“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

We often criticize the Church for its sins, and rightly so. But let us not forget that America, like the Church, has its own history of sins—sins that continue to haunt us today. It is easy to point out the flaws in others, but when we do so, we often forget to look at our own hearts. The Church is not a podium for saints; it is a hospital for the sin-sick. Would we point at a hospital and yell, “There are sick people in there!”? Of course not. We go to the hospital for healing. Similarly, the Church exists not to glorify perfection but to bring sinners into the healing arms of Christ.

Here are seven massive sins that have stained America:

Slavery — America's sin of enslaving millions based on race is a haunting scar on its history, one whose effects are still deeply felt today.
Racism — From segregation to systemic inequality, racism continues to fracture the fabric of our society.
Abortion — Over 60 million lives lost since 1973—a tragedy that grieves the heart of God and wounds the soul of this nation.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki — The deliberate destruction of innocent lives in the name of ending war, leaving scars that are still felt today by survivors and their families.
Vietnam War — The suffering caused by unnecessary violence, the deaths of millions, and the moral wounds left on America that remain unresolved.
Sexual Immorality — The normalization of pornography, infidelity, and the breakdown of the family, all of which undermine the sanctity of life and marriage.
Imperialism and Greed — America's thirst for power and wealth, often at the expense of the marginalized, has led to untold harm both at home and abroad.
Despite these sins, I still love the good in America. I stand proudly for our National Anthem. I love the rugged individualism that gives us our personal freedoms. I love the courage of the Founding Fathers who fought for liberty. I love the sacrifices of our soldiers who protect our way of life. I love the compassion shown by so many, working tirelessly to make the world a better place. These are true, beautiful gifts. America has incredible potential, and when she lives out her ideals, she shines as a beacon of hope for the world. We are a country of people from all corners of the earth coming together under one flag. I love our nation deeply.

Now, let us look at the sins of the Church. Here are seven massive sins that have stained the Catholic Church:

The Crusades — The violence and bloodshed of the Crusades, carried out in the name of God, left deep scars on the Church's history and the hearts of many.
The Inquisition — The Church's involvement in the Inquisition, which persecuted those deemed heretical, was a dark chapter marked by fear, violence, and injustice.
Sexual Abuse Scandals — The betrayal of trust by clergy, whose actions devastated countless lives, has been a source of pain and a scandal that the Church continues to address.
The Sale of Indulgences — The Church's past practice of selling indulgences, which promised forgiveness of sins for money, led to widespread corruption and exploitation.
Persecution of Indigenous Peoples — The Church’s role in the forced conversion and mistreatment of Indigenous peoples, especially during colonial times, remains a stain on its legacy.
Clericalism — The hierarchical structure that often placed clergy above the laity, fostering an atmosphere of secrecy and power, led to abuses and divisions within the Church.
The Reformation — The Church's resistance to reform and its failures to address legitimate concerns led to division and the fracturing of Christianity into separate branches.
Despite these sins, I still love the good in the Church. The Church, though broken by human sin, remains the Bride of Christ, a place where we encounter grace, healing, and truth. The beauty of the Sacraments, the wisdom of the saints, and the constant message of hope and redemption all point to the truth that Christ is with us, even amidst our flaws.

This is the same reality for America. Yes, both America and the Church have sins—many committed by their members, myself included. The Church and the nation are not exempt from human frailty. But we must not forget that both America and the Church aren’t about human perfection; they are about Christ. The Church has had over 2,000 years to sin, while America has had only a couple hundred. That’s why we have the Sacrament of Confession and the Cross of Christ. Both America and the Church need redemption—redemption that Christ offers through His Cross.

The very reason we have the Cross is because we are broken—both inside and outside the Church. And just as in Confession, we are not here to justify these sins, nor reason them away. The Cross is not a place for justifying; it is a place for confessing. We are called simply to acknowledge the wrongs, to lay them before Christ. He knows the rest of the story. We do not have to defend it. Just confess, and in that confession, He offers redemption, healing, and grace.

In both America and the Church, we are called to recognize sin and brokenness. But we are also called to see the truth, beauty, and grace that exist within both. We are called to love both—not because they are perfect, but because Christ is in them, and He gave His life for this.

The sins of America are absorbed into Christ on the Cross, just as the sins of the Church are absorbed by Him, who offers healing through His love. The Cross takes all that is broken and offers redemption, transforming what was once a source of division into a bridge that unites us to the Father.

It’s not about bypassing the Cross of Christ. It’s not about turning a blind eye to sin or pretending flaws don’t exist. It’s about recognizing that in both America and the Church, Christ is at the center, offering us a way forward—a way of redemption and healing. If we fail to see the good, the grace, and the love in both, we miss the full story. We miss what it truly means to be a Christian and to be a well-grounded soul.

The Cross was established by God for a reason, and through it, we see the sins of the world, our own sins, and the deep, redemptive love of Christ. Can we look past the flaws to see the truth? Can we embrace the Cross of Christ and allow it to heal both America and the Church? If we could all stand at the foot of the Cross together, the whole world of souls looking up, it could be the epiphany of a funeral. Where have we been? Where has forgiveness been?

With love and respect in Christ,
A fellow seeker of truth

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”