Is it possible that Christ's Church, the Catholic Church, fell into apostasy?

hear vague accusations frequently from some of the members of the so called “restoration churches” and others such as the Baptists and the Seventh Day Adventists, always without substance or supporting evidence, that Christ’s Church, the Catholic Church, has fallen on apostasy. There is no evidence at all that this happened, either Biblical or historical.

One of the things that bother me the most about such egregious claims is it attacks the veracity of Christ’s teaching and that of the apostles. It supposes Jesus to be a liar and a pretender as the Messiah. It denies His divinity and makes many of His statements and teaching blasphemous. The Bible clearly states that Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church, yet many claim that it has and the Church has fallen into apostasy.

(Mat 16:18 DRB) And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It would seem that some believe that Jesus was incompetent when building His church with Himself as the cornerstone and the disciples as the foundation, and that it fell into apostasy. Jesus built His Church upon rock with a foundation to last for all time. Here is what Jesus answered to these claims

(Luk 6:47 DRB) Every one that cometh to me and heareth my words and doth them, I will shew you to whom he is like.

(Luk 6:48 DRB) He is like to a man building a house, who digged deep and laid the foundation upon a rock. And when a flood came, the stream beat vehemently upon that house: and it could not shake it: for it was founded on a rock.

(Luk 6:49 DRB) But he that heareth and doth not is like to a man building his house upon the earth without a foundation: against which the stream beat vehemently. And immediately it fell: and the ruin of that house was great.

They even suggest that the disciples of the apostles were the ones responsible for that apostasy. He said that through the apostolic succession that the church would be led to all truth.

(Joh 14:26 DRB) But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.

The Scriptures teach that Christ will be with His Church for all times…

(Mat 28:20 DRB) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

Jesus is not a liar. His promises to His Church are true and it will endure for all time as the ark of truth for humanity against the evil and temptations of the world.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph