I read in my Catholicism book that Jesus will return as an adult in His risen/glorified body, which contradicts the story I'm trying to tell. I threw it into my Catholic forum to see if there's a scriptural source for that. There are a few, but they're open to interpretation. Interestingly, two priests responded. One said it's a mystery and we can't be sure, although most expect Him to return exactly as He left. Of course, no one knows exactly what He looked like. That leaves me enough wiggle room to tell the story.
The bigger problem is that there are two endings to the Gospel of Mark in ancient manuscripts, a short version and a long one. The latter is considered canon in Catholicism. In it, Jesus says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” This quote suggests anyone who believes in Jesus can perform the miracles that Connor does, without them being the resurrected Christ. Granted priests are believed to have some of these powers, hence the anointing of the sick and exorcisms by specially trained priests.
I'm going to have to amp up the miracles Connor can perform in act I before the cardinals debate whether or not he is Christ. Fortunately, the Antichrist is after him, so he has that going for him.
Ponder, I must.