Rev. James Martin

Which is a good question. That's an easy question, actually, which is, you know, the Holy Spirit. Yes. Truly. I mean, the Holy Spirit holds the church together, and we have to believe that. And the Holy Spirit's guiding the church. We really have to believe that. Jesus Christ, who is present to us through the Spirit, holds us together. We believe that. So that's all true.

Which is a good question. That's an easy question, actually, which is, you know, the Holy Spirit. Yes. Truly. I mean, the Holy Spirit holds the church together, and we have to believe that. And the Holy Spirit's guiding the church. We really have to believe that. Jesus Christ, who is present to us through the Spirit, holds us together. We believe that. So that's all true.

But in terms of the person.

But in terms of the person.

Well, I would say the second part of that answer was the Pope and the primacy of St. Peter. And I think that's why it was so focused on unity, right? And all the different things we're talking about, sexual teaching, traditional Latin mass, you know, that's the constant theme of unity and hopefully the hierarchy. And hopefully our local priests and lay leaders.

Well, I would say the second part of that answer was the Pope and the primacy of St. Peter. And I think that's why it was so focused on unity, right? And all the different things we're talking about, sexual teaching, traditional Latin mass, you know, that's the constant theme of unity and hopefully the hierarchy. And hopefully our local priests and lay leaders.

Those are all kind of unifying forces, we hope. But really, the unifying person is the pope, which is, you know, that's what he was trying to do.

Those are all kind of unifying forces, we hope. But really, the unifying person is the pope, which is, you know, that's what he was trying to do.

protestant churches could break up and split apart how much people who really disagree with each other inside catholicism tend to stay in catholicism yeah and i really do think that's less a political thing and more of a spiritual thing i think people really want to stay in the church because they believe in the catholic church they believe in the apostolic succession they believe in the pope they believe this goes back to saint peter i just think that's so powerful i mean it's in

protestant churches could break up and split apart how much people who really disagree with each other inside catholicism tend to stay in catholicism yeah and i really do think that's less a political thing and more of a spiritual thing i think people really want to stay in the church because they believe in the catholic church they believe in the apostolic succession they believe in the pope they believe this goes back to saint peter i just think that's so powerful i mean it's in

Someone said to me recently or asked me recently, do you think there's going to be a schism because of homosexuality and the teaching of the church and same-sex unions and all that, the blessing stuff? And I just said, you know, these people who are sort of opposed to what the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published. They want to be Catholic.

Someone said to me recently or asked me recently, do you think there's going to be a schism because of homosexuality and the teaching of the church and same-sex unions and all that, the blessing stuff? And I just said, you know, these people who are sort of opposed to what the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published. They want to be Catholic.

You know, they don't want to leave the church. Who wants to leave the church? So I think it's much more a spiritual question. And even when Pope Francis was asked, do you think there'll be a schism? He said, no, because I think he understood that. People don't want to leave. Why would they? They might want to see changes.

You know, they don't want to leave the church. Who wants to leave the church? So I think it's much more a spiritual question. And even when Pope Francis was asked, do you think there'll be a schism? He said, no, because I think he understood that. People don't want to leave. Why would they? They might want to see changes.

And the other thing is, you know, for priests and cardinals and members of religious order, we've also made promises and vows not to leave. Right. No, no.

And the other thing is, you know, for priests and cardinals and members of religious order, we've also made promises and vows not to leave. Right. No, no.

That's a great question. I definitely think, you're right, that the bishops have less authority in the wake of the sex abuse crisis. I think the Pope still has a great deal of influence. And I think it's, as you were saying earlier, it's not just his words, but it's his deeds. I think that they can help, those kinds of gestures can help people understand Catholicism and Christianity more.

That's a great question. I definitely think, you're right, that the bishops have less authority in the wake of the sex abuse crisis. I think the Pope still has a great deal of influence. And I think it's, as you were saying earlier, it's not just his words, but it's his deeds. I think that they can help, those kinds of gestures can help people understand Catholicism and Christianity more.

That's an influence, right? I think when he does speak out on the death penalty on migrants and refugees on the environment, I do think Catholics listen, maybe not to their local bishop. I've often had the experience of saying to someone, you know, I mean, both of us are very attentive to these things. I'll say, by the way, what diocese are you in? And they won't know.

That's an influence, right? I think when he does speak out on the death penalty on migrants and refugees on the environment, I do think Catholics listen, maybe not to their local bishop. I've often had the experience of saying to someone, you know, I mean, both of us are very attentive to these things. I'll say, by the way, what diocese are you in? And they won't know.