On the Reflections (of Christ in the Church)
What would Christ find amusing if he were to return today? What would he find off putting and hideously out of step with his heart? Is the Church an Affair of His Heart or wed to various idolotries?
Having no priest marry has designed budget implications- no other family members to provide for, pay college for (they could go to Jesuit ones for free maybe), buy cars for, or feed or house. So magnificent church buildings through the ages have been constructed in Europe with towering stained glass and magnificent frescos and statuary and artisans, architects and building tradesmen were paid instead of family budgets. The poor need art, declared Priest Robert Barron in his 'catholicism' series. No disputing that this is some fine art.
But in Europe lots of those cathedrals stand as tourist attractions, some paid for and maintained by the state without any active sustaining congregations because what was left wasn't the heart of Jesus in some cases, but a magnificent building. Some even now charge admission in italy.
What good is a glorious building if no worship is going on inside? What good is a building to God if God left the building?
The church has thrown babies out with its holy water. The church has thrown the baby Jesus out in some cases.
It is a scandal and a sin that there are vast huge monestaries in parts of europe inhabited by a handful of clanking aged religious or monks when there are hurricane refugees in tents in Haiti or 40,000 Syrian refugees living in dismal tents in Turkey or even a few thousand poor in tent cities in Arizona, America.
Jesus' whole message was Love your Neighbor as yourself as a manifestation of Loving God. That is the summation of ALL the law and ALL the prophets. That includes ALL Canon Law. Would the Pope or any Cardinal live in a Tent?
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