Pernicious tendencies

DAVID WALTZ SAID:

“The following selection, from a Presbyterian author, is quite interesting: An especially pernicious tendency in contemporary America is the growth of independency.”

Not to mention the pernicious growth of papal megalomania.

“A multitude of churches exist which militantly proclaim their autonomy.”

Not to mention a merely local church like the church of Rome which militantly proclaims its autonomy.

“They arrogantly boast of no connection or common government with any other ecclesiastical assembly.”

Not to mention the church of Rome arrogantly boasting of no connection or common government with any other ecclesiastical assembly.”

“It is as though they believe that schism is a virtue.”

It’s as though the church of Rome believes megalomania is a virtue.

“An outgrowth of independency is the development of an entire industry of para-church agencies.”

Yes, all those pernicious parachurch ministries that feed the hungry, clothe the poor, shelter battered wives, medicate the sick, translate the Bible, distribute Bibles, offer legal assistance to persecuted Christians, go into jails and prisons, perform disaster relief, operate crisis pregnancy centers, reach out to college students, and other pernicious activities.

If only we could turn back the clock to the good old days when Tetzel was hawking indulgences to fund the construction of a gilt-and-marble basilica for the Vicar of Christ.

“And self-appointed ministers.”

Like Jimmy Akin, Dave Armstrong, Bryan Cross, Karl Keating, Apolonio Latar, Patrick Madrid, Jonathan Prejean, Steve Ray, Mark Shea, Art Sippo, David Waltz…

“Membership in the church is viewed as a matter of small significance: a person may attend regularly without ever joining a church anywhere or incurring any particular obligations. Members are free to adopt virtually any belief or lifestyle, according to their own individual preferences.”

Like Pope Alexander IV, Joe Biden, William Brennan, Al Capone, Madonna Ciccone, Mario Cuomo, Richard Daley, Tom Daschle, Gray Davis, Jeane Dixon, Christopher Dodd, Phil Donahue, Dick Durbin, John Geoghan, Rudy Giuliani, Bob Guccione, Hulk Hogan, Pope Julius II, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich, Patrick Leahy, Robert Mapplethorpe, Terry McAuliffe, Barbara Mikulski, Patty Murray, Leon Panetta, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Richardson, Linda Sánchez, Loretta Sanchez, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Paul Shanley, Martin Sheen, Maria Shriver, Frank Sinatra, Andrew Sullivan, Mark Wahlberg…

“Even open scandals and doctrinal aberration are allowed to continue without any corrective action from the church.”

Like the priestly abuse scandal.

“In the last analysis, the situation in these so-called churches is nothing short of ecclesiastical anarchy.”

In the last analysis, the situation of this so-called Catholic church is nothing short of spiritual whoredom.

“A proper resort to church courts and scriptural confessionalism could cure churches from these maladies of independency.”

Like the Inquisition.