If you have been immersed in secular media lately you would have thought that the Catholic Church must be standing still while dealing with the sex abuse crisis. Everytime there is another allegation against a Catholic Priest it's stop the presses time and, at least in my community, the local big radio station can talk about nothing else.
Three points: 1. Sexual abuse by clergy is reprehensible. Any intended cover up is inexcusable. And all victims of such unspeakable crimes are first and foremost in our prayers. 2. Sexual abuse by clergy is at best a reach for the secular media to make an offensive move to opine on all things Catholic it abhors. 3. The Church, which has made great strides in recent years and must continue to work out these problems, continues to thrive, grow and bring the Gospel to a world desperate for hope. And yes, the Catholic Church, worldwide, continues to be the leader in programs that assist the poor, care for the sick, shelter homeless, minister to the prisoner, pray with the despairing, hold the hand of the dying, educate our children, from pre-K to post graduate, prepare couples for marriage, defend the immigrant, perform mission work in all corners of the world and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass everyday in every time zone across the world.
Maybe this post should include a point number 4. Here it is. In just the past two weeks, nationally and locally, major sexual abuse scandals have broken in public grammer schools, private high schools, public high schools, a social organization for girls, the boy scouts, again, the Lutheran Church, several non-denominationl churches, and a soccer league.
No one is advocating that all these instituitions are paralyzed or that all school teachers, coaches, ministers or scouts are evil.
I know what happens when anyone, me included, makes these points. We are excusing this crime, we are defending the Church blindly. Again, let's be clear. Sexual abuse within the Church is wrong and inexcusable. But don't use this tragedy to make your own headline or foster your own agenda.
Catholicism always had its' share of problems borne of human error and weaknesses of some; including those in leadership positions. And despite this fact, she has endured 2,000 years and continues to grow, evolve and act.
Today I will spend a majority of my Saturday with 30 men who are following a call, putting many other self-interests behind and pursuing ordination to the Diaconate. Some are scheduled to be ordained in less than 6 months; others in 2 years. They know that their service in ordained ministry is still needed for a Church, imperfect in it's human instutions but founded by Chirst and promised that even the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.
And we should mention here, that even vocations to the Priesthood are showing signs of growth in many areas of this country and several emerging countries in the world.
Pray for the Church, pray for vocations; and yes, include Deacons too. And continue to have faith in our faith. Pray for all victims of sexual abuse, especially those who are betrayed by clergy. And pray for those who are lost and feel the need to do such horrible things. And pray for those who continue to exploit this situation to promote their own bias or agenda.
I'm Catholic and proud to be Catholic.
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