Before Christ returns, apostasy tests His Church

I— Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section CCC 675

S the Great Apostasy coming? Based on Jesus Christ’s prophecies in the Gospels, the

warns of a mass abandonment of the faith by the faithful. This grand denial of Christian beliefs is supposed to happen before our Lord “will come again to judge the living and the dead,” as Mass- goers affirm every Sunday in the Creed.

As the above-quoted slice predicts, the infectious unbelief will involve “a pseudo-messian

- self in place of God and of his

probably means a large chunk of Catholics would see no need for

for humanity to be saved.

footnotes quotes Jesus saying, “when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on earth?” ( Luke 18: 8), and “wickedness has multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold” ( Matthew 24: 12), which follows His warning that “many will fall away, and ... many false prophets will arise and lead many astray” ( Matthew 24: 10- 11).

Apostasy at the very top

So, is the Church sinking into apostasy? Well, here’s the situation. There are fundamental disagreements at the highest levels of the hierarchy on major doctrines, and I mean major.

They involve, among other tenets, the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Penance, the Sixth Commandment and Christ’s own declaration against adultery, the morality of capital punishment, and even something as basic as whether something God explicitly forbids could actually be something He wants done under certain conditions, as Pope Francis’

reportedly asserts. In these disputes, centuriesold beliefs and practices, which tens if not hundreds of millions of Catholics abide by, are being defended or denied. For instance, the prelates of Poland and Germany have taken opposing sides on the issue of giving communion to divorced Catholics who take new spouses without annulling their Church marriages. Poles continue with the millennia- old prohibition, while Germans lifted it.

Now, whichever side is actually right by Christ’s light, the other goes against His truth and command, and therefore commits apostasy.

These doctrinal tussles now involve not just cardinals, archbishops, and bishops, plus leading theologians and clergy — but also Pope Francis himself.

The 2016 led

profound theological or questions about assertions in its Chapter 8, including communion and confession for the divorced, and whether — as the Church has always preached — there are acts that are wrong by their very nature, whatever may be their motives and circumstances.

Groups of theologians and clergy have also issued two major documents raising concerns of possible heresies in papal statements and actions, or their interpretations. Those asking clarification from the Holy Father include the chief theologian of the Vatican office handling beatification and canonization of saints, and the former chief of staff of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB) doctrine committee.

Capucchin priest Thomas Weinandy, the former top USCCB theologian, cautioned Francis last year that teaching with a “seemingly intentional lack of clarity risks sinning against the Holy Spirit.”

And Vatican theologian Msgr. Nicola Bux said in an interview just last month that statements of the Holy See are spurring “heresies, schisms, and controversies of various kinds” and that the Pope should issue a profession of faith to restore unity in the Church.

Again, if Francis and his reformist allies, or their equally high- ranking rivals are violating Christ’s teachings, then there is apostasy at the top, and millions of Catholics are at risk of being led gravely astray.

What’s worse, top- level disputes make many Catholics dismiss the hierarchy’s argumentations, and pick, choose and make up their own beliefs. With no single set of doctrines, morals and rituals binding all the faithful, the Church loses the essence of being a religion.

What the faithful should do

That may well be the ultimate aim of those seeking to destroy the Church: not pervert the faith, but confuse it, so the faithful take doctrines into their own hands. Even those defending age- old wisdom and ways end up advancing the strategy to undermine trust and confidence in the hierarchy, including the Pope. Heads, the devil wins; tails, the faith loses.

It was the same deception done by the serpent to Adam and Eve. Its lies made them doubt the goodness and good word of the God Who created them and gave them every good thing. So, they believed the tempter’s fake news, and disobeyed.

In the face of this diabolical scheme, what is the faithful Catholic to do?

First, of course, we pray: for the Holy Spirit to protect the Church, guide the hierarchy and the clergy, and strengthen the faithful, so we may all hold fast to the Way, the Truth and the Life that is our Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings across the millennia.

Second, prudence must lead us to follow and study Church tenets and practices, which have brought forth saints over the centuries. Those sanctifying doctrines and rituals cannot be wrong, whatever validity there may be in new ideas and initiatives.

Third, beware of selfish motives in others and in ourselves. If one is driven by pride, ambition, avarice, vindictiveness or unkindness, seeking to marginalize and silence opponents, instead of engaging them in fair and open dialogue and debate, there is no way he or she is working for Christ.

May God have safeguard His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!