Posted on 06/13/2022 11:09:30 AM PDT by ebb tide
It wasn’t long into my study of the sex abuse crisis in the Church that I realized that many or even most bishops customarily respond to a report about abuse 1) by feeling sorry for themselves that they have another mess on their hands; 2) by feeling sorry for the priest whose priesthood may be ruined; and 3) by trying to figure out how to get the victim to remain silent and go away. There is rarely, if ever, any true concern shown for the victim; sometimes counseling is offered but more often as a way to appease than to help the victim.
It can take decades for a victim even to begin to seek justice for the abuser. And most often it is done out of a concern to prevent the abuser from continuing to abuse. Victims long to put the abuse “behind them” (as much as that might be possible) and get on with their lives. They also need to face being triggered by reports of abuse similar to theirs and sometimes need to deal with reemergence in the news of their own case.
One such victim is Rachel Mastrogiacomo, who suffered devastating life consequences because of Satanic Ritual Sexual Abuse by former priest Jacob Bertrand of the Diocese of San Diego. Bertrand ultimately confessed to abusing Mastrogiacomo and was convicted of ritual rape. The judge was very hesitant to consent to the “no jail time” agreement, but because Rachel became aware that some false narratives of the abuse would be introduced into trial she consented to extended probation for Bertrand. Bertrand’s admission of guilt became her priority.
(Excerpt) Read more at crisismagazine.com ...
The bishops moving abusive priests around gave many Catholics reason to become discouraged with their faith. I know several who “left” because of this and have never returned. They call themselves Catholic, but do not attend, and I daresay, have given up even praying. I struggled with that myself for a while, but never gave up hope, and desired the Eucharist too much to let humans stand in the way of my relationship with the Lord.
They further confuse the flock by not confronting pro-abortion pseudo Catholic politicians. What a sad state of things.
This was true in the 1980’s and it hasn’t gotten better.
I left because of this.
I do not and would not call myself a Catholic.
I still have a relationship with the Lord, but it isn’t through that corrupt church.
Just what the enemy wants.
Have you seen the ImPopester?
The enemy has the Catholic church.
Keep your relationship with the Lord always. I finally decided that even with the fallen priests, Jesus is the One who is really there at Mass. I go to a pretty conservative traditional Catholic Church now, but it took a while to find it. God answered my prayers, but it took years. I don’t have a blindfold on. I see the problems, but my relationship with Jesus is the important thing to me.
Hmmm. The gospel does not take that long to read.
Baptists about as bad. Deacon Freakey gets canned from one church about his wandering hands and goes down the road to the next BC. No records kept as it would violate the principle of congregational independence. Bah
What do you say to the saying attributed to St Theresa of Avila that ‘There are more tears shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones’.
I’m assuming she means tears of joy and gratitude to the answered prayers.
I also don’t believe in unanswered prayers. I think sometimes God tells us “no” or “not yet” as the answer. He answers us, just not the way we always want Him to answer. That would make us God, not Him.
Catholic friends tell me it means being careful what you wish for. G-d punishes the presumptious by giving them what they desire so they find it worse than what their lot was before. In short, shut up and deal with your reality and not wish for some miraculous transformative experience. All life experiences here in a fallen world are in some way corrupt and you as a mere mortal have no way of knowing what desired changes would really do. Profoundly Catholic conservative attitude.Shut up, go to Mass, obey, and hope in the future beyond the grave.
I think your Catholic friends need to study up. They don’t sound like they get it at all to me. The attitude you’re saying they suggest is why bother praying? Plus, I also think prayer is not a monologue from us to God. It’s a dialogue. We are supposed to listen to Him as well as ask. He wants us to ask. He’s not some charm or amulet.
I don’t think St. Teresa of Avila means for us to shut up or stop praying. I can’t imagine her being called a Doctor of the Church if that’s what she was getting at. She wants us to enhance our spiritual life, not cut it off. In fact, that sounds like something that might please Satan.
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