this sounds like something I wrote yrs ago when defending catholicism against protestantism, esp the first part about being perfect as per Mt 5:48
But here's the problem: what does it mean to follow the Church? There is massive division in the Church. Even the sedas are not united against the Vatican!
some say Pope Pius XII was the last true pope, some say others
I think it is best for people to admit (gee, here's a thought) when they just do NOT KNOW something! That sounds better to people outside the Church than... saying yeh, i KNOW that such and such pope was the last true pope... and then finding out maybe you are wrong
it is OK to say you don't know
Catholics need to focus on what they DO KNOW
and then, maybe... just maybe, we will begin to convert a few people.. which we are required to try to do. If we do not evangelize, we jeopardize our salvation (Catechism)
There really is no "massive disunity", as such a thing is totally against the nature of the Church.
Whether or not some Catholics have differing opinions about the crisis in the Church or who is or is not the pope, does not change the nature (we say the four marks of the Church). The only Curch which has any validity is the Catholic Church, which is ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC ( ie universal) and APOSTOLIC.
Individuals may have differing opinions but none of these is a guide. And these opinions do not cause disunity in the Church.
We have only to learn what the Church has taught and to follow to the best of our abilities, making the best use we can of the graces offered to each one of us in our individual situations according to our state in life.
It is not the role of the layman to make decisions for anyone but himself about how he is to deal with the present confusion.
It is easy to get distracted with side-issues, but we must keep our mind fixed on our final outcome, remembering that there have been times of confusion before, but always Mary and the saints to help us through, remembering that Our Lady is the crusher of all heresy, through her Rosary.
Happy Easter Countrychurch!