One of my first blogs last September began like this:
“Attention to Priests, Clergy, Church Leaders: Incredible
Impact!
“This blog is being written as a notice and warning to
priests, clergy and church leaders of all kinds.
You have an incalculable impact on the souls of all people -
Catholic and non-Catholic alike. Unfortunately, few of you will read this
blog but I put it our there anyway in the hope that it will reach some of you.”
At that time, I was thinking of the small things that
priests, clergy and church leaders did and failed to do. I was not even
thinking about the bigger scandalous things like pedophilia, fornication and
adultery. That there was a possible major rot at the core of our Church leadership
was nowhere in my imagination at that time. And, now, we learn that there
may be a huge scandal of major proportions at the heart of our Church
leadership.
Before I address this further, I want to point out that in
Dante’s Inferno, as I recall, there was a special place in hell for those of
high importance who betrayed the duties of their position. We, in the
Church, give the highest esteem not only to the Pope but, also, to the
Cardinals and to the Archbishops, Bishops and Priests, who we follow as our
shepherds in the faith and, in return, we expect them to lead by example - to
lead exemplary lives as our Christian leaders. As St. Francis of Assisi
said to his disciples let’s go teach the faith and, if necessary, use words!
Over the last 40 years we, the faithful, have had to endure
recurring stories of our clergy involved in sexual scandals of all sorts such
as pedophilia, homosexuality, fornication and adultery. Not only was that
bad enough in and of itself but we, also, learned of the rampant scandal
involving the sometime criminal cover up of these misdeeds and illegal acts by
our bishops, archbishops and cardinals. We kept praying that this would
come to an end but it has not. Now, we are learning that there is a
possible widespread scandal of homosexuality in the Vatican among the hierarchy
including Cardinals. We learn about secret reports. We learn about
more cover ups. We have the recent resignation by the Cardinal for
Scotland and England in light of accusations, not by lay people but by 3
priests! Once again, there is more secrecy at the highest levels.
Why? Once the light and the law has been shined upon the misdeeds and
unlawful activities of the clergy, the end of this has come to a near
end. I understand the need to protect the innocent from false accusations
but can accusations made by priests against the hierarchy be ignored?
If there are many homosexuals among the hierarchy, it causes
me to wonder if that is the reason that the Church leadership has not taken a
more active role in opposing same sex marriages as the Church admirably does in
fighting abortion.
In my very simplistic view, the Church of Jesus doe not
consist of the buildings including fine churches as well as the Basilica of St.
Peter nor of the hierarchy but of all of us as members of the Body of
Christ. So, if there is a fever or a cancer in this Body, we are all
affected and have an interest in learning about it and treating it even if it
means treating it even by surgery if necessary, to save it and to nurture its
health.
Give us the transparency we are entitled to have.
Secret knowledge as a basis of Christianity in the form of Gnosticism was
repudiated in the early Church as a heresy. So, let us know what is going
on in the heart of our Church leadership today. Maintain the
confidentiality of the innocent but don’t continue with the scandalous behavior
of covering it up.
I just happen to think that there may very well be a special
place in hell for any Church leaders who engage in either this despicable
behavior and those who assist in the cover up of it.
As I said in my prior blog, where does it all end?
Now, you know what I think and I would very much like to
know what you think about this subject.
Let the light of our Lord shine upon you!
REM (Ray Makowski) Co-Founder, Director and
Secretary-Treasurer
