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Links

Liturgy
This link will keep 'parishioners-at-large' in touch with current creative liturgy sources and resources that respect a variety of 'traditions' within the Church.

COMMONWEAL Magazine
A 'lay' Catholic weekly publication with an accent on an intelligent analysis and commentary on curent issues, trends and concerns of interest to Catholics.

National Catholic Reporter
A national Catholic lay newspaper covering events not usually covered or presented with a clerical bias in the local diocesan press or but of concern and interest to Catholics.

Survivos' Network for those Abused by Priests or Religious
A National Network of self-help support groups for people abused by clergy or religious.

Bishop Accountability
Vital information about the disclosure of sexual abuse and related issues affecting Catholics in the pew and the manner in which Bishops continue to exempt themselves from accountability

Voice of the Faithful
A 'movement' of lay Catholics 'inspired' by the abuse scandal calling for greater accountability of bishops to 'Catholics in the Pew.'

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Daily Scripture

+ 3rd Week in Lent

We are guided by perennial truths and live by perennial values.

Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 Matthew 5:17-19

Teach them to your children and to your children’s children. [Deuteronomy 4:9]

Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. [Matthew 5:17]

Indeed, Jesus did not abolish the ancient law and prophets. The ‘rule of law’ remains in effect and contain perennial truths to guide us as we make our way along life’s journey.. It is true that the commandments are summed up in the law of love – love of God and love of neighbor.

Though we begin each day with the firm intention to live that law of love, it is not as simple as it sounds in the midst of confusing realities and conflicting values. Instead of telling the truth, we often slip into prevarication to hide the truth. Some politicians are good at this and not a few churchmen have been guilty of the same. On one hand, few people hold us accountable when we tell someone we love her new hat though in truth we may consider it the most ugly hat we have ever seen. On the other had, integrity makes greater demands on our moral comportment. Respect for the goods, rights, services and property of others, public or private is very demanding and is rooted in the fifth and seventh commandments and the list goes on.

A friend of mine starts his day with a wonderful ritual. Making the sign of the cross on his forehead, his heart and his lips he prays, “Lord, help me to think good thoughts of my neighbor, to speak well of others and to have positive feelings that lead to good deeds.” Amen!

PS At the conclusion of Mass this morning, I acknowledged that women do not wear hats any longer so I suggested replacing it with, “I love your new wig”… then I thought in the interests of gender equality, I should have added “hair piece.”

A bit of humor in the midst of a challenging day can help to make our burden’s lighter.

In the interest of truth, justice, balance and fair play.

Saturday September 15, 2007

In his commentary on my involvement in the sexual abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church in general and in the Diocese of Paterson in particular over a period of over twenty years, Abbot Koloff attempted to capture the highlights of my experience. [http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709140367].

I agreed to the interview because of the surrounding publicity attached to my having been nominated along with two other priests for the “Priest of Integrity” award by the National Voice of the Faithful. The awards are typically presented at the annual meeting of VOTF that will take place this year on October 19 – 20 in Providence, RI.

This is the third time the nomination was submitted by the New Jersey Chapter of VOTF and the second time by the National Office. I declined the nomination all five times and declined it again this year. It was only after the insistence and persistence of the nominating committee that I reluctantly agreed with on condition that I might not be able to be present for the actual presentation of the award.

When Abbot Koloff asked if I would be willing to be interviewed about my involvement in the sexual abuse scandal, I agreed. I assumed that this might be a new opportunity for healing—my own and the healing of many victims whose voices have not yet been heard.

It was naïve and unfair of me to assume that a reporter could summarize the experience of over twenty-two years in the limited space provided by a front page or back page story. The interview lasted over two hours.

So in the interest of truth, justice, balance and fair play, I need to make the following observations for which I hold myself accountable.

1. Although ‘silence’ of authorities and the clergy has been a prevailing theme throughout my experience, it is not fair for me to state that there have been no notable exceptions including the most recent outreach of Msgr. Mahoney, Diocesan Vicar General. Five other priests have written words of support. My friends have stood by me but in many instances simply did not know what to say. One even cautioned me about the impact my involvement was having on my health.

2. Bishop Serratelli as many bishops, have been guided by the advice and counsel of their attorneys. While I may disagree with the fact that the legal forum is the most effective way to deal with the abuse issue, I do not assume that he is not interested in bringing closure to the issue.

3. The most important issue, however, is spiritual and pastoral. All of us desperately need healing on this and other issues that face the church in these difficult times and the only way that this can happen is for all parties to come to the table to air their wounds and hurts. Going to war is not a solution. Bashing bishops or any other Church authority will not work if for no other reason than that it is not the way of the Lord.

It is my fervent prayer and desire that reconciliation will take place in due course. The gospel for this weekend is a strong reminder of the compassionate God whom we all worship, the God who has he qualities of both man and woman, the God whose ‘Son’ Jesus, demonstrated for us in very concrete ways how we can make life work for the good of all.

The sexual abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church has become a quagmire not unlike the conflict in Iraq. We can and must find a new way to collaborate in the healing process through dialogue free of rancor.

I apologize sincerely for any word or action that has contributed to this quagmire and renew my earnest desire to work for the healing of all parties—victims and their families, predators and their families, and everyone and anyone who has been caught in the cross fire.

In the meantime, I will be taking ‘a sabbatical’ from my public advocacy.

I have stated often enough over the course of the last twenty years that if you want to be an instrument of healing and wellness for others, they you must be well yourself.

If only we could re-write and re-right history, how different things would be today.