Today's Gospel gives Peter all the prominence we Catholics usually do ascribe to that apostle. Even though it was "the beloved disciple" who recognized the Lord, Peter listened to him and acted on his insight, jumping into the sea to swim to Jesus. When Jesus told "them" to bring the fish they had just (miraculously) caught, it was Peter who went authoritatively to the boat and hauled the net ashore.
Peter's boat is tossing in pretty rough waters these days, to be sure. Maybe that is why my ears perked up the other day when at Mass the priest added an invocation at the prayer of the faithful concerning the Year for Priests and St. John Vianney. "Of course!" I said to myself, "It's the Pope's fault....for making this the Year for Priests. He should have known that the powers of hell would do all they could to discredit and discourage every priest in the Church." (Far be it from the enemy of mankind to seek to bring down only those within easy reach, who have already surrendered in some way to his twisted suggestions.)
All the more reason to spend these last just under three months of the Year for Priests in intense prayer for priests--and for priestly vocations.
Friday, April 09, 2010
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3 comments:
while we are quite "isolated" from these issues here in the Philippines, I've been following the news quite closely than most. Then you bring me to my senses with "It's the Pope's fault....for making this the Year for Priests. He should have known that the powers of hell would do all they could to discredit and discourage every priest in the Church."
We are fighting a spiritual war, and most o us don't get (or believe) it. we are fighting against The Enemy!
Then I recalled Don Bosco's dream about the Ship and the Two Pillars. A good post about it is here: "http://salesianity.blogspot.com/2008/07/don-boscos-dream-and-pope-benedict.html"
I would like to focus more not on the prophecy/interpretations but on this: Mary and the Eucharist are the anchors for our Church.
It's time to fight the evil one with the weapons that can bring him down.
Let us come back to the Eucharist with devotion and passion.
Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!
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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
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Opinions & Editorials
Select essays from around the nation
Metuchen Diocese a model against priest abuse
By Rev. James Scahill - E. Longmeadow, Mass.
May 4, 2003
THE CATHOLIC Church must be challenged from within. The unhealthy paradigm that has put our children in harm's way must be confronted. Whither the institution that often values blind obedience above the basic tenets of moral right and wrong, while holding itself accountable to no one?
As many in the Catholic hierarchy strain to make the simple seem so complicated, the Diocese of Metuchen (N.J.) has stepped out of this unhealthy paradigm and dealt with the issue of sexual abuse of children without equivocation. Led by Bishop Paul Bootkoski, the diocese's words and actions have not been dictated by legal strategy but, rather, by three guiding principles: morality, truth and justice.
Catholics nationwide react with incredulity as dioceses wage absurd and demeaning First Amendment battles, asking courts to immunize them from fundamental issues of accountability for bad acts. By contrast, honoring the precept that the Catholic Church should at the very least be accountable to laws protecting children, the Metuchen Diocese has settled 10 claims of sexual abuse, 8 of which fell outside the civil statute of limitations. And Bishop Bootkoski has met privately with each victim to offer his apologies.
Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, Bishop Bootkoski has reorganized his leadership team, appointing a lay person to one of the diocese's three leadership positions and expanding the diocesan review board to include three victims of abuse.
Working with prosecutors within the diocese, officials have scoured files, turning over any allegations of abuse. At this bishop's request, prosecutors have spoken to priests about sexual abuse, and regularly lecture at diocesan schools.
Elsewhere, though, the church hierarchy hides behind the cloak of canon law to justify ongoing support of child molesters -- shaping the law to fit its needs, while ignoring canons that prove contrary to those insular needs. It seems that canon law has been put above the very Ten Commandments.
Bishop Bootkoski has made it clear that he is prepared to petition the Vatican to waive any statute of limitations protecting abusive priests under canon law. Yet many other dioceses, rather than joining in this effort, justify the financial support of molesting priests as the "charitable" thing to do.
There's no charity here! Charity is reaching into your own pocket to help others. The Catholic hierarchy is reaching into the pockets of the laity -- a more appropriate term would be "misuse of funds."
An East Longmeadow priest called yesterday from his pulpit for Pope Benedict XVI to step down, demanding greater protection of children and greater accountability from the Catholic Church hierarchy.
Discuss
COMMENTS (36)
The church’s top leader has not been truthful, said the Rev. James Scahill of St. Michael’s Parish, violating an important tenet of the faith. His strongly worded sermon echoed sentiments he shared with parishioners several weeks ago, but this time, he spent more time and spoke with greater conviction on the controversial subject.
“Any who deny the truth deny Christ, and we, as people, must reclaim our church,’’ Scahill said in a phone interview last night. “Those in authority must be willing to admit to the truth, admit their horrific crime of coverup, and beg for forgiveness, and until that happens, there will be no healing.’’
Benedict has been heavily criticized recently for the way he has dealt with some abuse cases, and Scahill said that because of all the information that has been brought to light, the pope should resign.
Scahill, who became pastor of the church in 2002, has long been outspoken on the need for accountability among church leaders.
Parishioners generally were supportive of Scahill’s sermon, said Parish Council president Thomas LaMondia.
“I thought he did a great job of conveying how he feels and how the church feels about the whole issue,’’ he said yesterday. “I thought he did a really nice job of explaining that it’s really about the protection of children. . . . The church really needs to look at what they need to do to hold people accountable.’’
Controversy within the church over priests’ and bishops’ roles in the abuse scandal has been going on for more than eight years since the scandal broke in Boston but recently it has escalated, with new allegations about the actions of the current pope when he was an archbishop.
“If we cannot get a pope that’s going to give us the truth, then our church is dead,’’ Scahill said.
Mark Dupont, a spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield, was quick to distance the diocesan leadership from the comments made by Scahill.
“It in no way represents the position of the bishop,’’ Dupont said. “We find his statements to be unfortunate.’’
Scahill, he said, has not properly recognized measures to ensure safety undertaken by the American Catholic leadership, which has “led the world in their efforts,’’ as well as steps the Diocese of Springfield took over the years to deal with the issue of sexual abuse.
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