Image posted by Jon Pingoli
In the August 18 issue of the Catholic journal, America, Camille D'Arienzo offers an essay titled, Mercy To Our Fathers. D'Arienzo suggests that forgiving priests guilty of abuse could be the key to healing. Here's an excerpt from this provocative article: follow the link for the rest of the story.
On a frigid night last January, Joseph R. Maher, a successful businessman and president of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, spoke at a parish on Long Island in New York. Opus Bono’s mission is to provide help for priests who have been expelled from ministry because of accusations of sexual abuse. In the audience were priests, abuse victims and members of Voice of the Faithful. Although the opening prayer called for healing and reconciliation, the tension in the room militated against both.
In his talk, Maher argued that a large number of accused priests are innocent and that, abandoned by bishops and laity, they are denied the resources to clear their names. He spoke also of the need to give culpable priests opportunities to reform and return to active ministry. And he said that many victims who claim abuse are merely seeking financial gain, and argued against the suspension of statutes of limitation in cases of sexual molestation.
Although every one of Maher’s points had some validity, his failure to nuance them incited the audience. One after another, individuals came to the microphone to voice criticism of Maher’s insensitivity. What began as a good-faith attempt to bring together people concerned about both victims and accused priests concluded by exposing what one person in attendance termed “the still open wound on the soul of the church.” The discussion reached its nadir when one woman declared, “For such men no healing is possible.”
What does such a statement imply about the power of Christ’s redemptive love? Has the church, from top to bottom, determined that those who have sexually abused minors are outside of the circle of those whom God can forgive? Is there no grace left for them?
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Many years ago during a television show on evil, Bill Moyers said: “Victims of evil must cope with the ugly graffiti that is scribbled on the walls of their psyche. Can they forgive the evildoers? Should they?” An answer can be found in the wisdom of the Quakers, who remind us that “forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves.”
The Quaker sentiment and the graphic above certainly do not sum up what Christian forgiveness is all about, but there's no denying the truth in both.
-Concord Pastor
Over the past year or so I have come to realize that people of religious vocations are not "better" than we are, but they are definitely held to a higher standard and expected that being faithful, good, and holy are some how easier for them because of this. I realize more and more that this is not the case. Reading My Life With The Saints I have come to know that saints are not born saintly or have it easier because of their works. Mother Teresa, though not a saint yet, had some very dark times where she felt alone without God. This all said though, I have trouble with any person who violates children. Let's be honest the people that do this are people that children trust (family, school workers, friends, etc.) otherwise the children would probably not follow the adult. That said I am not sure how I forgive anyone who has done this. I also do not know why God "allows" for this. This is a question that I will ponder probably forever.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that there are clergy that are falsely accused and I am glad that you posted this article. It gives me more to think about.
I am able to forgive the perpertrators of this horrendous crime, be they clergy or laity; they suffer from a serious mental illness.
ReplyDeleteI stumble and struggle when it comes to forgiving anyone in the secular or sacred worlds who keeps any kind of abuse a secret. Also included is any legal system that allows perpertrators to fall through the cracks, remain unregistered, and does not demand treatment programs for all who are not incarcerated or are being released from incarceration. We have not done a good job in this country of handling those who are mentally ill who commit crimes. Prison often does nothing more than escalate the issues.
My prayer is that those who are in a position to effect change will work diligently towards doing so and that my heart will not remain hardened to the systems which fail us.
I don't know exactly what to say. I pray everyday for a priest (a monsignor who held many important positions in his diocese,) who died in 1999, who was a friend of mine for many years. I learned from Bishop Accountability's website that he had been credibly accused in 2004. Needless to say I was dumbfounded by these revelations. He is the only priest that I have known personally who has been credibly accused. What caused him to do this I don't know. All I know is that I hope his victim survivors will forgive him and for their own sakes hand it over to God. It is heartbreaking to know how much pain has been felt by so many. The code of secrecy and silence that has permeated the church on the issue of clergy sex abuse must end. I hope that Pope Benedict's words in the US and in Australia will not ring hollow.
ReplyDeleteIn Sunday's Globe Ideas section Michael Paulson had an excellent interview with Camille D'Arienzo. While she didn't reveal it in her piece for America magazine, she did tell Michael that her mother had died when she was a child and that when her father remarried, she and her sister had had a very painful childhood. I could sense that her memories were still raw. She referred to it as her "crucible." And yet she knows that the conversation of forgiveness, no matter how painful, should begin with regards to abusive priests.
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