Mask of Satan

Conservative Catholics are divided on how to respond to Pope Francis and the latest scandals. Here's one reaction:

Rorate Caeli

@RorateCaeli

 It is extremely sad: each and every act of apostasy is very sad.

But it is our experience, and this article makes the same point, that a convert who leaves is a convert who never really gave his heart unconditionally.

On that view, true conversion is a blank check. Unwavering commitment in advance of knowing what-all you're committing yourself to. Taken to a logical conclusion, that's the philosophy of the suicide cult. 

But there's a dilemma. Only God merits absolute loyalty. If you know that you've found God, you should give him your heart unconditionally. But how do you know ahead of time that what you convert to will be worthy of your total devotion? What if it's different on the inside than the outside? What if, after you gain additional firsthand experience and deepen your investigation, you conclude that your conversion was premature and ill-considered? There are things you can't know unless and until you give it a try, at which point you may realize it was a blind alley. 

Here's another example of Catholic loyalists who will march right over the cliff at the pope's behest: 

https://www.avemaria.edu/riftstatement/

This is classic cult-mentality–where institutional allegiance is indistinguishable from fidelity to God. To question or criticize the institution is tantamount to spiritual sedition. Imagine if the institution is a mask for Satan? The perfect cover. The perfect alias. At that point, fidelity to God becomes interchangeable with fidelity to the Devil. Christ on the outside, but Satan on the inside. The Devil costumed as the Vicar of Christ.