You did not read my post closely. I stated I was aware that the Donatist position was rejected. I did not state I accepted the doctrine they promulgated. I merely brought up the question of apostasy through wide spread sin in the church leadership. When one finds out that ones individual priest is engaging in anal intercourse with a twelve year old boy one is horrified but agrees the church survives. If one finds out it is widespread and the leadership participates and covers up the wrongdoing over an extended period of time; that I submit is quite a different set of facts. Apostasy can happen, indeed Christian apostasy is predicted. Of course, apostasy applies to Protestant ministers. I would not join many “mainstream” Protestant branches that have accepted Sodomite “marriage.” Indeed, St. Paul advised us to “come out from among them.” Which the early Protestants in fact did by reason of widespread church sin.
“I merely brought up the question of apostasy through wide spread sin in the church leadership.”
And I am answering your point. You are wrong. The sacraments are efficacious, even if the priest sins. If it were that the sacraments were dependent upon the priest, none of the sacraments would work.
Look at my example of Vicky Gene Robinson. He’s not Catholic. He’s an episcopalian.
You state that someone who is in a Church that has gone so far as to teach that homosexuality is not only not a sin, but is virtuous behaviour should leave, correct?
“Apostasy can happen, indeed Christian apostasy is predicted.”
I agree - look at Vicky Gene Robinson as exhibit A of Apostasy.
“Which the early Protestants in fact did by reason of widespread church sin.”
So what you are saying is that Protestants today who remain in the ECUSA, PCUSA, UMC, the ELCA should leave and join the Catholic church.
See, what you are confusing is sinful behaviour with Apostasy. Apostasy has to do with doctrine, not behaviour. If the Church were to stop being the Church because of sinful behaviour, it never would have lasted long at all.
You speak of the Great Apostasy, and we are in it today - when Protestant churches of all stripes have chosen to bless homosexuality.
You are very right sir - Protestants should leave these churches and become Catholic.