Sins of The Fathers
By: D. James Heffner
(Bible references from NIV)
The news media has been having a field day with reports of sexual abuse by Catholic Priests; and to be fair, some protestant preachers have also been accused of sexual misdeeds. That these crimes have been committed against children is all the more sensational Sex sells newspapers and magazines couple it with Sin by "holy" men and you have a double whammy!
Let me say at this point that I wholly condemn these men and their actions such behavior by so-called "Christian ministers" is indeed heinous for sin in any form is truly grievous - especially against children of any age. The Apostle Paul spoke to such behavior in Ephesians 5:3, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." And verses 5,6, & 7 "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." And also verses 5:11 & 12, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret". Paul certainly addresses the actions of these child abusers and makes it clear they will suffer God's wrath; he seemingly leaves no room for repentance as he declares these people are disobedient to the truth they were given.
The main defense of the Catholic Church is that these men should be clothed in forgiveness if they show true repentance and a change in behavior, though Paul warns "Let no one deceive you with empty words". What the Catholic Church is doing is an attempt to distort the meaning of the words of Jesus given to the woman caught in Adultery, see John's Gospel Chapter 8 verses 1 to 11. Surely these words "Go now and leave your life of sin." are good news and a sentiment, which any Christian found in Sin, can relate too. To deny that we are all Sinners in need of Grace is to deny the need of a Savior. Yet Jesus' words are clearly a condemnation too if you go and continue to sin what is your true response to God's grace? Are not those who represent God, especially to little children, held to a higher standard in God's eyes? Let us not forget that Jesus held children in high regard, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14, also Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16)
However, the greater crime here, apart from that of child sexual abuse by "men of the cloth" is the attempt of the Catholic hierarchy to hide these sins from the members of their flock. This willingness to hide and deny sinful behavior within their ranks indicates that there is a deeper sickness at work, "Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are filled with poison, and their clusters with bitterness. Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras." (Deuteronomy 32:32 & 33. In essence, evildoers serving the wine of the redemptive blood of Jesus have instead been poisoning those in their care while acting like the inhabitants of Sodom. The problem with evil swept under the rug is it creates a huge bump over which people stumble and fall and thereby curse God, "For the lips of the priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi, says the Lord Almighty. So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways." (Malachi 2:7 9). Though the forgoing was spoken about the Jewish Levite priests the spiritual application applies to the Catholic Church and their priests. But protestant ministers, and essentially all Christians, are to take warning here too for "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5). So take care that you do not defile your priesthood by giving into the lusts of the flesh. If you want the power to resist sin there is only one solution be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will bear fruit pleasing to God.
