How can it be claimed that the Church is holy, in view of the sinfulness of her members and even of her leaders?

Even Christians commit sin, as St John writes: “My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not commit sin. But if someone does commit a sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous” (1Jo 2:1; see Q240b, Q319).

Yet, those who sin can be washed anew by true repentance through the ministry of the Church; such sins therefore do not prevent the Church from being intrinsically holy, a holiness which is not from her members but from her Head, and from the Lord’s grace and mercy.

Sinners who refuse to repent, however, are cut off from the body of the Church whether by the visible act of Church authority (excommunication) or by the invisible judgment of God, and by this means also the Church is kept holy. As St Paul commands: “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1Co 5:13).

The authority of the Church, vested in the bishop, to admonish sinners and settle disputes, is confirmed by the Lord’s own words: “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone… If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to hear even the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Amen, I tell you: whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven” (Mat 18:15–18; see Q427).

Accordingly, the Church, always in harmony with the inspired Scriptures, has established norms and guidelines for discipline and penance, often referred to as “canon law.”

“Canons” are norms of conduct and orderly process in the Church, whose goal is to maintain the holiness of the assembly while imitating the heavenly Father, who “disciplines those whom he loves” (Heb 12:6). The canons are medicine, not mere legislation: their aim is healing.

Historically, canons were adopted by regional gatherings of bishops and by the Ecumenical Councils. In discharging his office of shepherd, the bishop, assisted by his council of presbyters, refers to these canons, which have been gathered into collections (such as the Pedalion or “Rudder”) and discussed by eminent commentators over the centuries.

The Church ever calls upon the Lord for guidance and wisdom, so that those in need of spiritual healing may receive proper pastoral care (Mat 9:12–13), while those who persist in entrenched and unrepentant sin are removed, in accordance with the apostolic command.