which held that a sinful priest could still administer effective communion, confession, baptism--all the rites. Here is a contemporary reference (edited to add: "contemporary" as in our time, not medieval time):
“We have to be in grace to receive Communion. What about the priest who is giving us the Eucharist?” asked Gill. In the wake of news about scandals in the church, this question might be one that some of the faithful are wondering. If a priest is in a state of mortal sin, does his celebration of the sacraments continue to be valid?
“It’s still valid because if a bad priest says a Mass, it’s still a good Mass; because it’s Christ who works the sacrament. If that priest does and intends what the Church does and intends, then it is valid,” explained Father Richard Simon, host of Father Simon SaysTM on Relevant Radio®."
https://relevantradio.com/2018/08/the-holiness-of-the-priest-doesnt-affect-the-validity-of-the-mass/
If I come across a papal bull or something, I'll post it.
There's also something called "Rasputinism," which we find rampant among American protestants, which holds that the greater the sins committed, the greater the triumph of faith when the sinner repents or otherwise gets his act together.
Then there's that thing in the Bible about the prodigal son.
= new reply since forum marked as read
