07-06-2026, 06:46 AM
IV. Catholicity and Catholics.
— Protestantism and Protestants are not one and the same thing; nor are Catholicity and Catholics the same and one.
Protestantism is in all cases worse than Protestants. This is absolutely true, and it can be easily understood. The sinner is always better than his sin: the man who is deceived is better than his error. Sin and error are, in fact, absolutely and essentially evil; but the man who either sins, or is misled, has always some good quality, some remnant of truth, and purity of heart.
Not so with Catholicity, which is always better than the Catholics. Let the Catholic be ever so good, perfect, even a saint, he will always retain some of the imperfections of human frailty and the traces of original sin. The Catholic Church guides her follower in the ways of God, points truth to him, and is free of all alloy, and absolutely good. The Church always teaches perfect sanctity, and is therefore always superior to its disciple.
Protestant ministers, in their attacks against the Church, often confound the Catholic with Catholicity. They make no distinction between the disciple, who is always imperfect, and the doctrine, which is perfect. Hence the unjust recrimination, and often ill-feelings; and hence also obstacles, chimerical it is true, but powerful enough to prevent a return to truth.
— Protestantism and Protestants are not one and the same thing; nor are Catholicity and Catholics the same and one.
Protestantism is in all cases worse than Protestants. This is absolutely true, and it can be easily understood. The sinner is always better than his sin: the man who is deceived is better than his error. Sin and error are, in fact, absolutely and essentially evil; but the man who either sins, or is misled, has always some good quality, some remnant of truth, and purity of heart.
Not so with Catholicity, which is always better than the Catholics. Let the Catholic be ever so good, perfect, even a saint, he will always retain some of the imperfections of human frailty and the traces of original sin. The Catholic Church guides her follower in the ways of God, points truth to him, and is free of all alloy, and absolutely good. The Church always teaches perfect sanctity, and is therefore always superior to its disciple.
Protestant ministers, in their attacks against the Church, often confound the Catholic with Catholicity. They make no distinction between the disciple, who is always imperfect, and the doctrine, which is perfect. Hence the unjust recrimination, and often ill-feelings; and hence also obstacles, chimerical it is true, but powerful enough to prevent a return to truth.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre