The Church is Perfect, But We Are Not

Holding on to Truth When People Let Us Down

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It’s a statement many Catholics have quietly whispered or loudly proclaimed: “The Church is perfect. The people are not.” This paradox has been at the heart of Catholic history from the very beginning. The Church, as the Body of Christ, is holy, set apart, and protected by the Holy Spirit. Yet those called to shepherd her—popes, bishops, priests, even us in the pews—are deeply human and prone to sin.

And yet, I still love this Church. Not blindly, not without pain, but with conviction. I love it because God established it. Jesus Himself promised, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). That promise wasn’t made about any one pope or priest, but about the Church as His bride.

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The Divine and the Human:

📖 A Holy Institution with Flawed Stewards

The Catholic Church is divinely instituted—Christ is the founder, and the Holy Spirit is the guide. But the administrators are fallen humans. From Peter denying Christ to Judas betraying Him, from Church scandals to political corruption throughout history, our leaders have often failed to reflect the holiness of the institution they represent.

Yet the Church’s teachings on truth, beauty, and salvation remain unchanged. Why? Because they come from Christ, not from man.