A person on a traditional/conservative Catholic mailing list just sent an unsubscribe request to a company selling Traditional Catholic products (category: art & music).

The reason given was quite sad:

because…well, the scandal.  

just limiting all Catholic info.  

thanks,  [name withheld]

Note: the "Catholic Info" has nothing to do with CathInfo.com.

Apparently she's withdrawing from all things Catholic -- even things like art and music -- due to the ongoing child abuse scandals in the decrepit Conciliar Church.

Sad.

How many people have left, are leaving, or will leave the Church because of these great scandals -- some of whom will literally end up in Hell for eternity instead of Heaven! This isn't a game. Note the harsh words Our Lord had for the purveyors of scandal. They will be judged harshly -- every single soul they cost Our Lord will be required at their hands. Terrifying!

Not worth a few moments of perverted, degraded "pleasure" I assure you!

God is using this crisis to sift the chaff from the wheat.  When people leave "because of the scandal", it's usually because they were already looking for a reason to leave and found something they could cling to in order to appease their consciences.  That's what I find anyway.

That's very true.

Only pride can cause a person to allow human faults to come between him and God!

What lame excuse can a person claim, in order to excuse himself from Catholic spiritual reading, prayer, study, practice of the virtues, fighting the spiritual combat, going to Mass, using Catholic sacramentals, music, art, etc.?

I mean, how does one excuse himself or remain aloof from all the means of sanctification that God has provided us? "Because that priest, that priest, and that bishop are wicked." Not good enough.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced it's a lame excuse. You (and/or your family members) are not going to get violated during Mass. You might decide that the crisis is too severe to have your son serve at the altar. No extracurricular or off-hours activities with the priest. Problem solved!

A few priests committing heinous sins that cry to heaven for vengeance is no excuse to give up on the Faith or Catholic morality.

P.S. As I think about it, I think the big picture is that some emotional people lump the whole "Catholic Church" into one emotional feeling. When a few priests are committing heinous sins, that general feeling is quite negative.

If I had to pick one grace I'm most grateful for, it's my rational mind and my ability to be objective. It would seem that having strong emotions (and weak reason) is one of the biggest curses you can be dealt in life -- bar none.