The Church is a hospital for sinners

In the creed, Christians profess and affirm the sanctity of the Church. Early Christians were called “the holy people” (cf. Acts 9:13). How can a Church consisting of human beings, of sinners, be holy? In what sense is the Church holy if we see that the historical Church has had so many difficulties, problems and dark moments?
The Church is not holy by her own merits. It is not the Christians who make the Church holy. She is holy because she comes from God who is holy; he is faithful to her and does not abandon her to the power of evil (cf. Mt 16:18). St. Paul says in Ephesus “Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her” (5:25-26). The Church is holy because she is guided by the Holy Spirit who purifies, transforms and renews (Romans 8:28).

No discrimination
The Church, that is holy, does not reject sinners; she calls everyone, and welcomes them. Removing the weeds may pose an even greater threat. Often the weed brings the seedling away with it. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees whose name means “the separated ones”, expected God to weed out the bad seed (sinners) by separating it from the good (righteous) (cf. Matthew 13:24-43).
“Holiness is a gift Jesus gives the Church”, says Pope Francis. Jesus often ate with “sinners”, and the Pharisees questioned why He did so. Jesus responded by saying “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12) “Let us be infected by the holiness of Jesus and sanctity others”, emphasises the pope.
There has been in Church history the same temptation to rid itself of sinners. Consider the Inquisition, instituted to find and punish people who did not accept the Church’s beliefs and practices (heretics). Its brutality proved very counterproductive. Under the law of charity, however, the Church endeavours to correct a sinner. In extreme cases, excommunication (exclusion from the communion) may be applied, as a medicinal rather than a malicious penalty. It helps to educate the rest and to bring back the sinner to the path of righteousness.
Everyone must allow themselves to be enfolded by the mercy, tenderness and forgiveness of the Father. It is the meeting of our weakness with the strength of his grace. The Church offers all the possibility of following a path of holiness by bringing us to encounter Jesus Christ in the Word of God and the Sacraments, especially in Confession and in the Eucharist. Efforts to reform the Church must follow its internal dynamics and unity.
God does not act by imposing himself from outside. He humanizes the world by attracting the consciences of his children to a life that is more just and fraternal. Once it is introduced into the world, the Church, like yeast, goes about quietly transforming human history. We need to collaborate with God by following Jesus.
Author and ex-priest Brennan Manning says: “The church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners”. As we acknowledge our sins, by trusting in Jesus’ righteous sacrifice on the cross for them, we can gather together to strengthen and encourage each other in our faith, so that we can continually strive towards becoming perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. (cf. Matthew 5:48).
Weeding out sinners remains God’s prerogative. Because he is all-powerful God governs the world with tolerance. He will judge all justly at the end of time. Life would be so much better for everybody, if only we would leave it all to him.