:3.), instead of by
modern religious leaders who say they have Apostolic Authority. If you
would simply return to the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3),
you would see a remarkable change in not only the leadership, but in the
rest of the church as well.
Allegations of sexual scandal not only affect the Catholic church, but
also bring a reproach upon those of us who strive to follow the way of
Truth (II Peter 2:2). Please consider the Lord’s answer to this problem
and give up those traditions not found in the Word of the Lord!