From the
Old Testament, the Second Book of Paralipomenon, 26:16-18: “He [King Ozias] slighted
the Lord his God; into the temple he would go, and there burn incense at the
censing-altar. Close at his heels the high priest Azarias entered, and eighty
priests with him, strong men all, to withstand the royal will. Not for thee,
Ozias, they cried, to burn incense in the Lord’s honor; that is for the
priests, the sons of Aaron, that are set apart for this office. Leave this holy
place, and profane it no more; thou wilt win no favor from the Lord God by such
doings as these…”
Aftermath: Ozias persisted, and was immediately struck by God with leprosy.
Moral 1: A Church’s sanctuary is not the
place for laymen who usurp the role of priests.
Moral 2: When a country’s chief ruler intrudes himself unjustly
into matters of faith and morals, clerics do well to resist him.
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