April 20, 2015
Christ’s love is unconditional and has no bounds. The Catholic Church sees itself as representing Christ, being the Body of Christ. But the Church is an institution. On the one hand it allows the Church to exist for a few thousand years. On the other hand, an institution by its very nature has laws. Laws limit what can be done. The church has laws about who can marry, who can go to communion and so on. Therein lies the rub; the limitless love of Christ and the limiting laws of the Church. Many people like the Catholic Church because of its laws and rules. They are concrete and certain. In the seminary, I took courses in canon law and found it quiet boring if not overwhelming. Around me were priests and seminarians who soaked it all up. It was their home and comfort zone. I guess we need both kinds, no?