February 14, 2024
Unworthy Priests
In Catholic theology, the role of the priest does not depend on his virtue: we are all sinners, none is worthy of the word of God, but the priest is merely a conduit through which divine grace passes. The sacraments are effective ex opere operato, regardless of the dignity of the minister (as some medieval heresies claimed). Therefore, the concept also applies to popes, even if (very) sinful. I would say the concept applies to all those in power: even honest politicians animated by good intentions can cause great disasters, while dishonest politicians can do excellent things.