Tag: Controversy

“Embellishing” the truth

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As I’ve said before, the media has had a field day in recent years with the various sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. Of course, in contrast,  they tend to get very quiet when the subject matter isn’t quite so juicy, such as the feeding of the poor all across the world which happens day in, day out without acclaim or fanfare.

Over Lent I came across this article by Brendan O’Neill talking about the McAleese Report which was recently released by the Irish government.  Although it hardly paints a rosy picture of the Magdalene Laundries it does dispel many of the myths and assumptions popularized by the recent movie The Magdalene Sisters…

Catholic Abuse

Just to be clear, this isn’t saying that the laundries were idyllic places with no problems whatsoever, nor does it exonerate those who, in the name of Christ, committed cruelty towards those made in the image and likeness of God. This is just an appeal to stick to the facts rather than indulging in the various “embellishments” which have been recently made popular.

But what about Church Scandal?

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I was recently corresponding with someone who kept bringing up the recent scandals in the Catholic Church. Here’s how I replied:

Your constant refrain concerning scandal in the Church suggests to me that this is a significant issue for you. It’s understandable. It is for many people. In fact, during the early centuries of Christianity this was an extremely important and controversial question: should those who denied Christ under persecution, or who surrendered the Holy Scriptures to be burnt, be readmitted to the Church if they repented? Should those ordained members who renounced their faith be able to return to ministry? There was a schismatic group called the Donatists who said “Absolutely not!”  

At the heart of the matter was the question: what is the Church? The Donatists viewed the Church as a Museum of Saints. The Catholic Church rejected this limited and narrow understanding. Instead, She said that the Church was a Hospital for Sinners. She would therefore readmit fallen away Christians if they repented.

As a consequence, the Church often looks (and smells!) like a hospital. The Church is full of medicine, nurses and doctors, but She is also full of damaged people and the walking wounded. There are often outbreaks of disease. It often doesn’t look pleasant, but it is the best place to be for those who need healing. For this, I’m grateful, otherwise I fear I could never be admitted.

Hospital