Sometimes, Catholics are in pain and even leave the Church because they have been treated harshly or unfairly. On behalf of the Catholic Church, we are very sorry that you have been hurt in this way. The Lord calls all of us to forgive others as he forgives us, but sometimes the hardest people to forgive are members of the Church. We expect more from them as followers – or, in some cases, representatives – of Christ. Asking the Lord to help us forgive is not easy, but it is worth taking this step in order to find healing in our lives.
The important thing is not to let any human being’s actions take away our relationship with the Lord and with the Church he founded. How sad it is when someone “throws the baby out with the bath water” – leaving the Catholic Faith because of the sinful actions of a member of the Church. While the feelings of pain and hurt are very understandable, it is still tragic when this happens. The Church is made up of sinners, but Christ came to save us, to heal, and to help us find the strength to forgive.
Christ, 'holy, innocent, and undefiled,' knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people. The Church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal." All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners. In everyone, "the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 827)