This hypothetical scenario has inhabited my thoughts for many years, ever since I learned of “the problem” that shameful shadow now eclipsing the Catholic Church.
Imagine a little orphan that is raised by an auntie. Imagine that his name is Robert but one day he tells his auntie that he would like to be called Roberta and wear girly clothing. For some reason, Robert’s auntie acquiesces to the child’s desires and “Roberta” grows up as a girl, a girl with a secret. Roberta goes to church with her auntie, she gets baptized and receives confirmation, her first communion, and goes from time to time to confession but “she” never reveals her secret to anyone. No one notices that she is a boy because she takes good care to wear modest clothes to conceal her secret from any prying eyes.
In time, a a young man in the parish takes notice of Roberta. He is a good Catholic and courtship is conducted very properly. A wedding takes place a few years after Roberta’s auntie passes away. Roberta and John are married in church and soon leave to have their honeymoon at Niagara Falls. That night, John discovers for the first time the secret that Roberta has kept for years. He runs from the hotel room in horror, etc.
Canonical question: Is that a valid marriage? Is that a sacred bond between the parts involved?
I dare say —although I am not a canonical lawyer by any stretch of the imagination— that there was never any marriage. Granted, it is quite difficult for a thing like that to occur but I am only imagining this to make my point (that is coming, I promise you!)
Now imagine a young man, a convinced Marxist and a homosexual who is one day approached by Joseph Stalin and asked to accept a very delicate mission. The young man is to become a Catholic and enter seminary to live his entire life as a Catholic priest. He will be introduced to other young men who are part of a sophisticated infiltration plan. Stalin aims to send as many of those young men into seminaries in various countries. Their mission is to debilitate and destroy the Catholic Church.
Our young man —we will call him Stephen— completes his studies and is ordained a priest while remaining a convinced atheist Marxist and a practicing homosexual. He is now Fr. Stephen.
Canonical question: Was that a valid ordination? Is there a sacred bond between “Father” Stephen the impostor and God?
I dare say —although I am not a canonical lawyer by any stretch of the imagination— that the deceiver was not open to the truth of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Someone with more knowledge of Canonical Law will have to answer that for sure.
To my mind, “Roberta” is as much a bride as Stephen is a priest.
Now, if my view is correct, think of the consequences for the Church if Stephen or any of his comrades is allowed by God to reach the upper echelons of the hierarchy and become a Cardinal or a Pope. “Impossible!” say you? Read John 17, emphasis on verse 12.
Again, to my mind, only Christ can solve this problem. Only Christ can restore to life the Church that is not dead but sleeping, eclipsed by very daring, cynical and astute wrongdoers. (John 11:11) The Catholic Church will be rescued from this present state by Christ. (See Mark 5:39-42)
Do not expect Jesus to arrive and meekly solve the problem. He has been very clear:
“But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.” (Luke 19:27)
Quod scripsi, scripsi 