I want to preach about the tragedy of sexual abuse in the American Catholic Church. In our Diocese we went through this tragedy back in 2002 and entered bankruptcy court in 2004. We liquidated diocesan property, received donations from all the parishes and established a fund for victims. Bishop Kicanas published the names of all the priests credibly accused during that time. That information is still on our diocesan website. Two priests, Fr. Gary Underwood and Fr. Juan Guillen, were tried and either were convicted or plead guilty during trial. Both, I believe, have completed their sentences. A Catholic teacher in Yuma was tried and convicted also. Our diocese under the leadership of Bishop Kicanas did what it could to address the wrong done to victims of sexual abuse. We could only do what we could; it could never be enough.
The Catholic Church confronting this evil!
In the news now are the dioceses of Pennsylvania that did not deal with these issues sixteen years ago by publicizing those who had been credibly accused. What has brought their misdeeds to our attention is the Pennsylvania attorney general. The revelations involve the same behavior over the same time period that put us into bankruptcy. If those dioceses had followed Bishop Kicanas’ leadership they would have dealt with these crimes, as best they could, sixteen years ago.
Far more troubling are the allegations about the leadership of Theodore McCarrick, formerly a cardinal. He has been accused as an abuser, not just for covering up other priest’s abusive behavior. Other bishops have been forced to resign for covering up or for being asleep at the switch.
In Spring of 2015, Pope Francis accepted the early resignations of three active U.S. bishops: Bishop Robert W. Finn of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO diocese, and Archbishop John C. Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee A. Piché, both of the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese.
You will recall that in December 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law was forced to resign from his see when the Boston news broke. He kept his red hat, to the dismay of many. He died last year.
The entire episcopate in Chile was forced to tender their resignations to the pope.
The resignation of an Australian archbishop was recently accepted. I could go on!
To say that the Bishops and the Pope aren’t doing anything isn’t true.
Following our diocesan bankruptcy, the bishops met and adopted the Dallas Charter essentially imposing zero tolerance on priests and parish volunteers. That is why our diocese has a safe environment program. The bishops were not included in the Dallas Charter because no bishop has authority over another bishop, except the Bishop of Rome. That is why Theodore McCarrick was forced to give his red hat back to the pope. Good! We will all have to wait and see where this goes. If this was an easy problem, then it would be easily resolved by now. Secretive behavior is difficult to address because it is secretive. I think, however, God is working to purify our Church. If a parish employee. volunteer or clergyman is engaged in criminal or immoral behavior report it first to the police at 911 and then to our Diocesan Director of Safe. Environment, Dr. Rosemary Celaya-Alston. As to bishops, the responsibility is with the Holy Father. Can you believe that God is working in all of this? Is this only hypocrisy or is this the ageless battle between good and evil in the human heart?
Last Week: For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink." Jn. 6:51-58
Last Sunday the Gospel of John said
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Jn. 6:51-58
In our Catholic faith, we teach that the Real Presence is real food. When St. Thomas Aquinas used the word “transubstantiation” he meant that the ultimate “substantia” of the bread and wine is what is most real in our lives, that is, God. What is at stake is what we believe to be most real in our lives. ‘Substantia’ describes the ultimate reality that is our true nourishment; the deepest reality that abides through all flux of external appearance or change. Buddha never could say that. Mohammed never said that. Nobody other than Jesus has ever said that.
This Week: Will you leave me too?
We are told in John’s Gospel that many of Jesus’ disciples left him after what he said:
“Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jn. 6:60-69.
Clearly, his followers understood that he was not using a poetic metaphor; that he meant it literally. Jesus did not soften it, but instead upbraided them for their lack of faith. When Jesus asked Peter if he was leaving also, his disciple responded,
"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." Jn. 6:68-69
Divine Wisdom: The Ultimate Reality of our Life
Remember that the Eucharist is rooted in the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. Evil was in the room and just outside the door. We cannot separate the Eucharist, Christ’s real presence, from the real threat to the souls Christ is drawing to the Church. We have two choices in life:
We can give in to evil, hoping it won’t destroy us. Good luck, or…
We can stand up to it, strong in our faith.
Today St. Peter affirmed his faith in Christ. In his letter, First Peter
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering… 1 Peter 5:7-8