Posted on 08/22/2018 6:18:06 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
The Pennsylvania grand-jury report was released on the very day that I had chosen (long beforehand) to begin a week-long vacation. I had vowed that it would be a real vacation— that I wouldn’t hop back to post news items on this site— and I held to that vow. Still I could not escape the news; everyone I met wanted to hear my take on the scandal.
So I told people what I have been telling people since 2002: that the Dallas Charter addressed only one part of a three-part scandal; that our bishops have still not recognized the depth of the problem; that the crisis will continue until Church leaders demand true reform.
This new outcropping of the scandal has roused much, much more anger than the earlier revelations of the “Long Lent” in 2002. And whereas sixteen years ago the public was shocked primarily by the loathsome activities of predatory priests, this year the focus is— quite rightly— on the bishops. Our shepherds failed us. They misled us. They told us that they had fixed the problem, and they hadn’t. They told us that there would be no more cover-ups, but there were. They told us that they now understood the problem, but they didn’t. And I’m afraid that, as a group, they still don’t. If the American bishops understood the depth and breadth of the rage that is mounting among the Catholic laity— and is most evident among the most loyal, the most active, the most prayerful Catholics— they would follow the example of their Chilean counterparts and resign en masse.
Against this background it was refreshing, on my first full day back on the job, to go to morning Mass and hear the reading from Ezekiel (34: 1-11):
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the crippled you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. "Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep; therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
Dozens of bishops have released public statements about the scandal in the past few weeks. Some of these statements have been hard to credit: prelates claiming that they did not know what so many people around them knew, that they did not hear what they had been told. Others have been lawyerly and bureaucratic: mistakes were made, committees will be formed, procedures will be instituted. Most, to be fair, have been solid statements, full of apologies, recognizing a need for corrective action, promising reform.
Unfortunately we have heard the apologies and the promises before. The time for strongly worded statements has passed. It is time for action. Urgent action.
Last week a young Catholic woman asked me what our bishops are likely to do. “They’ll meet in November,” I began— and she interrupted with a shout: “In November??!!” She could not believe that, in the midst of this crisis, Church leaders would be content to wait several weeks before doing… anything. I share her frustration. I think Ezekiel shares it, too.
I said above that the time for statements has passed, but that was a slight exaggeration. There are two sorts of statements that a bishop could issue to catch my attention and earn my respect:
“I recognize that I have betrayed my people and irreparably damaged my credibility as a pastor of souls and a teacher of the faith. I resign.” “I have done my best, despite my failings, to fulfill my episcopal duties. But my colleagues, [here supply names], have betrayed their people and irreparably damaged their credibility as pastors of souls and teachers of the faith. I call upon them to resign.
New statements, new policies, new committees, new procedures cannot resolve this problem. If our bishops cannot institute serious reform, then we need new bishops.
New statements, new policies, new committees, new procedures cannot resolve this problem. If our bishops cannot institute serious reform,
The third statement would be something along the lines of “ we acknowledge there is an out of control gay fraternity among our ranks that will be rooted out.” Why is no one talking about this? Well, I know why.
This is right on the money. They need to either name names (they know who the culprits are) or resign. This should be the stance the laity takes — without uncompromising.
The Dallas Charter imposed the most egregious burden on lay people as the “fix. Background checks and fingerprinting and meetings, meetings, meetings. And that year after year.
And this in my experience, under a Bishop who said to me in the presence of others, “homosexuality is a gift from God”.
Priests need body cams. /s
This is exactly right. But I notice that none of the bishops (or priests) has done this. They are ALL wolves or hirelings. WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
We need Bishops and priests that will stand up and speak the Truth.
It seems that too many Bishops are afraid/unwilling to speak out against sin and allow the culture of sin and corruption to exist in the church.
The Church has had many martyrs willing to die for their faith in God. Now we seem to lack the will to clean out the leadership closet.
I see the church decreasing in size as only 20-30 % attend Mass regularly.
Jesus loves every person individually and wants them to join Him in Heaven. We need to encourage the church to do the right thing and regain their righteousness.
I am. I sent this letter to all of the bishops directly. What if we all do?
“Our bishops have still not recognized the depth of the problem“
Of course they have. That’s why they are lying and covering up.
True.
But who would be appointing those new bishops? The same person who named Cupich as Archbishop of Chicago?
Not a pretty picture either way.
I’ve been thinking about this (always a dangerous proposition). I don’t know we get from here to there, but it could be that the Church finds two or three holy, devout, old laymen who are widowers with children in as many dioceses as possible, and consecrates them as bishops, and have these men serve as a bridge to a new generation of exclusively non-sodomite clergy.
These men would be assisted by a second group of devout, older, married men who would administer the day-to-day affairs of the Church, much as deacons were originally supposed to do.
These two groups would self-perpetuate and serve for two or three generations, while seminaries and the lower clergy were reconstituted.
Anyway, that’s my bright idea for the month, lol.
How can that happen when the leaders are corrupt? When the wolves are attacking the hen house do we expect the wolves to reform themselves?
Good idea.
If a bunch of the pastors in my denomination were caught buggering little boys and girls, I’m bringing a horsewhip to church.
BBL
This is ten paragraphs too long. Here’s what a bishop should say:
I am gay and I am leaving the priesthood.
My replacement is straight.
He will remove all gay priests in our diocese.
Please pray for us.
Yes they did - they absolutely knew about the problem - including the depth. Remember - one doesn't just join the church and sign up to be a bishop. You begin in the ranks of the priesthood and basically "work your way" up. If any REAL transparency and honestly were to come out of this - one would find that many of the bishops who ignored/covered up this massive scandal, themselves were (or are) predators. Indeed - they KNOW the problem because they are right there among them. They turn a blind eye because that's how the powerful keep their positions - they selectively know what to ignore.
I won't even get into the entire foundational flaws with the Ecclesiastical format the Roman Catholic church has developed, which actually ENCOURAGES this kind massive cover-up (and it doesn't necessarily have to be of a sexual predator nature).
"gay" "fraternity"?
Sodomite mafia is more like ...
The Pope when the last massive pedophile scandal broke - did little more than lip service. Do you really expect the current Pontiff, with a record of crazy, Bible-bashing, Politically-correct statements and actions - with his “broad umbrella” policies - to do any more? Don’t hold your proverbial breath.
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