By Patricia Montemurri
Detroit Free Press
November 15, 2010
http://www.freep.com/article/20101115/NEWS01/11150337/Scandal-changes-view-of-priests-the-ministry
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| Bechard says that the scandal has rendered his collar a frightening symbol to some. |
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| The Rev. Gerard Bechard, pastor of SS. Simon and Jude in Westland, greets parishioners Saturday. In the wake of the abuse scandal, Bechard jokes that some might find his professional calling frightening. He said he fears that the scandal "is something that we will never outlive." |
The Rev. George Williams resigned as pastor of St. John Neumann parish in Canton this summer. In the church bulletin, he told parishioners his transition out of ministry came from the "fruit of years of self-reflection, spiritual direction and examination."
In the same issue, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss wrote a letter saying "to protect Father's name and reputation, I want to short-circuit any rumors. Father's decision was NOT made because of any allegation against him, NOR was he asked to resign."
The lingering impact of the priest sex abuse scandal has changed how priests are viewed, and how they minister.
The Rev. Gerard Bechard, pastor of SS. Simon and Jude in Westland, jokes, only halfheartedly, that some might find his professional calling frightening.
"I will not answer the door on Halloween wearing a collar. Theoretically, it's the scariest thing I could wear," said Bechard. "People half look at me like I'm joking, but I'm not."
The abuse scandal, he fears, "is something that we will never outlive."
Priests describe simple ways they've changed their behavior -- avoiding hugs with children, no longer offering rides home, for fear of any impression posed from being alone with a child in a car.
"After mass, I used to hug kids. No way am I going to hug a kid now," the Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and Catholic commentator, was quoted as saying in the August issue of the Washingtonian magazine. "I mean, if there's a tornado and I see a couple of kids on the sidewalk as I'm driving by, too bad! Lightning? Rain? Sorry, find your own way home. This is the world we live in."
For Judith Dilworth Green, 74, a retired medical technologist in Commerce Township, the scandal didn't cause her to question her faith, which she said isn't rooted solely in the men who run the church.
She says generations were raised to believe priests were special and immune to human foibles -- and now they know better.
"I believe in God, and the Catholic Church is my venue of worshiping Him. I've been a Catholic for 74 years, and I'm not going to change because of the whole scandal," said Green.
"There are many wonderful priests who are great ministers. And there are others who did do terrible things, as there are lawyers, doctors, plumbers and postmen who did awful things. And you just have to view them as flawed human beings."
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