New Hampshire Representative D.J. Bettencourt views the Catholic Church in New Hampshire as being in a state of shame and dishonor

In these times of scandal it is critical to remember that the Church remains spotless even when Her members sin. There is absolutely no doubt that the human history of the Church, like all of human history, has its dark pages. But if anyone cares to take an objective look at this history, one must quickly acknowledge that the doctrine of the Church has always implicitly condemned abuses introduced by Her members. Dr. Dietrich Von Hildebrand explains: "There were sinners in the Church yesterday and there are sinners in the Church today. But the Church Herself, in her divine teaching, emerges gloriously unspotted in a history stained by human weaknesses, errors, imperfections, and sins."

D.J. Bettencourt has lost sight of this.  The Huffington Post is reporting that, "The Republican leader of the New Hampshire House on Friday called Roman Catholic Bishop John McCormack a 'pedophile pimp' who should have been led from the Statehouse in handcuffs after speaking at a rally criticizing a state budget proposal.


McCormack was among about a dozen speakers at Thursday's rally to protest deep cuts to social services included in the House's $10.2 billion budget. Rep. D.J. Bettencourt of Salem took issue Friday, writing on his Facebook page that McCormack had no business urging lawmakers to protect the vulnerable, given his role in the clergy sex abuse scandal in the last decade."  See here.

When asked later about his language, Rep. Bettencourt responded, "Yes, my language was colorful, but I stand by the sentiment in describing a man who has in my opinion brought shame and dishonor on my church here in New Hampshire...As a practicing Catholic it is truly disappointing that we would have a leader with a record of enabling such egregious and unacceptable behavior."

So D.J. Bettencourt views the Catholic Church in New Hampshire as being in a state of shame and dishonor because of the personal failures of Bishop John McCormack.  Good to know.  Perhaps this exlains his inability to muster the necessary fortitude required to oppose same-sex "marriage" within the Granite State.  See here.

Representative Bettencourt has failed to understand that Bishop John McCormack's shame and dishonor is his own, not that of the entire People of God in New Hampshire.  The great Cardinal Journet would have told him that, "All contradictions are eliminated as soon as we understand that the members of the Church do indeed sin, but they do so by their betraying the Church. The Church is thus not without sinners, but She is without sin. The Church as person is responsible for penance. She is not responsible for sins....The members of the Church themselves - laity, clerics, priests, Bishops, and Popes - who disobey the Church are responsible for their sins, but the Church as person is not responsible...It is forgotten that the Church as person is the Bride of Christ, 'Whom He has purchased with His own blood.'" (Acts 20:28).

So here's where we're at folks: D.J. Bettencourt believes that any debate on repealing same-sex "marriage" in New Hampshire should be put off until next year so that "full and undivided attention" may be focused on New Hampshire's "outstanding financial issues."  But he does have plenty of time to hurl stones at the Church.