By Deacon Keith Fournier
Catholic Online
March 9, 2011
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=40610
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| Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia |
The perpetrators of these abuses must be stopped and face the consequences of their acts. That is mercy for them as well. They know that they have sinned and hiding will not free them from the bondage. The victims must be helped with healing and restitution. The Church must be purified in order to rise to the challenge of her missionary task in this Third Christian Millennium. That means that her clergy (Priests, Bishops and Deacons) must all be holy as the Lord Himself is holy.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (Catholic Online) - When the Apostle Peter wrote his first letter to the early Christians scattered in dispersion and already under persecution he reminded them "For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God." (1 Peter 4:17) I thought of those sobering words when I read the press release from Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia on Tuesday. He has placed 21 priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on administrative leave. The full text of the Cardinal's announcement is published in its entirety below.
I also recalled words of the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II from a homily he gave on April 23, 2002 at the beginning of the clerical sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church: "We must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community, a purification that is urgently needed if the Church is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its liberating force. Now you must ensure that where sin increased, grace will all the more abound (cf. Rom 5:20). So much pain, so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate, and a holier Church"
That year the purification had hit my own Diocese in a devastating way. I remembered the pain in the voice of the pastor of a parish where I attended Mass as he spoke to the faithful of the horror which some priests had participated in. He tied the events into the Biblical readings and led the faithful back to a response of faith. I could tell how burdened he was by observing his demeanor. So, when we left the sanctuary, I greeted him and tried to encourage him-as best I could.
"It's Clergy Reform Father, Mark 4: 22 - nothing is hidden that will not be revealed. God loves His Church" I said. He smiled a feigned smile - the kind of expression that people make when they are not comfortable with what you have said but do not know quite how to respond. I continued, "This is not the first time in our history that this has happened. The purification is a necessary part of the Spring-time...we will get through it all." Those sobering words of the Lord in the Gospel of Mark echoed in me once again: "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open" (Mark 4:22). Truth is the antidote to the poison of sin and the light is the greatest way to expose the darkness.
The problem is infidelity. The problem is sin. Not speaking the truth is never compassionate. The egregious nature of the sexual behavior and abuse among a small minority of clergy is clear to anyone who accepts the unbroken teaching of the Catholic Church. It is vital that this sin be exposed, right now; at the beginning of what I believe is the great new missionary age of the Church. This is not the first time in our history as a Church that clergy reform accompanied a great renewal. The words of the Lord in the Gospel of Mark are a prophetic promise to every age: "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open" (Mark 4:22).
There have been other times in the history of the Church when some members of the clergy have been corrupted. God seems to always begin His Spring cleaning in His own house. Perhaps, as the Apostle Peter wrote to the Church of the first millennium during another great missionary age: " the time has come for judgment to begin with the House of God." (1 Peter 4:17) After all, we believe that every man, woman and child ever created is called to live in that House. We need to make it a place where they can truly find redemption, rest and safety; and discover the fullness of their destiny in Jesus Christ.
The perpetrators of these abuses must be stopped and face the consequences of their acts. That is mercy for them as well. They know that they have sinned and hiding will not free them from the bondage. The victims must be helped with healing and restitution. The Church must be purified in order to rise to the challenge of her missionary task in this Third Christian Millennium. That means that her clergy (Priests, Bishops and Deacons) must all be "holy" as the Lord Himself is holy.
If the Church is going to lead this contemporary age out of this "Culture of Death", she must truly become a "Culture of Life" and a civilization of love. Her clergy must be men who love, live and serve as the One who founded this Church loved, lived and served. Nothing less will do. They are, after all, His messengers and His arms, and His Hands, in a contemporary world that desperately needs His love and redemption.
Months ago I had the privilege at serving as Deacon at a Liturgy offered by Justin Cardinal Rigali at the beginning of the Catholic Leaders Conference which was held in Philadelphia. I was struck by his holiness and humility but sensed the strain of office in him. Now, I ...
understand more fully. His clear and definitive action is to be commended. Here is his statement:
Statement of Cardinal Justin Rigali Regarding Administrative Leaves
"These have been difficult weeks since the release of the Grand Jury Report: difficult most of all for victims of sexual abuse, but also for all Catholics and for everyone in our community.
"The Grand Jury Report, issued last month by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, called into question the way in which the Archdiocese handles allegations of child sexual abuse and asserted that as many as 37 priests remain in ministry ". . . after the Archdiocese learned of accusations or reports of their inappropriate behavior or sexual abuse of minors" (Grand Jury Report issued February 10, 2011).
"Since 2005, the Archdiocese has worked very hard and we believed that we were on the right path, making significant progress in the protection of children and in the investigation and handling of abuse allegations. In fact, the present investigation of sexual abuse began as a result of reports from the Archdiocese to the District Attorney's Office. The 2011 Grand Jury Report, however, presented us with serious concerns that demand a decisive response.
"As Archbishop of Philadelphia, it is my responsibility to respond to this Report transparently. I am determined to work for a solution that deals effectively with this issue in the Church and I share with the District Attorney's Office and the Grand Jury the desire to deal definitively with the concerns noted in the Report. I will continue to do so in cooperation with the District Attorney's Office.
"In reviewing the concerns of the Grand Jury, it became clear that we needed additional and independent expertise in place to evaluate allegations of sexual abuse. That is why I turned to a veteran child abuse prosecutor, Gina Maisto Smith, and asked her to re-examine both the cases of concern for the Grand Jury and the way in which the Archdiocese handles allegations of sexual abuse of minors. She brings 15 years of experience to bear in assessing, investigating and prosecuting child sexual abuse allegations.
"Her initial examination has concluded, and I have accepted her initial recommendations. Working to allay concerns in the community about the suitability of priests to minister and wishing to ensure that our processes are entirely effective, yesterday I placed twenty-one priests on administrative leave, effective immediately. These are in addition to the three who were placed on leave in February, after the report was released. While on administrative leave, all of these priests will not publicly exercise their ministry.
"Among the remaining cases, five additional priests would have been subject to administrative leave. However, one who was already on leave and two who are incapacitated have not been in active ministry. Two others no longer serve in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and, as both are members of a Religious Order, the Archdiocese has notified the Superiors of their Religious Orders and the Bishops of the Dioceses where they are residing. The remaining eight priests will not be subject to administrative leave. A review of these cases by Mrs. Smith found no further investigation is warranted.
"I want to be clear: These administrative leaves are interim measures. They are not in any way final determinations or judgments. Mrs. Smith will now lead a team of experts to investigate more fully each case.
"I know that for many people their trust in the Church has been shaken. I pray that the efforts of the Archdiocese to address these cases of concern and to re-evaluate our way of handling allegations will help rebuild that trust in truth and justice.
"As we strive to move forward today, I wish to express again my sorrow for the sexual abuse of minors committed by any members of the Church, especially clergy. I am truly sorry for the harm done to the victims of sexual abuse, as well as to the members of our community who suffer as a result of this great evil and crime."
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