We have seen that the abandonment suffered by the sheep of the Flock of Christ because the Hierarchy of the Church does not fulfill its duty in preaching the right Doctrine is mainly caused by an inferiority complex.

            This complex is rooted in fear, which, in turn, is brought about by a weak Faith and Charity that has grown cold. Therefore, we can conclude that this last reason –the cooling of Charity—is the deepest cause of fear, and, by the same token, of the inferiority complex.

            The lack of Love being at the root of cowardice or fear is not a matter of personal opinion; the Apostle and Evangelist himself states it: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (1 Jn 4:18). Therefore, if, according to Saint John, love casts out and is incompatible with fear, then the presence of the latter is a blatant proof that Love has disappeared.

            Therefore, narrowing the reasons for the lack of spiritual sustenance suffered by the faithful down to a mere inferiority complex on the part of the Hierarchy would be tantamount to staying on the surface of the problem. In the brief analysis we have made so far, we have seen that this phenomenon presents certain various characteristics and a plurality of causes; the deeper and more determined these causes are, the more serious and worrying they become.

            According to Jesus Christ, the abundance of iniquity is a concurrent cause of the cooling of charity (Mt 24:12). The deplorable phenomenon we have been talking about – and from which today’s Church is so virulently suffering – cannot fully be explained by the fearful attitude of the Hierarchy. Its cause must be attributed to an Evil who is fully displaying its Power and whose activity is totally unchecked. This Evil is pulling the strings of its multiple henchmen (secret Societies, Governments, Political Parties, Institutions, Mass Media…) with apparent deadly effectiveness and total success. The Cancer of Iniquity is progressively spreading all over the world, even penetrating and infecting the Body of the Church; so much so that the Bride of Christ is experiencing the worst attack ever in all her history, which has plunged her into a crisis more serious and dangerous than the ones once caused by the Arian and Protestant Heresies.

            Yet, Christians can always trust in the promise made by Our Lord that the Gates of Hell will never prevail against the Church (Mt 16:18); they will always have the certainty that the Church cannot disappear. Nevertheless, in view of the seriousness of the above-mentioned events and of the almost total anarchy and widespread confusion in the Church, today’s problem is how to search for her. We know that the Church is out there because she cannot have disappeared, nor will she ever do so; but where is she exactly? The silence of the numerous sectors of the Hierarchy; the diversity of doctrines, often contradictory among themselves, preached here and there or discussed by theologians; the fact that the Magisterium prior to the Second Vatican Council has been brought into question – and, consequently, also the post-Conciliar Magisterium; the almost total disappearance of the principle of authority; the de facto schism (real, though not officially accepted) of some countries from Rome; the questioning of almost all dogmas by the New Theology; the new discovery that all men are Christians from the very moment of their existence (Anonymous Christianity); the alleged validity of all religions to achieve salvation…etc., etc. All these things seem to validate making ours Saint Peter’s question: Lord, to whom shall we go? (Jn 6:68).

            Nevertheless, in spite of all the appearances and the seriousness of the facts; despite the numerous arguments that one calls upon to the contrary, Christians can always count on the supreme truth enshrined in the triumphant shout of the Apostle Saint John: This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith (1 Jn 5:4); or even more so on the promise of Christ Himself: I will be with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world (Mt 28:20). And so it will be, otherwise the promise about the final defeat of the Gates of Hell will go unfulfilled. Regarding the hope that someday the Church will be able to enjoy an abundance of Shepherds willing to bravely lead the Flock, there is yet another promise of Our Lord: Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to his harvest (Lk 10:2). True prayer, therefore, would suffice –if and whenever Christians finally decide to practice it—, always keeping Abraham in their minds, who hoped against all hope (Rom 4:18); and he was not disappointed.