“Casta Meretrix” is an interesting couplet, although perhaps not for delicate ears, because it means “chaste whore”; but, actually it was first used in connection with the church, and by esteemed churchmen at that. It seems to go back at least to St Ambrose, 4th century AD, so it is of veritable vintage. The “chaste” part is based on many instances in the New Testament where the church is hinted at as the “immaculate bride of Christ” (Ephesians 5:27), or as the New Jerusalem, prepared to meet her husband (Revelation 21:2). And simply said, the “whore” part refers to the church’s many human imperfections, frailties and failings.
The expression encapsulates the belief that, from the very beginning, the church has been compromised, just because human nature is not perfect. And so to fail in living up to our exalted calling is something of a tragedy.
Yes, the foibles of the church are easily catalogued down the centuries, and openly recorded in official documents (how more official can you get than a gospel?). We had, for example, the disastrous scandal of church personnel, who were definitely known to have sexually abused children and adults, being covered up, or simply transferred to another location—and then for the same cycle of abuse to continue. Still, it ought to be clarified that any such sexual abuse perpetrated by church personnel is not at all unique to the church, or specific to any creed or nation or tribe. It simply represents one of the more reprehensible actions and attitudes unworthy of our lofty human calling. And it should not even need noting that the perpetrators represent a tiny minority.
During the covid scamdemic, we witnessed many examples of how religion was harnessed for most definitely questionable ends. Two miserable Catholic examples should suffice: the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul (a Catholic), encouraging people to get the “jab” because it was God’s will that they take the vaccine. What perspicacity, to be so able to decipher the divine mind! Then we had Pope Francis who, in August of 2021 said that, to take the experimental mRNA therapy was an “act of love”; and his saying in January of 2022 that taking the jab was a “moral obligation”. These are examples of the “meretrix” of the original couplet: church leaders neither speaking nor seeking the truth.
Yes, I was sorely disappointed with the behaviour and comments of church leaders during the scamdemic. The word “catholic” means “world-wide”: imagine if the Catholic church’s leadership had made some powerful pronouncement questioning the covid story and consequences? It might actually have made some difference. But no; there was no leadership. The shepherds (bishops, etc) remained mute; the lambs (the faithful) were abandoned. Instead of courageous leadership, we had the sorry sight of Ireland’s four archbishops pleading with the Taoiseach to allow them to re-open the churches (October 2020). This was a complete absence of leadership.
The current target of the deranged is our children and young adults. For some time now, the mentally troubled have been trying to get at the children, via the schools, NGOs (like “Belong To”), etc. We are in the sorry era of youngsters having their bodies mutilated by non-reversible surgery, using puberty-blockers, and so on. Altogether horrendous. Again, what have our church leaders said about this topic? Next to nothing. Shameful.
And now we have the Vatican organizing a series of LGBTQ+ events (Sept 2025), featuring an LGBTQ Cross. It looks like the iconic letters INRI (immortalised in John’s gospel) will be temporarily replaced with the hideous LGBTQ on the crossbar. If this is true, then this perfidy is even more heinous than tragic Judas’ betrayal; for his betrayal resulted in the death of one innocent man, Jesus; whereas this hideous crusade will result in the mutilation and probable death of thousands of youngsters (many through suicide), whose minds have been poisoned by this mental sickness.
Most of our current bishops come across as wimps, more concerned about not being “cancelled”, than speaking the truth. What a shame, that popularity is seen as weightier than loyalty to the gospel. We should never forget the example of St. Ambrose, mentioned earlier. As bishop of Milan, he confronted the emperor Theodosius around 390 AD. During the latter’s reign, there had been a massacre in Thessalonica, committed by Roman soldiers, and in response Ambrose refused to admit the Emperor to communion, unless he showed public evidence of remorse. There was a mighty stand-off and the emperor finally relented. That was when bishops did indeed have cojones. Alas, not anymore.
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