Hired Men

I am feeling a little despondent, the German bishop are stirring up the waters of the Rhine, by teaching the acceptability of the "morning after" pill even some of our own sillier bishops lapsing into that political nonsense of left and right, conservative and liberal. Part of this is political manoevering, part is silliness and part is a deliberate and diabolic attack on the Church's unity.
On the Feast of the Chair of Peter, it is worth remembering that not only is the Petrine charism giving to the Bishop of Rome but it is something given to the whole Church. Being Catholic means that we accept that Peter speaks not only to us but for us, this is not a "bolt on" to the Church but something of its very essence, and certainly something given to it by Jesus Christ, for those not in visible and recognisable communion with Peter there is something deficient in their Christianity.
In order for Peter to exercise his charism it is necessary for the members of the Church to excercise a certain docility, not merely to Peter but through Peter to Christ. In order for Peter to feed Christ's lambs and sheep it is necessary the should be willing to accept the food they are offered.
Disunity is a scandal, it takes away the credibility of the Church which is wicked, but more importantly it destroys credibility in Christ himself.
During this time of confusion, the last week before the See of Rome becomes vacant  it is perhaps easy to identify the hired men rather than the true shepherds.