[muawiyah]

I thought it was the other way around ~ that since the foundations of the Reformation that no priest in the old church was pure enough to administer a sacrament so Catholics were left without.

Isn't that the story?

[NYer]

I thought it was the other way around ~ that since the foundations of the Reformation that no priest in the old church was pure enough to administer a sacrament so Catholics were left without.

Do you have a source for this?

[lastchance]

The validity of the sacrament does not depend on the conduct of the priest. There is a theological term for this but it escapes me. But if the grace of Christ which is imparted through the sacrament depended on the " purity" of the priest what Catholic could ever have assurance of Christ's promises. Indeed since it is Christ Himself who acts through the priest to administer the sacrament we have no reason to fear the priest's lack of purity will block Christ's grace.

[Conservative til I die]

I thought it was the other way around ~ that since the foundations of the Reformation that no priest in the old church was pure enough to administer a sacrament so Catholics were left without. Isn't that the story?

I've never heard this before.

[JohnRoss]

The Protestant "Reformation" was one of the greatest apostasies in Church history. I only understood Luther when I renounced Lutheranism.