[Canticle_of_Deborah]

#1 - This explains a lot about Mahoney's political and 'social justice' type activities.

#2 - I've have heard that the Sacraments are valid even when the priest is not the most holy person. Personally, I have a difficult time believing this. A corrupt priest would be a dirty container for the Spirit. How could the Holy Spirit act or reside there? I think a priest/Saint's abilities are directly related to their own purity. I will only go to Mass and take Sacraments from a priest I respect and know to be a good person, but that's just me.

[SoothingDave]

I've have heard that the Sacraments are valid even when the priest is not the most holy person. Personally, I have a difficult time believing this. A corrupt priest would be a dirty container for the Spirit. How could the Holy Spirit act or reside there? I think a priest/Saint's abilities are directly related to their own purity. I will only go to Mass and take Sacraments from a priest I respect and know to be a good person, but that's just me.

If sin is a disqualifier for Jesus to work through a priest, then we would have absolutely no sacraments.

And if doubt as to a priest's being a "good person" affected the validity of sacraments, we would never know if we had every received a valid sacrament.

SD

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

#2 - I've have heard that the Sacraments are valid even when the priest is not the most holy person. Personally, I have a difficult time believing this. A corrupt priest would be a dirty container for the Spirit. How could the Holy Spirit act or reside there? I think a priest/Saint's abilities are directly related to their own purity. I will only go to Mass and take Sacraments from a priest I respect and know to be a good person, but that's just me.

Your position is known as the Donatist heresy and was dealt with by Saint Augustine in the fourth century. The following column provides a good explanation of why the efficacy of the Sacraments are not destroyed by the unworthiness of the priest.

http://bcc.rcav.org/00-10-09/c-gallo.htm

[ThomasMore]

How could the Holy Spirit act or reside there? I think a priest/Saint's abilities are directly related to their own purity.

It's called "ex opere operato". I think the Catechism talks about it in par 1258? Without this, valid sacraments would be in question.