The Church’s record
How could the Church have done that?
In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors.
On her pilgrimage, the Church has also experienced the "discrepancy existing between the message she proclaims and the human weakness of those to whom the Gospel has been entrusted." GS 43 # 6. Only by taking the "way of penance and renewal," the "narrow way of the cross," can the People of God extend Christ's reign. LG 8 # 3; 15; AG 1 # 3; cf. RMiss 12-20. For "just as Christ carried out the work of redemption in poverty and oppression, so the Church is called to follow the same path if she is to communicate the fruits of salvation to men." LG 8 # 3.
"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." LG 8 # 3; Cf. UR 3; 6; Heb 2:17; 726; 2 Cor 5:21. All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners. Cf. 1 Jn 1:8-10. In everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time. Cf. Mt 13:24-30. Hence the Church gathers sinners already caught up in Christ's salvation but still on the way to holiness:
The Church is therefore holy, though having sinners in her midst, because she herself has no other life but the life of grace. If they live her life, her members are sanctified; if they move away from her life, they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity. This is why she suffers and does penance for those offenses, of which she has the power to free her children through the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul VI, CPG # 19.