Percentages and the Judases
In every aspect of life, percentages are an integral part of calculating and evaluating performance and results. In sports, players and teams are often judged according to some form of percentage. American baseball players review their performances based, in a large part, by their hitting percentages. In soccer, the percentage of the possession of the ball each team has during a game is considered a good measure of their performance. Businesses rate themselves using percentages to judge their performance versus their competition. Even churches examine their growth or loss of membership in their churches as a percentage of increase or decrease. Clearly, percentages are one of the principal means of measurement of most activities.
The son of God, Jesus Christ, chose 12 of His followers to be apostles, leaders of his many disciples. However, one of those apostles became a traitor, turning Jesus over to his enemies, leading to his death. Judas the traitor, was just one of 12 apostles; he represented 8 percent of all the apostles.
Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the church has struggled with internal rejection and weak commitment to its doctrines by many of its clergy. Frequently such rejection and lack of commitment confused and frustrated the laity. In the early 21st century, many in the laity are extremely frustrated with the all too numerous elements within the clergy, who promote a number of distracting and heretical concepts, which often contradict the traditional teachings of the church fathers. Unfortunately, many priests and bishops also commit or allow illicit sexual activities within the clergy. Others concern themselves with issues that are political in nature, which are more properly left to civil authorities. Justifiably the laity is angry and wondering why the alleged “good clergy” have no taken firm action against the evil doers, the eight percenters.
In the United States, there are approximately 38,000 priests and 415 bishops. If the early church experience with Judas can be used as a template, we can assume that approximately 8% of the priests and bishops reject or retreat from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Eight (8) percent of the 38,000 priests and 415 bishops calculates to 3,040 priests and 33 bishops. Scary numbers indeed! What is even more troubling is the refusal of so many “good” priests and bishops to confront the seriousness of revolt within their ranks.
Fortunately, the laity can be comforted with the knowledge that Jesus Christ assured them that He would always be with the Church. Additionally, the laity does not have to rely on the clergy for the truth of the faith because that truth is clearly stated within the Catechism of the Church and within the gospels of the fathers of the church. The writings and teachings of the great saints of the church, such as Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, Pope John Paul II, and many others, are readily available to everyone. The lay person can verify and reject any concept offered for acceptance by a church official by reviewing the writings of the true followers of Christ. They can also be comforted by the fact that, aside from the 8 percenters, 92% of the clergy are truly committed to the salvation of souls.
The clergy are human beings with all the failings and temptations that all humans experience. Fortunately, the laity can appeal to God and his true followers for guidance on all matters related to one’s relationship with God, who is the source of all life and truth. He will lead one to the truth. He loves us.