The Holy Father’s letter, addressed to the People of God – to all people of good will – does not introduce anything new to the dialogue regarding clergy sexual abuse of children. However, it does serve to crystalize Pope Francis’ resolve in focusing the scope of the horrific actions that have been perpetrated by those who should have been guardians, caretakers, loving shepherds and who were, in fact, predators on the innocent.
Many commentators had previously stated that the Pope “did not get it.” It seems after his about-face with the hierarchy of Chile and now his reaction to the revelations from Pennsylvania, he does indeed understand. There is no attempt to excuse or to deflect blame and guilt for sinful and criminal behavior. And he is calling the Church – all of the Church, to be part of a solution: “. . .Every one of the baptized should feel involved in the. . .change that we so greatly need.” In fact, he is calling for a change of heart that allows for new ways of acting, living, new ways of being followers of Christ.
Pope Francis, in his letter, admits that “we have delayed in applying these actions and sanctions that are so necessary, yet I am confident that they will help to guarantee a greater culture of care in the present and future.”
As he once more condemns all forms of clericalism that tends to “diminish and undervalue” the true dignity of all Christians, the Holy Father calls Catholics to penance and prayer to help us “open our eyes and our hearts” to the suffering of others. . . “to open our ears to the hushed pain felt by children, young people and the disabled.” It is a fasting that “shakes us up and leads us to be committed in truth and charity with all men and women of good will, and with society in general, to combatting all forms of abuse of power, sexual abuse and the abuse of conscience.”
Already last week, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) shared the goals of the Conference in investigating, opening new and confidential channels for reporting complaints against bishops, and advocating for more effective resolution of future complaints. These may seem to be small steps, but they have the ability to change the landscape in such a way that accountability of all – including bishops – is no longer a novel idea.
The Diocese of San Jose and all of the dioceses in this region remain committed to the welfare of children and vulnerable persons. Through “safe environment” efforts, background checks, training and updates, we work to guarantee as much as is humanly possible the safety of all entrusted to our care.
Full story at Diocese of San Jose.
All these statements mean nothing until the gay underground in the clergy is eradicated and priests and bishops and Catholic school teachers who disregard Catholic doctrine by teaching, promoting or winking at gay relationships are removed. And the DSJ is the most gay-friendly diocese in the U.S., so there’s a lot of work to do there. Saint Clare has a gay married man on parish council. I know for a fact there are gay married teachers at the diocesan high school Archbishop Mitty and that the religion teachers teach acceptance of gay marriage and all things LGBT. Fact. My grandchildren went there and told me everything. Writing to the bishop did nothing. He never responded. He doesn’t care.
“The Holy Father’s letter, addressed to the People of God – to all people of good will – does not introduce anything new to the dialogue regarding clergy sexual abuse of children.”
Perhaps it should have.
We already have a new channel to report abuse by bishops (and others). It is called social media.
It is how the scandal at Franciscan University was uncovered (even though they tried to delete it.)
Tjete is also an additional channel to teport abuse if it approaches the level of criminality. It is called the “police.” Rathet than going through the ecclestical channels, which have already proven to be ineffective, just go directly to the civil authorities and bypass the Church’s processes all together.
Withholding of contributions is also another channel.
Nobody wants to listen to the advice of bishops or popes who can’t govern their own church honestly or morally or effectively. That’s what all the anger and walking away from mass boil down to.
We can put pressure on those who can effectuate changs without walking away from Mass.
Remember, the Church is the only licit and valid source of the Sacraments, including the Eucharist. Moreover, the virtue of the minister does not affect the sanctifying grace which results from the Sacraments. The onlu thing that are required are a minister with valid faculties and a recipient who is properly disposed.
Staying away from Mass (and by implication, the Sacraments) in order to “send a message” only hurts the spiritual health of the laity.
The San Jose Diocese is begging for contributions to help fund studies for seminarians; yet Bp. McGrath has no problem with retiring to a $2 million res6dence, purchased on the diocese’s dime:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/26/san-jose-diocese-buys-bishop-2-3-million-retirement-home/
Old humpty dumpty was warned,but just wouldn”t seem to take advice from the people on the ground.those presenton that unsettling day of toppling remember his statements about how groundlings needed to watch out for their own toppling and tipping before they calles warnings upward. They couldn’t see the whole picture and didn’t know the joy of making a mess(hagan lio),and the doctrine of creative destrucción.
Destruction result of overactive spell-guess,destruction intended
if God doesn’t do something about this soon he will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology
Exactly! Nothing new!! The Catholic Church has a long standing abuse problem. It is not going to change anytime soon and really needs some radical change. The Church has protected itself and not its members. Good bye Catholic Church – there will be no more money from me for your expensive settlements. I’ll be joining a Protestant Church soon!
That is foolish. The Catholic Church has done a better job than any other institution in cleaning up the clerical abuse that plagued it until 2002. It took a while for them to let go and realize that they cannot protect their friends and colleagues when they commit these crimes. All other institutions including all the Protestant Churches have had the same issues.Why punish the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament? There are a lot of abuse victims who still attend Mass (although many don’t). Don’t judge Jesus by the sinners in His company.
“I’ll be joining a Protestant Church soon!”
How sad to read that you seem to have never understood the Catholic faith. Perhaps you should have joined a Protestant Church as soon as you read of the betrayal of our Lord by Judas Iscariot. Did you not read of our Lord’s warning of those “wolves in sheep’s clothing”? Abandonning our Lord’s Church will increase Satan’s delight.
You will be joining a man-made organization, not Christ’s Church. Please reconsider. That fact that corrupt homosexuals, dissenters, and other ungodly men have taken effective control of the Catholic Church in many quarters just means we need to fight for Her from these reprobates. The bishops hid their complicity 16 years ago. They won’t be able to do it again now that the governments are starting to look into Church affairs.
Surely you’re joking, Margo! If you don’t believe “extra ecclesiam nulla salus,” then why aren’t you Protestant already? Or are you?
Doesn’t introduce anything new? Doesn’t introduce anything effective either.
Dear Bishop McGrath, YOU are part of the problem with your continued allowance, nay promotion of LGBT Masses in the diocese you have been charged to shepherd. How utterly and totally absurd to have a Mass based on who you have sex with!! What an abomination and a scandal!
Clericalism! What a joke – ha ha ha! You dare not even call it what it is. Pathetic. May God have mercy on you and on me for writing this post; but it needs to be said.
BTW not to put too fine a point on it, looks like “fasting” hasn’t been your practice thus far!!
Marco tosatti concludes in his latest essay ‘the wolves are among us but are no longer disguised as sheep but as shepherds.
The Catholic Church is a great Church. Even if at times we get outraged at the behavior of some or disappointed with the behavior of some others, it is still the best place on Earth. I’ve had my temptations to leave at times, too. Just wait them out. Spend time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Go early to Mass and stay after. Tell Him what you are disgusted with. He will probably say “Me, too.” Can you console Him? All these horrible things and lukewarm things and off-target things bother Him more than they bother you. Can you stay with Him for an hour?
Bishop McGrath could start by practicing fasting. Honestly, the number of US bishops who are grossly overweight is scandalous in itself. You can see that some clearly do practice fasting, but many others seem to believe that this basic, biblical, spiritual practice was abolished with Vatican II. Our Lord spoke of fasting numerous times. Pope St. John Paul II was shocked at the loss of this practice that he witnessed when he visited his he US in 1979. We should all practice fasting, but it would help if the bishops would lead the way by example and in their preaching.
Margo said:
“Good bye Catholic Church – there will be no more money from me for your expensive settlements. I’ll be joining a Protestant Church soon!”
Then be prepared for more of the same, just don’t expect any of them to be as transparent about it. You’ll be in a worse situation but without the Sacraments. Good luck. We’ll keep a light on for you…
Because ‘nothing new’ has been the response,the AG of Illinois has had to intervene and demand the rights of citizens be respected and acted upon .
According to the article from CNA below, the priest who is the subject of the article was declatrd by his superior as “not fit for ministry.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fr.-corapis-order-finds-him-guilty
What makes homosexual priests fit for ministry?
Here is something new and very revealing about the Holy Father’s complicity:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/ex-nuncio-accuses-pope-francis-of-failing-to-act-on-mccarricks-abuse-reports-81797
AM, a bit of understatement, Eh? The news is like August 6, 1945.
Fr. Michael,
Take another look. It is August 25, 2018.
August 6, 1945 is the date the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. You missed the point completely because you didn’t get the allusion that the letter is like an atomic bomb being dropped on the Vatican, not merely something “new and revealing” like you originally posted.
Fr. Michael,
The article was from The Catholic News Agency, with an August 25, 2018 date. Since you appear to be caugjt up in accuracy, the article first appeared on the National Catholic Register alos on August 25.
https://m.ncregister.com/57855/d#.W4LxCHRlDqA
Here is something new:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-knew-of-abusive-priest-claims-former-vatican-official-carlo-maria-vigano/
More evidence that no one among the Church’s prelates should be believed on the matter of s3xual impropriety among themselves and the clergy.
What does McGrath care? He just bought himself a 2.3 million dollar retirement home in a swanky San Jose neighborhood:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/26/san-jose-diocese-buys-bishop-2-3-million-retirement-home/
Paid for by other people’s contributions, of course.