Think the Jesuits Aren't Fully Catholic? THINK AGAIN!



Pope Benedict XVI with the new Father General of the Society of Jesus (as of 2008), Fr. Adolfo Nicolas


There is a pervasive suspicion of Jesuits in many corners of the Church.  Sometimes I and my brothers (ones who FULLY support Church teaching) have been prematurely judged and treated coldly as if we may not.  This is sad, and points to the scandal of division in the Body of Christ.  Are we a perfect religious order?  No.  Is there such a thing as a perfect religious order?  Absolutely not.  From the beginning, God has chosen fallible people to do His work, and that hasn't changed. 

Have some Jesuits made mistakes and errors?  Yes, and that is unfortunate.  We have also apologized to the Holy Father in our general congregations, and Pope Benedict XVI has recently made it clear how much he supports and trusts us to continue to do what we can to help bring people to God.  If you would like to read this AWESOME address by our Holy Father, here is a link in its entirety:
http://www.zenit.org/article-21968?l=english

Even though there can be a temptation toward anger at those who unfairly judge us because of our belonging to the Society of Jesus, we must bear this cross with graceful humility and try to be charitable toward them in return.  At the same time, I think it is valuable to boldly affirm that the Jesuits are at the full service of the Church.  In fact, when Jesuits take final vows, they take a Fourth Vow of complete obedience to the Pope in regard to missions. 

Young people interested in a religious vocation in the modern age generally want to be part of a religious order that is 100% in line with Church teaching, under the guidance of the successor of Peter, the Pope.  I know that I did not join the Jesuits in order to be any less faithful to the Pope, who I love with all my heart.