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In 1517 the selling of indulgences for the remission of punishment in purgatory so infuriated a professor of theology that he opened an attack on the church that heralded the birth of Protestantism. Today, a more informed Catholic laity is looking askance and with some anger at the attitudes of bishops, officials of the church, some of whom appear to be more interested in protecting the institution than the individuals in it.
The church, of course, has instituted many reforms since those early times, has changed considerably for the better, and it will survive this painful, embarrassing present situation.
I wonder, however, how many of the faithful, having lost some affection for their church, will also lose allegiance.
