Pride, Pedestals, and Lazy Discipleship: A Wake-Up Call for Catholics

+JMJ+ I’ll be honest with you: I’m sick of this.

As a survivor of clerical abuse, every new scandal involving any known Church figure (priest, nun, influencer, etc.) can feel like someone ripping the scab off an old wound. It’s “one more thing” that shakes trust, reopens pain, and leaves many of us asking, How much more can we take? The recent scandal surrounding Catholic apologist Alex Jurado (known online as “Voice of Reason”) has been just that. His public denial of serious allegations, followed weeks later by a carefully crafted apology for other moral failings, left many of us confused, angry, and disappointed (maybe even heartbroken).

But if we stop at the scandal itself, we miss the deeper lesson. This isn’t only about one man’s failings. It’s about us.

The Real Wake-Up Call

Too often, we as Catholics place our faith in personalities rather than in Christ. We build pedestals for podcasters, authors, and influencers, assuming their eloquence or zeal makes them spiritually untouchable. Then, when they fall or we learn about past failings (and every one of us is capable of falling) we’re left shaken, disillusioned, and maybe even tempted to walk away.

This reveals a dangerous trend: lazy discipleship.

• Instead of diving into Scripture, the Catechism, or prayer, we rely on others to do the heavy lifting.

• Instead of spending time in prayer and discerning truth, we trust so easily without taking any accountability.

• Instead of remembering that even the most gifted teachers are sinners in need of God's grace, we treat their words as if they were the Word.

Wrestling with Mercy

Here’s where it gets hard for some of us, me included.

On one hand, I’m angry. I’ve lived through the devastation of betrayal in the Church, and I know how destructive sin and lies can be. I don’t want to minimize any wrong done here. If investigations reveal that minors were involved, that is an especially grave crime and must be dealt with accordingly.

On the other hand, Christ calls us to mercy. That can be a struggle, can't it? While what Jurado did was clearly wrong, if his inappropriate behavior involved only consenting adults and happened when he was young and foolish, before he was a public figure, then we need to remember something: “There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.” (St. Augustine)

That doesn’t excuse sin, and it doesn’t erase the consequences. If Alex is caught lying, then he is certainly discredited from ever again being a trusted public voice. However, mercy means hoping and praying that he and anyone involved/harmed can seek healing, forgiveness, and a future rooted in God’s grace.

Side note: To be clear, Jurado didn't necessarily deny the allegations of inappropriate conversations with other consenting adults when the information was released over a month ago, but he didn't outright admit to it either. He was somewhat vague about that in his social media response. However, he did absolutely deny that he ever had an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl. The investigation is ongoing, and the truth remains to be seen.

The truth is, our past sins can sometimes resurface, even when we’ve repented and changed our ways. This is especially true if someone is a public figure. While our sins may not define us anymore, the truth is that they can still wound reputations and relationships especially if we haven't been honest. This is a sobering reminder of that reality.

What Needs to Change

1. No More Pedestals. We can admire good work without idolizing the person behind it. The only one worthy of blind trust is Christ.

2. Personal Responsibility. Take time to read, pray, ask questions, seek answers, and wrestle with your faith. Don’t settle for secondhand discipleship.

3. Discernment Over Emotion. A tearful apology doesn’t prove repentance. Time and fruit matter.

4. Reject Celebrity Culture. Influencers aren’t clergy and clergy aren’t Christ. When we confuse popularity with holiness, we set ourselves up for heartbreak.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The Church doesn’t need Catholic celebrities, and it certainly doesn’t need lay people puffed up with pride, unwilling to acknowledge the failings of those they admire. What the Church needs are saints—ordinary people like you and me—willing to walk in humility, practice discernment, and live out daily fidelity to Christ (beyond the church pews).

Let’s reject the temptation to build pedestals or raise influencers up as saints. Let’s instead recommit to prayer, study, and virtue. Let’s demand accountability while also extending mercy. Above all, let’s remember that salvation is not found in platforms, subscriber counts, or public personalities. It is found in Jesus Christ alone.

In any moment of scandal, the path forward is clear: no more lazy discipleship and no more misplaced trust. There is only Christ.

Let's pray for Alex Jurado and all involved.