The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

44 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS,tentatious, and seeks aGod."It rniret"life hidden with Christ innot be imagined that, in proclaiming thesanctity of the Church, I am attempting to provethat all Catholics are holy. I am sorry to confessthat corruption of morals is too often found amongprofessing Catholics. We cannot close our eyesto the painful fact that toomany of them, far fromliving up to the teachings of their Church, aresources of melancholy scandal. "It must be thatscandals come, but woe to him by whom the scandal cometh."I also admit that the sin of Catholicsis more heinous in the sight of God than that oftheir separated brethren, because they abuse moregrace.But it should be borne in mind that neither Godnor His Church forces any man s conscience. Toall He says by the mouth of His Prophet: "BeholdI set before you the way of life and the way ofdeath," (Jer. xxi. 8.) The choice rests with yourselves.It iseasy to explain why so many disedifyingmembers arealways found clinging to the robes ofthe Church, their spiritual Mother, and why shenever shakes them off, nor disowns them as her children. The Church is animated by the spirit of herFounder, Jesus Christ. He "came into this worldto save sinners." 2 He "came not to call the justbut sinners to repentance." He, was the Friend of1 Coloss. iii. 3.a I. Tim. i. 15.