a snare of ruin.”12 Likewise, the Lord speaks again of [evil] priests through the prophet: “They were a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel.”13 No one does more harm in the Church than he who has the title or rank of holiness and acts perversely. This is because no layperson presumes to refute the delinquent. Moreover, because such a sinner is honored by the dignity of his rank, his offenses spread considerably by way of example. And yet everyone who is unworthy would flee from such
Page 32