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Dark Hour
Dear Catholic Exchange:
Thank you for taking the time to go into detail regarding the background to this terrible priestly scandal breaking all around us [“Dark Hour”]. I had been avoiding secular, liberal media coverage of this issue, yet was yearning to learn more about the truth of the scandal from someone without a distorted view of the Catholic Church, her teachings, governance, and essence. I printed out the article and will carry it with me this Easter weekend. I will be among relatives who will want to challenge my church and my faith. This way, I can in all charity ask them to read your excellent article first. After they read it, I think we will be able to start some profitable discussions.
One remaining question I have is this: Can the Pope or Vatican dictate policy and procedure for dealing with and disclosing priestly misconduct that all dioceses must follow? I frequently hear the question “Why doesn’t the Pope make the bishops and priests resign, or strip them of their authority/collars?” or “Why aren't they doing something about this?” It seems to me that each diocese is completely independent of others, with different policies and procedures. Perhaps you could write an article explaining how some of the church bureaucracy works.
Thank you.
Christine
Dear Christine:
Thanks for your kind words about my article. I hear you in your request for another article, but I am not the guy to write it. My knowledge of and interest in the ecclesial and bureaucratic machinery of the Church is very limited and I frankly like it that way. Ecclesial politics is a matter of vanishingly minute interest for me. What little I do know I can put in a paragraph or so. The Church operates according to the principle of “subsidiarity”. This three dollar word means “the guy closest to the problem is usually the one to handle it.” And so, despite an almost deathless myth to the contrary, the Pope does not interfere in, much less micromanage, the internal affairs of other bishop's dioceses without enormously compelling reasons. Many, in this crisis, are of course eager to say that this is a compelling reason, and the guys closest to the problem are the problem, but the fact remains that this is for the Pope to judge, not us.
I think a very important thing for many Catholics to begin doing is to educate themselves on what the Holy Father's conception of his role in the Church really is. To do this, there are two places I would steer you. The first is “Ut Unum Sint.” The second is a really fascinating piece by George Weigel (author of Witness To Hope, the Pope's biography) called “Papacy and Power.” Before we can understand how the Pope acts, we have to know how he thinks.
Many blessings on you as you struggle through this issue. One great grace God is bringing out of this crisis is that many of us Catholics are thinking more deeply about our faith than ever before.
Have a glorious Easter. He is still risen!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
Predicting Final Victory
Dear Catholic Exchange
Thank you so much for your “words of wisdom” on the Catholic Exchange website today [“Dark Hour”]. I have been suffering over this scandal, the pain of the victims, the loss of faith and souls, and those who see this as a sin of the Church instead of the hierarchy. Right from the beginning I felt this is Christ's purging, since our Bishop's refused to take appropriate action. The devil may win a victory in the short-term but the “gates of hell will not prevail” against Christ's church. In the end, I feel we will be stronger and more committed, but we do have a lot of work to do.
God bless you and your work,
Sara Boyette
Dear Sara:
Thanks for your kind words. I agonized over this article and I'm still not sure I said things quite right. But I love the Church and want the best for Her and for all her members.
Many blessing on your Easter!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
Setting a Good Example
Dear Catholic Exchange:
Thank you for a well-written and thoughtful piece [“Dark Hour”]. Last night I listened to our parish's newest priest, a young man who, as he puts it, pursued many careers looking for “something” but not quite understanding what he was missing. After serving as a company commander in the Army, working a highly paid job with a Fortune 500 firm, and then running his own small business he found that “something was still missing”. He rediscovered his faith and entered the seminary. He celebrated his first Mass of the Lord's Supper with us last night and delivered the homily. He reminded us, as has Catholic Exchange, that Holy Thursday is also a celebration of the priesthood.
The Holy Spirit guides and protects Christ's Church on earth and as Jesus promised the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS guide and protect it. There have indeed been darker hours in our Church's history, the difference is, quite simply, that those hours are history and these hours are ours! It will require faith and prayer for many Catholics to weather this storm.
Thank you for helping!
May you, your family and all the staff at Catholic Exchange have a Holy
and Joyous Easter. He is Risen!
Your brother in Christ's Splendorous Church
John Bowden
Dear John:
Thanks very much. I agonized over this article and am still not quite sure of my footing here — like the rest of the American Church. May God guide us stupid humans as we blunder toward Zion. And may God raise up legions of priests like the one you describe!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange