The Vatican II council revolutionized the Roman Catholic faith. Before it, the Church was viewed as a supreme authority lead by the Pope whose words are taken as if coming from God himself. Vatican II emphasized the Church as a "very imperfect, unfinished reality". Pre-Vatican II church sees priests as sacred individuals, who are being treated as a special caste in society. Post Vatican II church now sees priests as ordinary individuals, capable of sin. The church is no longer consists of priests and bishops alone, but of the whole faith community.
Thus, in a post Vatican II era, it is disgusting to see a video of a priest berating an unwed mother during the baptism of her child. However, now that he has asked for forgiveness, as Catholics we must learn to understand and forgive a sinner like us. While we must continue to intensely protest such arrogance of some members of the clergy, we must not make hasty generalizations that all priests share the same attitude.
I hope that Catholics like myself do not make the wrong interpretation that this issue is a proof that all priests are closed minded and are not willing to understand.
Most of all, I hope that the priests can a find an effective way to deliver the good news, without making violent judgement especially to those who are lost.
The message of God is all about love. Passing judgement to the sins of others is the antithesis of love.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/08/14/nakakahiya-ito-what-cebu-priest-said-unwed-mother
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