Questioning Priests

Conveniant namque singuli vero examine conscientiam suam, et ita deprehendent an secundum rectam rationem sacerdotali cathedrae insideant. Videamus, inquam, quid salvator mundi and factorque dicat. Vos estis inquit sal terrae: quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? Ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut proiciatur foras et conculcetur ab hominibus. Hoc unum testimonium ad confutandos impudentes quosque abunde sufficere posset. Sed ut evidentioribus adhuc astipulationibus, quantis semetipso intolerabilibus scelerum fascibus falsi hi sacerdotes opprimant, verbis Christi comprobetur, aliqua annectenda sunt. Sequitur enim: Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita, neque accedunt lucernam et ponunt eam sub modio, sed supra candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus, qui in domo sunt. Quis ergo sacerdotum huius temporis ita ignorantiae caecitate possessus, ut lux clarissimae lucernae in aliqua domu cunctis noctu residentibus scientiae simul et bonorum operum lampade luceat? Quis ita universis ecclesiae filiis tutu publicum conspicuumque refugium, ut est civibus firmissima forte ut editi montis civitas vertice constituta, habetur? Sed et quod sequitur: Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, ut videant opera vestra bona et magnificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est: quis eorum uno saltim die potst implere? Quin potius denissima quaedam eorum nebula atraque peccaminum omni insulae ita incumbit nox, ut omnes paene a via recta avertat ac per invios impeditosque scelerum calles errare faciat, quorum non modo Pater caelestis non laudatur per opera, sed etiam intolerabiliter blasphematur. Sanctus Gildas Sapiens, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae Source: Migne PL 69.382d-383c

For let each meet his own conscience in true examination and thus understand whether they sit in the priestly chair according to right reason. Let us see, I say, what the Saviour and the creator of the world says. 'You are the salt of the earth, if the salt shall have spoiled, with what will it be salted? It is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden on by men.' 1 This one testimony should abundantly suffice to confute all those who are shameless, but so that by yet more overt attestations, that is, by the words of Christ, it may be proved with what intolerable burdens of crimes these false priests oppress themselves, some words must be added. It follows, 'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, so that it may shine on all those who are in the house.' 2 Who, then, of the priests of this time, who are possessed by the blindness of ignorance, will shine out as the light of a most clear lamp on those residing in the house at night with the flame of both learning and good works? Who is regarded as such a safe, public and conspicuous refuge for all the children of the Church, so that he is like a strong city set on the summit of a high hill for its citizens? And as for what follows, 'So let your light shine out before men so that may see your good works and magnify your Father who is in heaven,' 3 who among them can fulfil it for just a single day? Rather a certain thick mist and black night of their offences sits on the whole island, so that it leads away almost everyone from the right path and causes them to wander into paths impassable and obstructed by crimes, because of which works the heavenly Father is not praised but is indeed unbearably blasphemed. Saint Gildas The Wise, On The Destruction and Ruin of Britain 1 Mt 5.13 2 Mt 5.14-15 3 Mt 5.16