Pope Francis called Monday for every member of the Catholic Church to pray and fast in penance for the evil of clerical sex abuse, and to be involved in needed change within the Church.
“The only way that we have to respond to this evil that has darkened so many lives is to experience it as a task regarding all of us as the People of God,” Francis wrote Aug. 20.
In a letter to the entire Church following widespread revelations of clerical sex abuse in the Church in the United States, the pope invited “the entire holy faithful People of God to a penitential exercise of prayer and fasting, following the Lord’s command.”
Francis acknowledged the recent publication of a report detailing abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses, which included more than 300 priests and 1,000 victims, over a period of around 70 years.
The pope also emphasized that he thinks a conversion of the Church is “impossible” if it does not include the “active participation” of all the members of the Church, and he criticized the silencing or ignoring of some Catholics through the creation of elitist groups or projects.
In particular, all forms of clericalism should be rejected, he said, because clericalism undervalues baptismal grace and can lead to abuses by Church authority. Clericalism causes “an excision in the ecclesial body that supports and helps to perpetuate many of the evils that we are condemning today.”
“Let us beg forgiveness for our own sins and the sins of others,” he said. “An awareness of sin helps us to acknowledge the errors, the crimes and the wounds caused in the past and allows us, in the present, to be more open and committed along a journey of renewed conversion.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
More gibberish from the Holy Father. No, Pope Francis, there are not myriad evils that we are all guilty of, and this is not the sin of “clericalism.” Such is the mish-mash talk of Zombie-Liberals who refuse to see the truth. What is at issue is the willful refusal of homosexual men to abstain from seeking to become priests and, once they become so, to soil the foundations of Christ’s own Church with their sexual predations against children and the weak. You, Holy Father, must stand up and say that homosexuals have acquired a dominate position within the Church. Such men seek to destroy the souls of those they most lust after, post-pubescent boys (as well as each other). They must be found out and removed from the Church.
So interesting to me. When the priest sex abuse scandal first became news, gay people, who often were the victims of priest sex abuse, decried calls for prayer and penance from the hierarchy. Now you all have come full circle, by saying prayer is not enough. Prayer is important, but reparations and preventions are just as important. Finding the REAL problems in the Church is most important.
Homosexuals were the primary PERPETRATORS!!!!! The real problem in the Church is organized homosexual rape and organized coverups of homosexual rape. The homosexuals that are causing the problem need to be put in jail. It is that simple.
So, anonymous, and St. Chris: Is prayer gibberish? Are appeals for penance gibberish? Or not? Are rants about homosexuals enough? Better than prayer? Better than actual understanding about what went on?
Arrests are better. When you see a rape taking place, do you pray about it or do you call the Police. Hmmnnnn, Hmmmnn.
Anonymous, with all do respect, you are making things up. The abuse was horrific, to be sure. There is no defense of abuse. But abuse, as bad as it is, is not the same as rape. Where rapes occurred, and yes they did occur, rarely were part of organized coverups. About 1 in 20 priests abused. Probably 1 in 200 raped. Probably 1 in 500 or fewer were part of any kind of organized effort to abuse. None of that is excused. It’s just that most priests are good, holy, serving honorably, whether gay or straight.
With all due respect, an organized coverup of homosexual abuse is a primary factor in the whole scandal. Your lies are pathetic. The laity are enraged by the filthy lies and coverups. You are adding fuel to the fire. You have a strange definition of being good, holy and serving honorably. It is manifestly evident that a large number of homosexual Priests and Bishops could not keep their hands off the altar boys and seminarians. Who do you think you are fooling here? More lies only serve to foment more anger.
Sorry, but this comment from St. Christopher is wrong because It deviates from what is actually true. Firstly, this is not merely a problem of “gay” men wanting to become priests and then “seek to destroy” souls. If one reads the Grand Jury report from Pennsylvania for example, one can read accounts of abuse against girls and women, some of which were truly heinous. Therefore, the problem in the Church is the problem of evil, and the need for holiness among priests, laity, nuns, bishops, everyone–whatever the sexual attraction! To limit the problem to “gay priests” pitifully neglects what is GLARING in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, because the report isn’t just about abuse of young males.
Most of the abuse is the abuse of males. Stop trying to cover up for the homosexual mafia.
This comment by Anonymous is ridiculous. Me? “Covering up” for a mafia? I say, YOU stop limiting the problem. The larger issue is SIN in general, not merely homosexual acts. And this means the needed remedy is PRAYER and holiness, which Pope Francis is calling for, and which St. Christopher uncharitably and irreverently called “more gibberish.”
Prayer without action will not accomplish much. The world prayed to be freed from Adolph Hitler and was not freed until he was crushed by military force. Prayer alone did not work. Calling the Police against abusers is a necessary step that calls for prayer can not be a substitute for. And for the record, the larger amount of sexual abuse was homosexual abuse. It makes since to target homosexual abuse for elimination.
I disagree: Prayer with the action of the will accomplish a lot. It can turn a sick person into a healthy one, through grace, through penance. It will certainly accomplish much more than merely “police action.” Bottom line: you lack enough faith to recognize the power of grace.
You lack enough memory to recognize that calls for prayer and penance were made back in 2002 and did not work. Action is needed. You do not have a sufficient foundation to state that I do not recognize the power of grace. The very act of redemption that is at the heart of the work of Jesus Christ shows the power of grace. Therefore, you can not be a Catholic without knowing the power of grace. You just wanted to throw rocks at me. You do that a lot with the people that you disagree with. Perhaps you are lacking in charity.
It mostly is.
Take a cue from president Trump’s. Nothing works so well as ‘you’re fired’,followed by removal from the building as fast as can
The FBI sometimes let’s some bad actors stay in place to discover the. Network
No mention of homosexuality, the big rainbow elephant in the Church.
And what is that sin, Holy Father? Curtis knows that it is homosexuality. Why don’t you? Why does not each bishop except for Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison W? If a doctor can’t name the disease, he can’t prescribe the cure. In this case homosexuality is the disease; the cure is chastity through faith in Jesus Christ and the beauty of sexual expression only in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony when couples are open to life in their expression. Looks like we need new doctors in our church, ones who follow Jesus Christ rather than the novelties of the world and the global new world order.
Agreed; for yhe real teaching on this, see Romans 1 26-32
This teaching is conspicuously omitted from the Lectionary.
Father Perozich, If you and the website will indulge you posted this on September 25, 2017 at 9:02 am
Bishop McElroy is a master word smith and proponent of his opinions as truth. I have had private discussions with him on two occasions and was shocked at his assertions of his opinions against truths that I learned in the seminary regarding the need for conversion from homosexual acts and regarding the internal forum. The fact that he has a red hat gives him power, and a voice that would have been ignored when he was simply a parish priest in San Mateo where I knew him formerly. I grant him respect for his office. I will continue to follow scripture and Tradition over his proclamations, and continue to pray for him several times a day.
Fr.,
Notwithstanding the obkective mortal sin of homosexual acts, as long as these priests have full faculites, the Sacraments administered by them are valid and licit. Since the Church is tje only society that has valid and licit Sacraments, the sanctifying grace is just as effective whether the minister is in a state of mortal sin or in a state of grace.
The scandals should not be used as a basis to leave the Church:
https://m.ncregister.com/57847/b#.W4Ge-HRlDqA
Exactly. They don’t listen to what God says about homosexuality. They listen to what man says. This whole crisis would have never occurred if they had listened to God. This whole crisis is a parable in action that shows how damaging homosexuality is. If the homosexual mafia were able to do this much damage after acquiring positions of power in the Church, how much damage could they do to the country if they controlled most public offices?
Dear Holy Father
Might I suggest with cleaning your own house…
Sincerely
GRW
Take a look at this, GRW. It fits perfectly with your comment. Now, a newly-appointed “Prince of the Church” is blaming the victims:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/francis-appointed-cardinal-sex-abuse-victims-should-be-ashamed-to-speak-the
No. Let’s punish the perpertraitors and demand the resignation of guilty bishops and priests. And clean house.
Have you read the Onion’s piece mocking the Church and the priesthood? That’s what we Catholics have to endure because homosexuality is out of control and winked at among the clergy. I’m embarrassed and argry to be Catholic and I haven’t done anything wrong. But the bishops and priests who are guilty go on wih their lives.
Pope Francis is leaving quite an ignominious legacy.
I wonder where God is in all this. I have many Catholic friends who have stopped going to Mass, and those are people who either still went to Mass after 2002 or had come back because they believed the Church was getting better. Now this happens and its like tearing the scab off an old wound so it’s bleeding again. They’ve had it. I don’t think the pope or the bishops realize that the laity are fed up now and don’t care about their statements. Many aren’t even caring about their sacraments anymore. Which is a shame. They don’t realize the anger that is felt.
Denise , show them your anger ! in the collection basket , in the pews , in forums like this , in any positive way you can think of . Do not give up or give in , it is tough I know , I came back to the church in 2001 and I thought after the scandals and settlement in the La Archdiocese case things would get better , and now this. Tell your friends that the Eastern Catholic Church allow married clergy , they may feel more comfortable at that liturgy. For myself I am no longer holding my tongue or staying my hand , my view is that it is my job to help clean out my church from this rot from the top . Do not be afraid , be a happy warrior .
Yeah. Let’s make Pope Francis the scapegoat for all of this horrible abuse which occurred prior to his papacy! Cruel craziness.
Angelo, No ! lets hold the boss responsible for his actions and lack thereof , he is the boss he the job when he took it !. Every pope deals with his predecessors issues, cruel craziness ?, no part of the job !. Cruel that is what happened to the victims , families , innocent clergy and the laity made to pay in treasure , pain and time. Crazy was promoting and concealing the guilty , trying to deceive the faithful, abusing their trust and hard earned gifts to the church , and then demanding more. Moral clarity and a unemotional review of the facts would help in your understanding.This pope has time for social justice posturing , but not the actual work of justice for real abused faithful.
You done told him but good!!!
Reminds me of Nixon at the start of Watergate. Francis is wondering who he can throw to the wolves to make this all go away.
I am so very very disgusted with the Church right now. The old saying, the fish stinks from the head down is true.
If you are a survivor of sexual or other abuse by anyone in ministry in this diocese, I sincerely apologize for the harm they inflicted on you. It was not your fault. I am more than willing to meet with you at any time.
Bishop Bellisario of the Diocese of Juneau
How a bishop should react.
I was looking for a forceful aggressive acknowledgment of the church’s failings and how this was to be corrected in direct concrete steps . I was hoping for a inspiration and a reminder of why I am and should remain Catholic, I and I think many others were saddened and deeply disappointed that this was not what it should have been. This popes recent death penalty OPINION disguised as catechism, begins to make sense now , he has also said that life and life without parole are a hidden death penalty , with so many priests and hierarchy now looking at and with good cause criminal charges ,he is setting up that no significant punishment for such evil is justified . The most telling part of the letter was the lack of horror of what happened…
Nah, I’ll leave this problem at your doorstep, Your Holiness.
RickW: using your logic, President Lincoln would be held “accountable” for the start of the Civil War even though the conditions for the war were put in place prior to his birth! Tough guys always talk about holding “people accountable” when they need to blame someone for something. The info from the Pennsylvania Grand Jury about abusive priests goes back to 1942!
Angelo, bad analysis but ok ,Lincoln , by trying to resupply Ft. Sumter antagonized the south, thus starting the war , he could have let the south go without a fight but as the Leader , like the the pope is the leader of the church , Lincoln engaged ,knowing the failures of his predecessors. His generals , like cardinals and bishops were responsible for the conduct of the war , Lincolns was a civil war , ours is a war with Satan for souls. As a leader if there is a problem in the ranks , poor morale and abuse it falls on the leaders , i.e popes , cardinals etc to acknowledge , correct and fight and prevent further or repeat harm. If they cannot or will not do what is required then they must be replaced and held to account. Lives and in…
As for “tough guys ” assertion yes I believe holding people responsible when they commit crimes or cover for those who do . The money they are using was donated by the faithful , that the report goes back to 1942 ? ok the timeline goes to the present with 1000 victims and 300 priests accused if not for the statute of limitations , which can be changed it can still get worse.Guilty people were not held responsible and the accused continued to abuse children , if they were held accountable by law enforcement instead of being given relocation to abuse others, the church would not be in this horrible situation . These were acts by evil people , this was not a natural disaster , so yes holding people accountable when they committed child…
disappointing.
sounds like the stuff that comes out of the mouths
of politicians & talking heads.
As long as there is spaghetti to eat in Rome nothing effective will be done abut this.
contd . ok yes it is blaming someone for something , that something is the systemic abuse of children , the cost of souls and harm to the faithful laity and clergy and the church as a whole how can that be calculated ?. Angelo read some history , see what qualities good moral leaders had , clarity in morals , speech and expectations of the people and subordinates are to be found. Pray for the victims of these abusers going back even before 1942 , they had souls too and they did not deserve to be abused , the ripple effects of this evil will never be known , how many souls could have been saved , if these abusers were punished and removed ?.
Site administrators and my fellow posters , last one I promise for today , Venerable Bishop Sheen spoke of St. Francis and lenin , in that both were passionate driven men , each could have gone in the opposite direction St. Francis was exposed to the love of God and it was reinforced . How many enemies has the church made from former Catholics that now join with enemies to harm us ? , these and the scandals of the 2000’s are and will be used for a long time to come . The church’s moral authority and our voices and concerns as Catholics are mocked and negated . What was seen as repugnant and best hidden is now being taught to our children, we need to regain our moral authority as quickly and as honestly as possible.
Apologies won’t work anymore. Papal and epiacopal credibility have been exhausted. Now, in addition to tje Pennsylvania investigation, New York will be instituting one:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/new-york-might-be-next
Civil authorities also are not buying into the “make believe” pretending of contriteness. Is the Holy Father contrite because the actipnf of the priests and bishops were horribly wrong and mortal sins, or is he sorry because he got caught turning a blind eye?
Now, with the inability of the Church to control itself, civil authorities will do it:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/illinois-launches-grand-jury-investigation-into-chicago-archdiocese