Prelude to Comments on the Scandals in the Church

Posted on by charliej373

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(I have been rocked by the new scandal involving Cardinal Theodore McCarrick AND by all the people in authority who knew what a wolf he was and said nothing. I am too furious to write about it just yet. But I have noted that the very serious abuses of men who are not orthodox are routinely covered up and excused – while completely phony or trumped up charges are used to destroy men whose real crime is being orthodox. Fr. C. Frank Phillips was the Superior of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago, a beautiful, traditionalist organization first approved by the late Cardinal Francis George. Current Chicago Cardinal Blasé Cupich treats traditionalists with open contempt, as he does pro-lifers and those who insist on the Biblical definition of marriage. Lo and behold, a charge of engaging in homosexual relations with an adult was lodged against Fr. Phillips. An independent investigator found the charges flimsy and saw no reason to remove Phillips – that the charges were simply designed to get rid of him. Even so, Phillips is now gone – and the traditionalists in Chicago know the scourge of persecution. I am sick to death of certain Priests and Bishops thinking their job is to explain why Christ and His Apostles and Prophets didn’t actually mean what they actually said. I am sick to death of these same heterodox authorities excusing and covering up for vicious homosexual and pederastic abuse, provided the offenders are part of the go-along, get-along heterodox crowd. I am sick to death of these same wolfish officials using the very charges they cover up among the heterodox to smear clerics who dare to be orthodox, to live fidelity to the authentic Magisterium instead of perversions of it. As a prelude to the piece I will write on this, I repeat an investigative piece I wrote several years ago on the passion of former Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn, an orthodox Bishop who made some minor errors in adjudicating such a case. For his troubles, he was forced into retirement by Pope Francis and his American factotum, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston. I am sick to death of the hypocrisy and faithlessness coming from the highest levels of the Church I love. Period.-CJ)

By Charlie Johnston

This story has no heroes. There are villains; there are victims; there are those who were fumble-fistedly well-meaning; but there are no heroes.

It is a story for our time, a time when the mortar cementing the bricks of a solid social order are disintegrating. It is a tale of how many of the very people and entities which had helped cover up credible accusations of statutory rape of minor children against favored allies, righteously called for the head of a man they perceived to be their ideological enemy for his delay in turning in a subordinate for the lesser, but real, offense of having smutty pictures of children. It is a tale of tribalism, as various entities used the law as a cudgel to bludgeon their opponents and a shield to defend their allies. It is a story of how the guardians of the innocent agonized instead of acting when discovering there was a wolf in their midst. It is a saga of advocates of objective standards of morality retreating into moral relativism and the culture of therapy when confronted with irrefutable evidence against one of their own. The only man who seems to have learned much of anything from it is the man at the center of it, Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri Catholic Bishop Robert Finn.

Fr. Shawn Ratigan - Ms. Magazine
Fr. Shawn Ratigan – Ms. Magazine

The story begins on December 16, 2010, when a computer technician called in to make repairs to the laptop of diocesan priest Shawn Ratigan discovered over a hundred very disturbing pictures of young girls on the computer. Most were of clothed children, but all focused on the crotch or buttocks. Many did not even show the face of the child involved. One was a nude photo from the waist down.

The shaken technician, Ken Kes, called his friend, Deacon Mike Lewis to tell him – and show him – what he had found. Lewis was shocked and shaking. He called diocesan administrator, Msgr. Robert Murphy, who was also head of the diocesan response team for accusations against priests, and told him of the multitude of creepy pictures and described the nude photo.

Though the photos were clearly prurient, none depicted any actual sexual activity. Murphy called Police Captain Rick Smith, who was a member of the diocesan Independent Review Board (IRB), described the nude photo to him and asked if it was to be considered pornography. Smith asked experts in the department and got an ambivalent response. It might have been porn, but no one thought a charge would hold up on a single photo such as that. Murphy had not mentioned to Smith that there were a multitude of disturbing, if slightly less lascivious, pictures involved.

The laptop was turned over to Diocesan Information Director Julie Creech, who was asked to review the pictures. She did so and called in Diocesan Communications Director Rebecca Summers to review them with her. Meantime, Murphy called Bishop Finn to apprise him of the situation. Creech made copies of the photos for a permanent file – and both the women urged that the diocese turn the whole thing over to police, which was not done at that time.

Murphy confronted Ratigan, who denied the charges and claimed that the computer had been given to him used. But the next day, Ratigan attempted suicide. He was hospitalized in Kansas City. When he eventually recovered, he was sent to Pennsylvania for psychiatric evaluation. Diocesan officials struggled over how to handle it, ultimately concluding that the pictures were not legally pornographic because they did not show any sort of sexual activity or contact. Finn said he never saw the pictures; only had them described to him.

The doctor who evaluated Ratigan reported to the Diocese that he did not believe Ratigan to be a pedophile. Nonetheless, Finn assigned Ratigan to stay in a mission house in Independence, Missouri with elderly priests and to have no contact with children except for celebrating some formal Masses for student groups. The case was not turned over to the IRB because there were no complainants and the pictures were not determined to be pornographic, along with the psychiatric report.

In March, Ratigan violated the Bishop’s order by attending a sixth-grade girl’s birthday party with her family. Bishop Finn admonished him not to do that again. The diocese also turned the laptop over to Ratigan’s family, telling them it was not needed any longer and that Ratigan was banned from using computers. In April, Ratigan violated the order again – and was caught trying to take pictures under a table of a young girl whose family he was having dinner with at Easter. Finally convinced that Ratigan would not or could not control himself, the diocese notified police of the extent of the problem in mid-May. In the course of their investigation, police found many more such pictures on a computer at a parish Ratigan had worked at earlier – and CDs with similar pictures. Ratigan was eventually sentenced to 50 years in prison for both state and federal charges of producing and possessing child pornography.

Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker - Jackson County, Missouri
Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker – Jackson County, Missouri

Five months after the arrest of Ratigan, Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker got an indictment against Finn and the diocese for failing to report Ratigan to governmental authorities earlier. Controversy erupted throughout the diocese and the country as that trial wended its way through the courts. Commentators from all sides rallied to either call for Finn’s head on a platter or to defend him.

Former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves was called in to supervise a full investigation on the sequence of events and decisions by the Diocesan Independent Review Board. Ultimately, Finn was convicted of one misdemeanor count of failure under a plea agreement that saw charges dropped against the diocese. Finn was sentenced to two years probation, which was suspended.

Reuters has a good concise timeline of the events leading up to Finn’s indictment, while The Graves Report provides exhaustive detail on the underlying facts of the case.

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I have never met nor spoken to Bishop Finn. Several very close friends of mine are friends of his, though. One of my dearest friends is so close to him that well before this case ever began, he asked me to pray for Finn. He told me Finn was a faithful, orthodox man who had been put in a very progressive diocese and was getting a lot of flack from some priests there who were wedded to progressive modernism. Each day, I offer prayers for all the Bishops of the world – mentioning about 15 by name, Bishops who I have some connection to at first or second hand. Throughout my pilgrimage, Bishop Finn was one of those I prayed for by name each day I walked.

Since announcing I would be doing this article, I have been contacted by several people in the Diocese who have told me that Bishop Finn was under attack from the beginning of his tenure by left-wing activists and priests, by the National Catholic Reporter (NCRep), which is headquartered in the diocese and is the voice of left-wing Catholic ideology in America. While NCRep is clearly an advocate, it is by no means as degenerate as much of the establishment secular press. It does some solid journalism and is a good source, provided you make mental allowances that it takes its left-wing activism at least as seriously as its Catholicism.

All of my friends who know Bishop Finn, many of whom I count among my most trusted confidantes, speak in absolutely glowing terms about him.

Tribal Warfare

When the case erupted onto the national scene, the battle lines seemed to be drawn on ideological, rather than legal or religious lines. The left-wing Kansas City Star and that bastion of American liberalism, the New York Times, called loudly for Finn’s head. NCRep, which had already had an ongoing ideological battle with him wrote one of the more comically schizophrenic editorials ever when the indictment was announced. In its first line, it warned against anyone making a rush to judgment. That, apparently, was just a fig leaf thrown over its enmity towards an entrenched ideological enemy, though, for it ended by ignoring its own advice and calling for his immediate resignation.

The NY Times and the KC Star postured as principled, doctrinaire defenders of children. But when former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline investigated Planned Parenthood of Overland Park and the late abortion provider George Tiller for systematically covering up cases of statutory rape in cases where minor girls sought abortions, the Kansas City Star vigorously defended Planned Parenthood and Tiller,  ideological allies. The charges were eventually dismissed on technical grounds, while the judges involved largely conceded that it was likely crimes had been committed. The Kansas City Star, unsatisfied with having successfully shielded their ideological allies from being penalized for credible evidence of actually covering up child rape, joined in a crusade to disbar Kline for accessing private medical records. He was disbarred for that, while the child rape cases he uncovered were ignored. The KC Star won a “Maggie” Award from Planned Parenthood for its excellent editorial coverage of the issue.

The New York Times has long been a defender of Planned Parenthood. More importantly, when disgraced former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland rose to blame former Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI for the sexual assault crisis, the Times resurrected him as an honorable, knowledgeable source. Certainly, Weakland was knowledgeable about sex abuse and criminality. He used funds from the Archdiocese to settle a lawsuit with a former homosexual lover over abuse. But as long as he was willing to smear orthodox Catholics, the NY Times was willing to overlook his disgrace.

Prosecutor Peters is from Missouri, not Kansas. But she won the endorsement of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) in her bid for election to the office she holds. I don’t know what her position on the Kansas case was, but she is part of the same tribe as the KC Star and the NY Times.

I am less than impressed when advocates who win awards for shielding allies from credible claims of covering up child rape suddenly become doctrinaire advocates for children if an ideological opponent is not quick enough to hop to it when investigating a subordinate’s trove of smutty pictures. Somehow, I don’t think the welfare of children is at the top of their priority list. It looks like ideological warfare to me, the type that has metastasized into the full-blown Rolling Stone Rape hoax and Lena Dunham’s novelistic rape charge against an innocent man. This is a tribe that doesn’t let facts get in the way of a preferred narrative.

Unfortunately, the tribalism was not confined to the leftist attackers. William Donohue’s Catholic League defended the Bishop on narrow legalistic grounds, rather than viewing it from a solid moral perspective. His narrative defense was so slanted it borders on outright deception. For example, he notes that the police were informed immediately of the problem when it was found. Technically accurate, it glides over the fact that only one of hundreds of pictures were disclosed – and only to one police officer. The police were not formally notified nor fully informed of what had been discovered. As it turns out, Donohue’s legal analysis is largely on target, but if he would have gotten there in a more candid manner it would have been more impressive. While we have come to expect that the secular world largely acts in a tribal manner these days, using the law as a cudgel against opponents and a shield against allies rather than an instrument for objective justice, we rightly expect a different standard from the leaders of our faith.

Finn’s Actions

The approach of the Diocese and Bishop Finn was flawed in several ways. While it is proper not to jump mindlessly on every accusation, to show consideration for the rights of the accused as well as the accuser, this was not a “he-said, she-said” situation. In fact, there was never any “she-said” side to the story at all. The pictures were the evidence, and they spoke for themselves. Psychology is a useful tool and a miserable master. Therapeutic psychology has become the spear-point of moral relativism. On purely objective grounds, if you find hundreds of photos of crotch shots of children, even if most all are clothed, in someone’s possession, you should not need a psychological report to know you have a problem. I know I don’t want the person who cherishes such photos anywhere near my grandchildren. It is understandable that Finn did not want to subject himself to looking at such photos. But he is the Bishop. Given that Murphy gave such a truncated version of the photos to the police officer, I have some concerns about how candid and sound the counsel was that Finn was getting. That is not to excuse Finn for not examining the facts fully, himself. He is the Bishop. He will ultimately be held accountable, so he should have examined the evidence himself, to verify that he was making decisions from accurate information.

Bishop Robert Finn - (CNS Photo - Nancy Phelan Wiechec)
Bishop Robert Finn – (CNS Photo – Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

Yet for the terrible misjudgments and misguided efforts to be fair to the priest, the first thing Finn did was to remove the priest from general contact with children, get a psychiatric evaluation to try to evaluate him, and try to come up with a just resolution. That I, too, think his efforts were terribly calibrated does not make them criminal – and does not change the fact that he acted immediately to try to protect all involved. When Ratigan violated Finn’s order not to have contact with children, notwithstanding the psychiatric report, Finn ordered the police contacted and evidence turned over. It is because of Finn that the authorities came to know there was a problem in the first place. It was Finn who recruited former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves to supervise the detailed investigation into what happened, what went wrong, and how they could handle such cases in the future. To prosecute him for a case of the slows is less likely to protect children than to encourage a genuine cover-up in future cases.. It is ironic that the most vigorous prosecution of a Bishop in U.S. history comes not at the expense of a Bishop who actually worked to cover up such a scandal, but a Bishop who tried to solve the problem according to the law and then turned it over to authorities himself when he became convinced it was insoluble. But in tribal justice, it is not justice that is sought, merely sticking it to enemies and protecting allies.

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There was some reasonable commentary on the case – and some that was not merely tribal. Rod Dreher wrote a blistering article from a conservative perspective on why Finn deserved indictment. Yet his argument depends on the worst possible construction of every misjudgment. It fails ultimately because if you crucify a Bishop who actually was the source of disclosure, while allowing men like Weakland to enjoy retirement in peace, you teach the lesson that disclosure is the way to get crucified and that cover-up is the way to avoid it. That is a terrible practical result, quite apart from the moral incoherence of it.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of the neighboring Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas wrote a balanced piece in his diocesan newpaper and did a solid interview with NCR, which demonstrated its fundamental reportorial fairness even with a subject to which it was hostile.

EWTN nicely summarized the situation in a balanced manner from early on.

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Before I started examining the case in detail, I thought that Bishop Finn had agreed to the plea deal to spare the diocese the trouble of ongoing litigation and to spare the families of children who didn’t even know they had been victimized from the trauma of a public trial. As I examined the evidence and the law, that did not make as much sense to me as I thought it would. There really was no legal case here. The prosecutor was crowing when she got a technical plea to a misdemeanor that carried no effective punishment, other than a figurative scarlet letter tattooed on Finn. I am convinced this would have had to be dismissed before any families would have had to be called – and that Diocesan attorneys knew it. However clumsily at first, Finn acted to protect the children of his diocese, to remove the recalcitrant priest, and to notify authorities. So why the agreement? I think Bishop Finn is exactly the man my friends have described him to be. I suspect, but have no inside knowledge, that as it became clear that there was no criminal culpability, Finn acknowledged to himself his failures as a fairly new Bishop – failure to act with dispatch from a solid, objective moral framework. I suspect Bishop Finn chose to take that scarlet letter personally as a form of penance. a reminder of what he is called to.

I may be wrong. But I know when I was running large campaigns, I sometimes had regional heads who were marvelously talented, noble and vigorous who, nonetheless, were not as frutiful as they could be. I got to where I looked forward to one such as this making a huge blunder – the sort of blunder that could get him dismissed. I had found that when a noble soul makes a huge blunder, it fills him with a steady, steely resolve that transforms him onto a true champion. So I always let one such as this up easy and, in fact, rejoiced at the opportunity to see a new champion rise. I was never disappointed. I think Bishop Finn is such a man.

I said at the outset of this story that it has no heroes – and it doesn’t. But in the outer court of the Sanhedrin the day before Good Friday, St. Peter was not a hero. His very betrayal and grief over it was a forge that formed him into one who was faithful unto death. I don’t know whether Bishop Finn has discovered such a steely, steady resolve. But if ever events should conspire to make him my Bishop, I would be pleased. He has certainly come through the forge.

320 thoughts on “Prelude to Comments on the Scandals in the Church”

  1. Thank you, Charlie. A most sobering time in the Church it is. Looking forward to your next piece while holding on to Hope and remembering your words that there would come a time, so dark, when the best you – and really, any one of us – could do is take the next right step. Prayers aplenty for the clergy and the laity as we MUST clearly see, speak and act in truth. Thanks be to God that He has allowed these things to come to light. Veni Sancte Spiritus!

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Just got an email from our Pastor this afternoon asking for prayers, as he is going to address the sexual abuse crisis at all Masses this coming weekend. God Bless him. What a difficult job these days.

      Liked by 5 people

  2. Lord have mercy. My heart just aches for our beloved church. I write this as tears sting my eyes. St. Michael protect us and all innocents. I wish I could stick my head in the sand and not know about this awful side of humanity. Please Lord, come to our rescue.

    Liked by 13 people

  3. Some articles from MILINET today.
    VDH touched on the need to get back to religious fundamentals but, as we have seen for decades a “Civil War” has been ongoing in the Church Catholic/Protestant since the 60’s and the cast of characters between GOP & Democrat are very similar to what’s seen in Church!

    The Origins of Our Second Civil War–VICTOR DAVIS HANSON
    https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/07/origins-of-second-civil-war-globalism-tech-boom-immigration-campus-radicalism/

    The NEVER-ENDING Pervert Sex Scandals in the Church are giving ammo to the enemies of the Church to do the below only adding to the confusion and distrust that has become the norm …. disastrous norm ;-(
    The Church has been in in Cover-Up, Pay-Off and Attack Victims Mode for 20+ years and with the latest revelations of “Uncle Ted’s Escapades” it’s PAST TIME for the Church to come clean and “Out” the Special Friends of Uncle Ted and his ilk. The Church needs it’s own Special Council staffed with non-clerical and heterosexual Catholic investigators and legal types to Clean House. The Church simply does not have the credibility anymore to do otherwise!

    ‘There’s going to be a raid’: A Chilean prosecutor forces Catholic Church to give up secrets
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-abuse-church-insight/theres-going-to-be-a-raid-a-chilean-prosecutor-forces-catholic-church-to-give-up-secrets-idUSKBN1KL1H0

    Some, hopefully?, Good-News!!

    Sessions announces creation of Religious Liberty Task Force
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/07/30/Sessions-announces-creation-of-Religious-Liberty-Task-Force/2811532995120/?sl=8

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 9 people

  4. Charlie— I want to do a Jericho march in response to the devastating situation in our Church. I have read pieces by authors who have suggested that the laity must act to make sure the Church hierarchy responds correctly to this latest revelation of McCarrick and his cohorts. I hope that those guilty of horrible acts, and those who enabled or looked the other way, will step down. Anything less will not promote healing to our beloved Holy Mother Church. Looking to you for guidance and leadership on this, Charlie.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Like you, Kim, I’ve been reading as I have followed the development of this story. There are many lay leaders and clergy speaking truth with wisdom. Calling down the Holy Spirit in prayer that He harmonizes the various voices and efforts for an effective series of interventions to set things right in the hierarchy. I’m in the camp that believes McCarrick and any others guilty as he is should be laicized. Those prelates who provided cover should be removed, for they no longer qualifiy to function as Bishops.

      Liked by 11 people

      1. Yes, Beckita– my spiritual director says that the “Lavender Mafia’s” power is so extensive that it is beyond belief. What’s happening now in the church does indeed seem like a big part of the raging storm, and as frustrated, angry, and horrified as we all are, I’m hopeful that this will result in a monumental purging of the terrible decay in our hierarchy. I pray for purification and mercy on those whom we should have been able to trust. I don’t hate anyone, but feel such shock at the revelations. I’ll never leave our beautiful Catholic Church…..please, God, help everyone take the next right step.

        Liked by 13 people

        1. Amen, Kim. God’s Justice is the very fiber of His Mercy. Both must be operative as we navigate the challenges.

          My heart of prayer is also with the victims. May the cleansing of the Church be solace to those who have struggled to find peace after having to undergo the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual abuse from the perpetrator and then further endured more abuse by being silenced when trying to get help and prevent others from suffering at the hands of the sick one.

          Some of the finest reflections which I appreciate are those which stress that we can’t lose sight of the fact that, ultimately, this is a spiritual problem. Jesus carried all of this to Calvary and by His stripes we are healed.

          Liked by 10 people

        2. I’m with you Kim. We need to stand up against all these scandals and say NO MORE!! Our Church is too big and soft at the top. I have read some of the book “come rack, come rope” by robert benson and i do not believe that even 1/2 of the clergy would risk their lives for the faith. They are too involved in the modern politics of the day….

          Liked by 10 people

  7. Charlie,
    Tears, your confirmation of the wolves in shepherd’s clothing from the highest to the lowest …Blessed Virgin Mary statues crying tears of blood….Jesus Christ in His horrific crucifixion, abandonment and death on the Cross…..

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I just read this past week, that there is a Blessed Virgin Mary statue that is crying tears that smell just like Oil of Chrism…..the oil used to ordain priests. 😦

      Liked by 5 people

      2. We were in Hobbs, New Mexico, last week, where a statue allegedly cried. (It is not crying right now). I said prayers for all of you while there in front of the statue. Also at the alleged “holy dirt” Church and Chimayo and a bunch of other places. Was going to let you know! Connie B.

        Liked by 6 people

  8. It appears that the acronym NCR is used both for the National catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. Two very different newspapers.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thanks, Benjamin. The National Catholic Register is a very solid, orthodox Catholic publication that is usually right on point. I will go back and clear up any confusion on the matter.

      Liked by 5 people

  9. I don’t claim to understand theological things ‘above my pay grade’ and when it comes to our Catholic Faith I am faithful to all she teaches, but in regard to the newest sex-abuse scandals I am concerned about what I’ve heard from several people connected with Traditional Catholic Groups (SSPX) and also the so called ‘prophecies’ from Protestant Evangelical sources that say Pope Frances is an Anti-Pope or (Anti-Christ). I am under the impression that he is a valid Pope, but he may have some unreliable people around him at the Vatican. It’s so hard to know what the truth is anymore when it comes to the media that I rarely believe any negative reports about the Pope. I love our Church and pray for our Pope and church leaders, but the child sex-abuse scandals rock me to my core. I would appreciate Charlie’s thoughts about how these scandals relate to the direction of the Church today. Do you think we are presently dividing into a Right Wing and Left Wing resulting in an ‘underground’ Church of a remnant faithful?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Charlie is super busy wrapping up some work for the culture of life, Linda. I can tell you, the ultra right conservatives such as those who are part of SSPX – and the SSPX is disobedient to the Church themselves (And I acknowledge this without anger. It is simply their status.) – were applying the labels of “heretic” and “anti-pope” not long after our Holy Father was elected Pope at the conclave. We need to walk so very cautiously and carefully right now. For all who love the Church, this is a time to pray, fast, sacrifice and do penance for Pope Francis as never before.

      Liked by 9 people

    2. I fully believe Pope Francis is a valid Pope. In the course of Church history, there have been some great saints in the Chair of Peter – and some miserably bad and corrupt men. Pope Francis’ story is not finished yet, so who knows what he will turn out to be? Yet, in God’s providence, even the most vicious, miserable men who have occupied the Throne of Peter have either accomplished some notable good or triggered some important reforms. Remember, God’s ways are not our ways.

      We will NOT be divided. All of this turmoil is the beginning of a re-uniting. But I speak frequently that we are in Revelation 12 times. In that chapter, a third of the angels, themselves, were cast out of heaven as hopelessly corrupt. I have come to think the ratios are about the same in the Church right now.

      Liked by 15 people

      1. Not only have I never questioned the legitimacy of Pope Francis I have never had the slightest doubt about the goodness of his appointment and the wisdom of his intent. Some (none here) have derided this stance in me and dismissed it as normalcy bias. So for me it is not a question of wait and see but rather, see and wait. I see how good he is and wait for the best that is yet to come. He is the pope of the end times and after him a new era will get underway. There may be a bad pope in the wings but it is not Francis. In my view he will be raised up on eagles wings. For now he is, like us, a man, with most of the capacity that we have to err except that he is protected from teaching anything that contradicts truth and morals. Sometimes we have to search for truth but we are assured by Jesus himself “Seek and you will find.”

        Liked by 8 people

      2. Charlie, have you seen Fr. Gordon MacRae’s website thesestonewalls.com , a falsely accused priest in prison for 23 years…so sad…

        Liked by 4 people

  10. Exellent reporting Charlie – thank you – it puts flesh on the bones of our prayers for change and for rescue. God bless you. For what it’s worth I see the whole caboodle – Tribulation, Warning, Miracle and Conditional Chastisement, as encompassing the concept of Rescue. Their witnessed purpose is to to draw mankind closer to God.

    Liked by 3 people

  11. “A piece of information regarding Garabandal that leaves many people perplexed is found in the content of the second message, given on June 18, 1965. Specifically, the words: “Many cardinals, many bishops, and many priests are on the road to perdition and are taking many souls with them.”

    At that time, and especially in this little mountain village, such an affirmation was unheard of and, for many, unacceptable. In fact, for this very reason, some said that the message could not have come from Heaven, but from the devil. Nonetheless, Aniceta, Conchita’s mother, affirmed the veracity of the message when she said, “In 1962, we thought that all priests were saints, and to say such a thing was outrageous. Later, it has been proved to be true… The girl was right!”

    I see this as especially true with regard to abuse and cover-up. No wonder initially the Church had such a knee jerk reaction against Garabandal.

    Liked by 5 people

  12. We just had the Sunday Mass reading on “Woe to the shepherd who misleads the flock”! It has seemed fitting for quite a while. Every time I hear it I think of the traitors we have seen in the Church, and it all seems surreal once again, compared to the Church of my childhood.

    I would never call myself a conspiracy theorist, but have mentioned before the book “AA 1025”, put out by Tan Books, a reputable publisher. Read it years ago and it makes sense. How else could we get such corrupt men in the priesthood, though only a relative few. Someone, here I think, brought up the “Naked Communist:”. If you look at the goals, most of them have been accomplished. No surprise every level of society would target the Church, the last bastion of morality, the Commnadments, and all goodness. At least it is supposed to stand for all that, and it does, in the good and loyal people.

    I am so very grateful for the great and wonderful Catholic people and material that we can draw on for information – Charlie, SpiritDaily, Father Z, EWTN, and others. I accumulated a wonderful library from Tan Books years ago, reading about wonderful saints, and other valuable information. All of that is what keeps me going, with prayer, the sacraments, Rosary, and the whole arsenal! God bless you all!

    Liked by 9 people

      2. Yes, Beckita– all that is happening lends such credence to AA 1025, as well as “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing”. It’s hard to wrap my little brain around the scope of the effort of the evil one to destroy our dear, indestructible Church. Can’t be done, but what mind numbing damage!

        Liked by 5 people

  13. In August the Diocese of Harrisburg, and 5 other diocese, will have a list of priests who have preyed on children, youth etc.

    My step FIL was one such abused in the 1960’s. I want him to have closure and an apology.

    I am concered about the fall-out among parishioners.

    Liked by 5 people

  15. I think there should be a call to action…not only in prayer, but also in purse. These bad prelates that have resigned or retired are still on the payroll, folks. I suggest closing our wallets to anything Vatican. Send a message to PF. Enough is enough. I share here an article posted by Bishop Emeritus Gracida for your review on this subject. Us laity do have the power of the purse…
    https://abyssum.org/2018/07/24/the-catholic-laity-are-not-powerless-they-have-the-power-of-the-purse-which-is-second-only-to-their-spiritual-power-through-their-giving-or-not-giving-the-laity-empower-bishops-and-cardinals-to/

    Liked by 4 people

  16. A good book “the Book of Gomorrahand St. Peter Damian’s struggle…” I read a few years ago addresses these issues plus the punishment for all those involved. Though we live in extraordinary times, they are not as bad as described herein:

    Quote from Amazon’s advertisment page:

    “Alas, it is shameful to speak of it! It is shameful to relate such a disgusting scandal to sacred ears! But if the doctor fears the virus of the plague, who will apply the cauterization? If he is nauseated by those whom he is to cure, who will lead sick souls back to the state of health?”

    With these words, St. Peter Damian introduces the Book of Gomorrah, an eloquent and impassioned denunciation of a plague of homosexuality among the Catholic clergy during the 11th century. Although it was written almost a thousand years ago, the Book of Gomorrah seems addressed to our own times, associating the phenomena of clerical homosexuality and pederasty, and endorsing the imprisonment of clergy who are a danger to youth.

    The Book of Gomorrah offers a scathing analysis of the evil of sodomy, while also expressing compassion for those who have fallen into such vice and the possibility of their redemption by the aid of divine grace. It explains the devastating effects of the vice both spiritually and psychologically, and warns that such behavior, particularly among the clergy, will bring down the wrath of God. It also urges the permanent defrocking of clerics who are habituated to homosexual behavior and endorses the permanent confinement those guilty of child sex abuse.

    This new translation by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman is the most accurate and faithful available in English, and carries a foreword by Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. I have no idea what to make of it all–OK, I shouldn’t say that – I’m so utterly disgusted I’m at a loss as to how to defend the church I love against this. And I’m in the archdiocese of Newark.

    People who love the church are right to want this cleansed with fire. But articles like Dreher’s seem to be fueled with more than a call for justice and I don’t want to see more damage done from anger.

    I just don’t know what to say or think about it all, and the most worrisome is that the people who SHOULD know what to say and do about it all seem to be as confused as I am.

    (this is shadowing the US government, no? Lots of badness being uncovered and the people of authority wringing their hands and running in circles crying, “Oh dear! Oh dear!” while the peasants await their Joan)

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Amen, Briana… especially: “… I don’t want to see more damage done from anger.” I think, as we speak about the Church, we can continue to proclaim the beauty, grace and truth of Christ’s teachings. This ugliness now being revealed, which we must address, is about the sins of the clergy. We cannot defend their errors and deception, the enabling and lack of responsibility which have harmed the flock. So many wounds have festered and the pus and junk have begun being released as this wickedness has come to light. May the cleansing continue with all rotted tissue removed so that complete healing can ensue

      Liked by 4 people

      1. A friendly reminder for all: September 23, 2017 Satan’s extraordinary reign/hold on ALL people has been lifted. So I believe…

        We are viewing (actions coming to light) the actions of those who were possessed by this extraordinary evil NOW. As Jesus said, do not judge but leave judgement for God.
        Forgive.

        Let it go.

        Allow this time to be of prayer, particulary of participating in the novena for our Nation https://www.novenaforournation.com
        which culminates on October 7th http://rosarycoasttocoast.com

        My Parish is sponsoring this event. Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury, NY.

        We are in the preliminary stages of how to ‘run’ this event and we have our ideas…

        My intention is to pray the Rosary immediately after mass, every day available. This satisfies a few concerns.

        First, reception of a Plenary Indulgence (PI) – remission of all punishment due to sin. Requirement to obtain such a benefit: One must not be in a state of sin (Mortal or Venial),

        for me the only time I know definitively I am w/o a mortal or venial sin is immediately after Confession and/or reception of the Eucharist. Hence, my participation of Rosary is immediately after mass.

        Second, the Rosary must be recited aloud, with more than one person (two) declaring the mysteries & prayers associated.

        Third, Confession should be within a suitable range of days up to 20 days.

        Fourth, Prayers for the Intentions of the Pope: usually a Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…

        What is a Plenary Indulgence? Remission of all Justice due to our sins, aka punnishment aka Purgatory.

        When God looks upon us, what does he see? Sinners. All of us. However, he sees sinners trying to live good, trying to live properly, but struggling. This is where a Plenary Indulgence (& a lot of partials) help. A Plenary Indulgence {authorized through the Church} remitts All punishment, all justice due. In essence, you are clean…pure, whole; ready to see God.

        We, as a Nation, as a People have an ability to join others praying for our Nation & receive a Plenary Indulgence for ourselves (or Souls in Purgatory) after every mass. All the greater reason to attend daily mass. Take the first (PI) for yourself, then offer the next several (dozen) for souls in Purgatory.

        Praying the Stations of the Cross (immediately after mass) also fulfills the requirements.

        Liked by 6 people

        2. So true, Sean, that Mercy must be forthcoming. It is also true that we must wrestle with how to judge with righteous judgement what is before us, as the Lord says in John 7:24: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

          Msgr. Charles Pope addresses this very well in this piece: http://blog.adw.org/2010/06/correcting-the-sinner-is-not-being-judgmental-it-is-an-essential-work-of-charity/

          An excerpt:
          In today’s Gospel there is a Scripture passage that is “too well known.” I say this because the world has picked it up almost as a club to swing at Christians. The text is used almost as if it were the whole Bible and it is used to shut down any discussion of what is right or wrong, what is virtuous or what is sinful. Even many Christians mis-interpret the passage as a mandate to be silent in the face of sin and evil. It is a passage “too well known” because it is remembered but everything else in the Scriptures that balances or clarifies it is forgotten. Here is the passage:

          Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matt 7:1-5)…

          But pay careful attention to what this Gospel text is actually saying. The judgment in question is not as to the question of right and wrong. Rather, the judgment in question regards punishment or condemnation.

          Liked by 5 people

    2. Yes, Briana, you touch on the main reason I have not written directly about it just yet. I do not want it just to be a primal scream or an angry screed. But it is time to say enough and quit accepting excuses and zero-tolerance nonsense that tolerates everything. This is hideous and it has to have an accounting.

      Liked by 11 people

  18. On this post I had previously put up:
    http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/texas-bishop-hold-mccarrick-and-his-enablers-accountable
    Bishop Olson documents the scandal of the former Cardinal McCarrick including allegations of abusing the first child he baptized, sexual acts against priests and seminarians, the cover up of clergy who must have known, etc. While all of us are surely guilty of many sins, our church is in need of many prayers of reparation and we are also in need of a healthy, truthful, and yet charitable “Me Too” movement in our church to further bring to light what still remains in darkness.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I will be more impressed when the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops clean up their own act. The Conference is the political arm of the Bishops – and it endorses a policy that allows Texas hospitals to withdraw basic care from patients without either their or their guardian’s consent. It is an abomination – and I will be more interested in what Bishop Olson says when he starts upholding Magisterial doctrine on end of life issues rather than consenting to his conference refusing to – and condemning those lay organizations that DO uphold what the Church teaches. (Since writing the linked article, I have started working as closely with Texas Right-to-Life as I do with David Daleiden). It is part of why I am absolutely furious with Bishops and Priests who smugly explain to all us unwashed why actual Catholic doctrine does not apply any more)

      Liked by 13 people

      2. Agreed, Charlie… When I saw the link to the Register article with Bishop Olson’s take on the McCarrick issue, I was singularly unimpressed precisely for the reasons that you mentioned.

        Liked by 4 people

      3. Sadly, I fear that the sins of both omission and of commission are, as Jesus once said “Legion”. May we all do our part in improving things.

        Liked by 3 people

  19. I studiously have stayed out of Church politics and stuck to my business, but, even I, heard things 30 years ago that Bishop McCarrick was not a good man. I’m sorry to say that a small part of me delighted that he was caught. The example and spirit of St. John Mary Vianney is needed more than ever among the clergy. When his parishioners started a petition to have him removed on the grounds that he was unqualified, he signed it himself. Such humility is a great gift to God and a dangerous weapon against God’s enemies.
    Still we weep for victims of sexual abuse and abuse of power. As Christ pointed out to the women of Jerusalem, “weep for yourselves.” God, Father of us all, heal us, send us relief, hear the cries of your people.

    Liked by 15 people

    4. Thank you Fr Peter. Many years ago, at a time when I was drowning spiritually, I was almost convinced by a group of Traditionalists to become a Catholic according to the way of SSPX. I made a general confession to one of their priests and even attended a mass said in Chelsea Town Hall by their founder Archbishop Lefebvre.
      Eventually I found the strength to resist their persuasion and returned to the practise of my faith under the Pope and Magisterium. I remember deciding to put in writing my reasons to break away from those who had tried to draw me away from Rome.
      I only remember one part of that letter in which I also referred to the “women of Jerusalem.” I expressed a new way (for me) of seeing that scripture.
      “Weep not for Me but for yourselves (your error) and for your children.(those you have led into error).”
      I realise now that this showed to me that the way of SSPX was diametrically opposed to Christ’s commission to Peter to “Feed my sheep, feed my lambs” because the food intended by Christ for his followers was Truth.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. The storm is getting stronger. What’s happening in our Church and in the world is quite frightening. My grandson in his mid twenties won’t go to Church, nor to Confession, because of the scandals. He said he doesn’t have confidence in the clergy. If we can’t live in the truth from our Church, where can we get it? There’s such a mixture of voices in society, everyone declaring “the truth”, but wondering where the truth lies. That’s Satan’s smoke. Confusion everywhere. Charlie, where is our rescue? We are in dire need of a rescue !

    Liked by 5 people

    1. We are the instrument through which God usually accomplishes His will. There has been a great failure on the part of the hierarchy – but there has been a great failure on the part of the laity that has enabled the wolves in the hierarchy, while leaving the faithful Priests bereft. I plan to discuss both problems. We get to the Triumph by living each of our duty well.

      Liked by 10 people

    2. The unmasking of the scandals is a critical and oh so needed part of the Rescue. To know what has been hidden for so long is a great grace. We cannot prune and then rebuild without full knowledge of what needs rectifying. When Christ’s Light shines brightly, the true state of a person or structure is revealed, the very dawn and promise of a New Beginning waiting for our prayers and next right steps.

      Liked by 10 people

    3. “My grandson in his mid twenties won’t go to Church, nor to Confession, because of the scandals. He said he doesn’t have confidence in the clergy.”

      I felt the same way for a while, though at some point when people were bashing the Church because of the scandals, I felt compelled to re-enter and defend the church. Further, I found myself justifying my coming back as a saying, ” you can’t fix it, if your’re not in it”. After returning, I realized I knew nothing of things and (thankfully) humbled myself into submission. Still working on surrendering everything to God, still fighting but figure it is a work in progress.

      Though, today and the past few weeks I have been struggling with ‘drinking too much’… each time I have struggled and found myself at the wine store, something nice and spectacular has happened. Nothing earth shattering but a little glimmer of hope deposited through my actions/words to another. I realize it just after as i am driving from the parking lot. I usually start to admonisher myself saying “you forgot to acknowledge God…” then realize Jesus knows exactly where I am.
      I am thankful.

      Liked by 14 people

    4. Praying for your grandson, Judy, and for all those whose faith has been shaken or destroyed by the scandals caused or perpetuated by the shepherds. And may God have mercy on us all.

      Liked by 6 people

    1. I hear you, Kim. And I am reminded of St. Peter after Jesus’ Eucharistic discourse in John 6. After multitudes ceased to follow Jesus, who turned and asked if the Apostles would also leave, St. Peter kind of throws up his hands and responds, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

      It is so tempting to just throw up our hands and say, “The heck with it!” But if we do, we will be cutting ourselves off from our lifeblood, the Holy Eucharist. And that, for me, is a no-go; and I’m sure it is for you and for everybody here. Charlie said, “We will NOT be divided.” Let’s all prove him right, let’s stick with St. Peter (and his Successor), and let’s help others do the same. 🙂

      Liked by 8 people

    2. I think it might be time to recall that THE CHURCH is not brick/mortar, stone/timber or a bunch of perfumed princes and their “disciples” ensconced in cathedrals somewhere but The Faithful Followers of Jesus Christ! ….. Simple, hardheaded and soiled though we may be 😉
      Let’s also recall Jesus’ Words from Scripture:

      Matthew 18:20: “For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

      The Church is US …. here at TNRS or anywhere else His Followers might congregate!

      …. and I will keep “pushing” the Divine Mercy Message given to St Faustina and His Image that was called for. NOT a picture of St Peter’s Basilica but a painting of Our Lord and “Jesus, I trust in You” as a caption!

      YES!! I want those brick, stone and timber structures back! Structures bought and maintained by the donations of Faithful generations! …. and I want them staffed by Faithful clergy and not a bunch of Lavender Marxist-Socialists. Time to Act! For Our Institutions, Our USA and Our Christendom!!

      GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

      Liked by 13 people

  23. Thank you, Charlie. Really appreciate this! Today we re-watched “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” after hearing about the scandals. Now, we just went to your website and saw your caption about the wolf in sheep’s clothing! I wonder if this is a good time to share and spread that movie from EWTN, in advance of the Pennsylvania scandals that are about to become public next month. I pray that those inside and outside the church will see the truth. It seems you were very right when in the past you mentioned- it will be a tough slog. I can’t imagine it not being. I think about those who will use this as an excuse to persecute “All” Catholics and think they are doing a holy duty. It is hard not to imagine this even amounting to martyrdom in this country, although only God knows the scope or the sequence of that. I pray for strength for all those who love the Church in spite of these horrible scandals. St. Francis, St. Mother Teresa and others are saints because of the Church, not in spite of it, but these wolves are wolves not because of the Church, but in spite of it. Heartbreaking to see what lies ahead for good holy priests and also for laypeople. May the Blessed Mother comfort us and may Jesus give us strength and much humility to do His work in embracing what lies ahead and carrying our crosses with hope,faith and even joy because we love Christ and and Christ’s Church so much.

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Dear Joann,

        They touched on this on EWTN nightly news Monday night. I think they explain it better than me- YouTube usually has these programs online if you would like to view.

        Blessings and prayers

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes and no, Paul. No one has the right to judge the status of the heart and soul of any other person. That is, no One but God Alone. At the same time, we are instructed by the Lord to judge with righteous judgement. I remember the days when Charlie had included the concept of judging with righteous judgement in one of his pieces at TNRS and, as ever, a great discussion ensued in the comments. We MUST engage in weighing, judging and discerning how we as laity engage with faithful clergy to hold to account those clerics who are guilty of grievous errors that have perpetuated disgusting evil, harming victims – often, for a lifetime – and, seemingly, seriously tarnishing the beauty of our Catholic teachings and our mission to evangelize. In fact, the sins of the clergy or laity can NEVER tarnish Christ’s teachings but people too easily lose sight of this reality when they are overcome with intense emotions.

      Not harshly delivered, but due to justice, I believe there are Bishops and Priests who should be laicized and, perhaps, others who should be sentenced to a life of reparation, lived out in fasting, penance and prayer. Faithful lay people should tend to faithful clergy with great gusto, in concrete ways, not only to support them in their ministry and any additional need in their lives, but to also blunt the sting of blanket accusations and attacks – which will most likely rise in the wake of these revealings – against all who faithfully serve God in persona Christi.

      Then, too, we cannot forget the Mercy of God which is intertwined in His Justice. Jesus’ teaching is clear: even in this current mess, we WILL be judged by a standard he proclaimed when His disciples asked Him how best to pray: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…” Sr. Bear expressed this so well: “Each soul is precious to God, who desires repentance and efforts to make amends. With compassionate hearts, wholeheartedly embracing the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church on faith and morals, we pray for our Church leaders who have taken wrong turns. Bring them home, Good Shepherd.”

      Liked by 10 people

  25. Such scandals have been revealed and dealt with in waves in the 31 years since I became Catholic.

    Reports of abuse, starting in the late 1980s, were shocking to people like me who assumed that priests and nuns lived holy lives.

    In America, since about the late 1980s, more rigorous policies have been put in place and followed in dioceses and religious orders to screen out candidates who might be inclined toward sexual abuse, or to cooperate with civil authorities in cases of alleged abuse.

    However, I cannot say that every diocese or religious order in the United States (I cannot speak for the rest of the world) has accepted only candidates who wholeheartedly embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church on faith and morals and strive to live accordingly. Those who had reached positions of prominence might, themselves. not wholeheartedly embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church.

    The boundaries in Church teachings, and in the Bible, are clear and not convincingly explained away. Those boundaries are put in place by God for our true wellbeing and happiness. Once a clear boundary is breached, then there are no boundaries ~ only rationalizations to justify almost anything, breach by breach.

    I think we are now in a painful but necessary phase of revelation and call to repentance. Some in power (in dioceses and religious orders) whom we expect to embrace wholeheartedly the teachings of the Catholic Church ~ but do not ~ are being revealed.

    Each soul is precious to God, who desires repentance and efforts to make amends. With compassionate hearts, wholeheartedly embracing the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church on faith and morals, we pray for our Church leaders who have taken wrong turns. Bring them home, Good Shepherd.

    Liked by 12 people

    1. Amen, Sr. Bear. Beautifully said! I especially appreciate your closing thoughts concerning God’s desire for “repentance and efforts to make amends.” I wonder if our Father in Heaven is waiting for something from us – something which each and every one can do – before it is possible for our Mother’s Immaculate Heart to triumph completely? In Fatima, the calls for reparation were clear. We CAN respond to the pervasive evil of these times – even if we did not commit the sins – with unselfish Love. We are, after all, made in God’s image and likeness. His Justice demands reparation. Just as we pray for the souls in purgatory as they repair for their sins while learning the ways of selfless Love, why not take wee steps in each day to offer prayers of reparation for the sins of our times?

      Those who have studied the spirituality of Living in the Divine Will will recognize this call from Jesus. Upon awakening each day, we can offer a simple prevenient prayer that whatever we may think, say and do would be done in God’s Divine Will. As taught by Jesus, we desire it to be reparative and HE does the work, for His Redemptive passion and death are infinite and transtemporal. The glory of it is its embrace of the ordinary ways of living, loving and serving. Even heartbeats, breaths and footsteps become reparative prayer.

      For those who also thrive on more formal prayers, the Fatima prayers of reparation come to mind:

      O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in the most need of Thy mercy.

      My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee.

      O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

      Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

      O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners.

      Liked by 6 people

  26. Nearly forty years ago I became friends with a fellow college student who was a good, holy, spirit filled man. He was a natural leader and during our college years, in the tumultuous seventies, did much to Nearly forty years ago I became friends with a fellow college student who was a good, holy, spirit filled man. He was a natural leader and during our college years, in the tumultuous seventies, did much to keep our group of guys focused on God and the church. He did this not in a scolding moralistic, negative way, but with good spirit, encouragement and joy. After college he felt called to the priesthood. He was accepted in our diocese’s program to train men for ordination and was sent to seminary.

    He came home with stories of corruption, perversion and the existence of a subculture of near total disregard for the Church’s teachings on chastity and same sex relationships. Upon reporting what he had seen, and his resulting dismay and concern, to the local hierarchy, he was told that he was an alarmist, was over reacting. Even worse, some claimed that he was either delusional or outright lying.
    My friend left the seminary and the formation program. No matter what trials we face, God has us in His plan, in His wonderous protection. Several years later he met and married a wonderful Catholic woman. They raised a number of children and continue to work in and participate in the life of the Church. I have not seen him in a number of years. But every time I stop to consider the great damage done by the fifth column of sin and perversion within the body of the Church, I think of my friend’s struggle to stay the course in the face of horrific evil. In a different time and place he would have been a wonderful priest. I really believe that God called him “out” of the priesthood to save him from what would have been a life of constant struggle against this great ingrained and pervasive evil.
    Needless to say, after hearing my friend’s stories, I was only slightly surprised as the cases of child molestation by priests began to become public in the eighties. Every time my wife and I heard of a new allegation we would commiserate over the inability of the hierarchy to deal with the truth. We were not angry so much, as sad and hurt, that the wonders of the Church and the message of Christ were being obscured in the public mind by the corruption of those who were called to protect the flock and proclaim the word of God.

    The scandals and the bishops’ reactions have stripped them of all moral authority in the eyes of the average American. I have to confess that even I found myself doubting for a time. After hearing a particularly disjointed sermon by a priest about sexuality in marriage I remember being filled with anger. A voice within me was saying “How dare you, Father? How dare you presume to lecture me on the most sacred relationship of myself to my wife and of us to God? Go clean your own house!” I was eventually able to see though my anger and doubts. I fear, and know, that many others did not.

    We personally know people who were abused and family members of people who have been abused by priests. Several priests we knew and were friendly with, or had worked with in Church activities, confessed, or were proven to be abusers. The abuse affects not only the abused individual but radiates out like the ripples from a rock dropped in a pond, to the third, fourth, tenth circle of friends and family. The hurt, dismay, anger, fear, loathing generated when the abuse comes to light spreads through the body and the public like a wave leaving great destruction in its wake. The nephew of very close friends was abused by a priest who had become close with the young man’s parents. The abused boy led a troubled and difficult life, ultimately succumbing to death by drugs and alcohol at a young age. The effects of this have driven our friends from the Church. We cannot lecture or chastise them to try to bring them back. The only thing we can do is support them, sympathize with them in their loss and grief, and pray for them.

    Our prayers lately have been for the good and holy priests and religious we have known (and they are many). The scandals have placed a cloud over them, making their work and lives all the more difficult as the public tends to group all in the circle of the abusers.

    I do not know the answer to all of this. We must pray. We must encourage the good and holy priests, brothers, nuns among us. When dealing with non-Catholics and former Catholics I do not try to deny or sugar coat the seriousness of what has been going on. I try to point out that the abusers are a minority of religious and that their sins are not condoned by the Church. Such protestations are often countered with outright scorn and derision. Again, ultimately, all I can do is pray for the people whose view of the Church, and unfortunately often of Christ and God, have been so damaged by what has occurred.

    Perhaps the time has come to raise our voices as lay people fully part of the life of the Church. Even at the risk of appearing to bring further scandal and division, maybe we need to begin speaking out loudly and consistently that this subculture of evil must be removed from our midst. Perhaps we should close our purses as well If our words are not taken into account.

    In the end, only God can save us. Through the intercession of Mary, may Jesus pour out the Holy Spirit to restore His Church, to restore us, to what God calls us to be.

    Sorry this was so long but recent events and Charlie’s powerful essay made me reflect on these things that have been on my heart for a very long time.

    JT

    Liked by 14 people

    3. Good sharing JT and not too long. My experience at seminary reflected that of your friend. And yet there were some great and holy students who remained steadfast in their calling and seemed impervious to the corruption all around them. They stood out as beacons of light and even the worst offenders acknowleged the grace that emmited from them. They were men of prayer and good works who fixed their eyes on Jesus and their hearts in Mary. They did not dialogue with the devil but got on with their studies and fulfilling their daily duties of formation as best as possible. They are now good priests and what a wonderful treasure they are.

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Joe: I fully agree. Another side of my walk has been to know a dear friend who just retired after forty-some years as a priest and pastor. My wife and I met him when we were first dating and he was assigned to my wife’s parish as his first assignment after ordination. He is a holy, prayerful, spiritual man. Full of life and fund to be with. Able to radiate care and compassion to sinner and saint. Faithful to the teachings of the church. Even though I am sure there were trials in his ministry I have never heard him complain. He has moved though the chaos and difficulties of the past forty years with a spirit of peace and humility. If someone asked me to prove the existence of God and the Holy Spirit this man’s life and ministry would be one of the examples on my list.

        We were blessed to have him officiate at our wedding and the wedding of our oldest daughter twenty seven years later.

        A few months ago he said his last mass as pastor of the parish he has led for the last dozen years. The church was packed with fellow priests and people from all the stages of his life and all the various parishes and ministries where he has served. The mass and following reception were truly a gathering of the faithful remnant of the church in our small diocese.

        Even in the midst of the storm and the seeming collapse of everything we have known, God raises up shepherds to lead his people and to be lights in the darkness.

        JT

        Liked by 4 people

    4. A writer by the name of Michael Rose wrote a book titled “Goodbye, Good Men” about this very problem 16 years ago, JT. As I recall, it was panned by The Usual Suspects. It’s all coming out now and will, short term, be horrific for many who were in ignorant bliss but long term ….. The Church will be smaller but vibrant ….. as God Wills It! 😉

      “An Interview with Michael Rose”
      http://www.latinmassmagazine.com/articles/articles_2002_SU_Rose.html

      GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

      Liked by 3 people

  28. My anger is salty, that is to say, my temper is flavored with my tears. Every day of every week I concern myself with protecting the children and teens under my care. I am bound to Diocesan clearance rules for the catechists and every adult who I ask to help me and my pastor monitor their safety. When outrages such as these occur, I know why all the paperwork and all the diligence is necessary.

    When I first started working with teens, I had more than a few young adults volunteer who were attracted to the vitality and spirituality of the youth. However, one of them, who appeared to be very nice and cooperative and behind our mission, turned out to be a wolf among the sheep. I found out by God’s grace when he seduced and took advantage of an adult friend of mine and she called me in tears to warn me. I immediately excluded him from every activity with the youth group, including our upcoming pilgrimage to World Youth Day. He was very upset and, while he admitted he had ill-used my friend, claimed he could control himself with the teens and chided me because he said I needed all the help I could get. Mind you, this was in the time before all the scandals and clearances were not necessary for workers with youth.

    I bring this up because, much later, when talking about our former group, one of the members said that “everyone knew” what a pervert this young man was. It seems to be the case that many in retrospect will say they had a feeling or an instinct about someone when the scandal breaks.

    We need to have, above all, a “Prayer Instinct” because Yes!-it is indeed true- the Holy Spirit leads us to the whole truth. When that truth is ugly, I think, it is good to have salty anger, that is, contrition mixed with righteous indignation married to bold action and next right steps. Prayers continue for our Pope, our Bishops and priests and all lay workers who have to make tough choices. May the Holy Spirit give us His great gift of wisdom. Peace and blessings to all here.

    Liked by 13 people

  29. Some more “stuff” in my in-box today. It’s interesting that “The Fight” is happening on Military Bases too ;-(

    01 August MILINET: Articles for Catholics

    “Fighting for the Bible, one Air Force base at a time”–Cheryl K Chumley
    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jul/31/fighting-for-the-bible-one-air-force-base-at-a-tim/

    “Progressive Reactions to the Religious-Liberty Task Force Prove We Need It”–ALEXANDRA DESANCTIS
    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/religious-liberty-task-force-left-reaction-shows-need/

    …. & Voris on the Warpath:

    “The Whole Shootin’ Match”
    https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vortex-the-whole-shootin-match?mc_cid=ffb95db431&mc_eid=2a0b6c7ef6

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 6 people

    2. So true, CD, even on the bases. Others may not realize that on every base that has a chapel, it is shared by all the denominations. I remember when one group of satanists wanted their symbols and worship to be allowed in the name of “freedeom of religion”! They could not be excluded! I thank God for all the military chaplains we have known, one of them being responsible for my husband’s entry into the Catholic Church.

      Liked by 4 people

    1. And masks are already falling all over the world, for the most penetrating Sword of all, one beyond any human invention is this: “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

      Liked by 7 people

  32. It seems like we are moving through a Storm within a Storm within a Storm.

    We have the Storm of corruption in society complete with degrading culture including political, governmental,economic, academic, arts, civic engagement etc.

    In addition we have the Storm of the corruption of sexual abuse and a “crisis in management” in the Church.

    I would add that many of us are experiencing a Storm within our own families which seem to be increasingly split apart by the forces confronting society including politics, unemployment, debt, drugs and alcohol.

    This Storm within a Storm within a Storm which is waxing not waning is threatening and confusing and fear inducing. We seem helplessly in its grip. Things are spinning out of control. In our country, in our Church and in our families. Some of us feel powerless to address these problems. We are increasingly dismayed. Storm tossed in rising winds and seas.

    What to do?

    When you are in a storm you have to hold on. You hold on to the basics. What are the basics?

    In the Church the basics are the sacraments especially the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation. No abuse of any kind by wolves in sheep’s clothing can separate us from the basics of our faith.

    In our civic life we have the Constitution and the concept of the Rule of Law. We must cling to these solid foundations of our Republic.

    In our families we have Love. Forgiveness. Patience. Endurance. Sacrifice. Sharing. Caring. Solidarity. We need to reflect upon and deepen these bonds.

    The winds and seas may rage around us. They may threaten and horrify and terrorize us. But Jesus is in the boat with us. Just as he was in the boat with the Apostles.

    Hold on to the basics that sustain us. And keep our eye focussed on what Charlie calls the Stella Maris. The guiding light.

    Pray. Keep calm. Carry on.

    Liked by 11 people

    1. Amen, Ed. A massive, multi-dimensional vortex of storms have we. Holding on, acknowledging God, and taking NRSteps with confidence that the Inseparable Hearts will beam all manner of hope-filled starlight. shooting from our prayers and deeds.

      Liked by 4 people

    3. So good, Ed. Spot on.
      I love the scriptures about Jesus walking on the water…as long as Peter kept his eyes on the Lord he was fine. When he took his eyes off the Lord, he started to sink.(Need to stamp that on my forehead ). The other one-where they are in jail and they start singing. May we have faith like them. Might as well confuse the enemy-be joyful!

      Liked by 3 people

  33. The Big reveal in Harrisburg PA today.

    I admire the wonderful and forthright eay that Bishop Ronald Gainer has handled it.

    Please say a prayer for him and those accused. And edpecially for the poor victims!

    Liked by 5 people

    3. I was shocked to see so many names of priests, one of whom I was familiar, who were only accused AFTER they had died. I sincerely suspect that some of the accusers are only out for a pay-out and chose priests who could not defend themselves. This is hugely cynical of me, and I pray I am not gravely offending my Lord, but I saw this happen firsthand in Houston. Once pay-outs are made, a new group shows up to make accusations, often choosing to accuse the very old or the dead. I get sick to my stomach.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. This, too, is very serious, Marisa. It is becoming clear that much of the response to the crisis of the early part of last decade was designed to protect and cover for the guilty while leveraging such types of allegations to attack the innocent. This is very serious and very complicated.

        Liked by 6 people

  34. I’m not a specialist in Church history, but this level of Episcopal corruption may rival that of the Middle Ages (around the Reformation, and also around St Francis of Assisi). It’s a bit hard to tell because back in those days the behavior seemed more blatant, as the Church had more temporal power, therefore Bishops could do more temporal damage. It seems that the current corruption is starting to reveal itself more and more since ex-Cardinal McCarrick’s outing, and from a spiritual standpoint could be just as bad as ever before. It’s really surprising to me that some of these “open secrets” could have been kept so long in an age of internet and mass media. It’s especially disappointing that instead of any kind of repentance and acknowledgment from many/most Bishops we get legalese, memory lapses and stonewalling. They are acting no better than secular politicians, sometimes worse. Also disturbing is that many of these wolves are the Pope’s closest confidants. Pope Francis is our Pope and must be respected as such, but his choice of friends and advisers is problematic to say the least. Definitely we need to pray for the shepherds that they repent before they are judged for scattering the sheep, and looking forward to what Charlie recommends laity do in addition

    Liked by 7 people

  39. A personal report from a laicized priest from the revered, conservative Diocese of Lincoln, NE who states:” My own experiences and those of others in seminary and priesthood lead me to conclude that there have been and continue to be numerous other such instances – and not only on the “liberal” side of the Church but, astonishingly for some, on the “conservative” side as well.”

    Further: “I am painfully aware, however, that the people to whom my seminary formation was entrusted modeled addictive behavior to me and an entire generation of young men who are now priests.”

    The revelations contained in this article were s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g. to me.

    https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/monsignor-kalin-metoo-for-conservative-catholic-dioceses/

    (Edit… this follow-up to the article was just posted: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/peter-mitchell-fallout-monsignor-kalin/ )

    Liked by 3 people

    1. When I was 14 or 15 years old in the very early 70’s, I was not even Catholic, but I was a gifted trumpet player – particularly in the upper register which is often used in baroque style High-Church music. So I did a lot of work with the Archdiocese of Chicago, playing for ordinations, high holy days and such. Often, I would stay overnight at the Mundelein Seminary the day before a performance. I never had a problem. Then one time they needed an extra trumpet player, so I brought my good buddy – who was also not a Catholic. To my horror and humiliating embarrassment, that night the seminarians were kind of wild, running about in their underwear, snapping each other with towels – and it all had pretty obvious sexual overtones, obvious even to kids like us. Humiliated, I solemnly told my buddy I had never seen anything like this before. I think he believed me – but he never came along for an overnight again. Frankly, I avoided them, as well. We have occasionally commented that, after that nasty episode, it is something of a miracle that we both ultimately became Catholic.

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Wow, Charlie. Thanks for this comment. It hits close to home for me. I have a very close acquaintance who was on the road to priesthood at Mundelein and then very unexpectedly dropped out. This guy was straight as a string and most likely would have been a great priest. The reasons he gave were always very general in nature, never giving getting specific about his discernment. Now I’m thinking, well, let’s just say it makes me go Hmmm.

        We love you, Charlie!!!

        Liked by 4 people

          1. Ah, but the Holy Souls are eternally grateful, Christopher. 🙂 May each and every one of them rest in peace with Christ’s Perpetual Light shining upon them.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Ahhh! You mean poor self-editing counts as a typo? Purgatory would be empty by now if I commented here more often. 🙂

              Liked by 3 people

    1. The drip drip drip will soon be a flood I’m afraid.
      But exposure and cleansing must occur.
      A very sad time for me but will remain true to our faith.

      God Bless

      Liked by 7 people

  41. Comments such as this one – posted after the article about the Lincoln seminary – to me, reveals a rather weak faith. It also reveals how our Mother’s adversary is on the prowl, looking to pluck souls from the Barque of Peter.

    ginger says:
    August 1, 2018 at 4:50 pm

    “The laity are exhausted and done with it. They are just over it. It’s not that they don’t want change, I think they have figured out change isn’t coming. So they are just going to make the changes they need for themselves.”

    This is pretty much where I am at. I have spent the last quarter of a century working my derriere off to raise six kids in a society that is often hardly child-rearing friendly. I was fruitful and multiplied. I’ve shown up (with all the minor children) every Sunday and Holy Day and put my money in the basket.

    I disconnected from the Internet for vacation and hung out with a bunch of friends who aren’t religious at all, much less Catholic, last week. And it was quite wonderful just BEING together in a beautiful natural setting, watching our children play together, playing board games, working on puzzles, being physically active, and not thinking about religion AT ALL (other than to show up at Church on Sunday, which goes without saying in this family).

    There is a lot of beauty out there in this world, and I plan to savor and appreciate it. I do not plan to spend whatever remaining energy I have in the coming years on trying to fix an institution that we all know really CAN’T be fixed by anything at all that we laity do. Priests, bishops, cardinals, and Popes can’t fix it, and laity have no real power beyond the power of exiting the pews and leaving the basket empty.

    I, however, plan to stay in the pew for now and continue to put some $$ in the basket, because my husband loves going to Church, and I love my husband. How much of the Catholic faith I actually buy at this point, I don’t plan to think about anytime too soon.

    I need a break from it all, and I plan to take it. I will certainly not be part of a solution I know doesn’t really exist in the first place. There are far better things to do with my gifts at this stage of life; I won’t waste them on this mess.

    Like

    2. Phew! I saw your name at the top of the post but for some reason, I read this post beginning with the last paragraph and worked my way to the top. I thought these were your words, Beckita and I was worried that you had given up. What a relief when I discovered you were quoting someone else.

      Liked by 6 people

    3. I have said this before:
      If the enemy cannot pull you out of your faith he will push you through and right out the other side. Giving up on the church is this latter point in action it also reveals the heart of those who give up and why so many are ultra-conservative super apostles in this discernment.
      Action is needed, both spiritually and temporally but like Charlie said, “We don’t get heaven until we get heaven” and giving up on the church invites schism of the heart.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Yes, Phillip. The devil has all manner of stratagems – all designed to separate us from Christ and from the Blessed Sacrament. This is a profoundly clever one, for it gives an excuse for the lukewarm and honestly offends the truly faithful. It is part of why I have deliberately waited before fully commenting on it. Our plan to rid our house of the noxious and predatory pests must not be of the type that burns down the house to accomplish the goal.

        Liked by 7 people

        1. Here’s an insightful piece by Fr. Z on the need to proceed with care, Marisa, Phillip, Charlie and All.
          http://wdtprs.com/blog/2018/07/we-should-tread-carefully/

          Excerpt:
          My concern is that the calls for action will drive a whole other group of people into a mob, also driven by self-righteousness and virtue-signalling.

          By this post, I in no way suggest that no one should be called to account for misdeeds. I do, however, see a trend in the way people deal with each other in conflict: they want their opponents, or the objects of their disappointment or opprobrium not just to be called to account, but to be ruined. They want the opposition not to be persuaded, but to be crushed. Not converted, but obliterated.

          I thank God every day that I belong to a Church which was established for sinners, and not for the perfect. Even though I am confident that God is forgiving, and the the Sacrament of Penance has its promised effects, with each passing year I feel more heavily the burden of the sins I have committed and confessed. I trust in God’s mercy, if not that of my neighbor. I would hope for compassion from my neighbor, but I don’t realistically expect it… anymore. Not today. Not in the present environment.

          We should tread carefully. I don’t doubt that there will soon be more violence in rhetoric and even physical violence in the streets. I don’t doubt that past misdeeds and also completely false and invented accusations will become the modus operandi of the Left.

          Liked by 2 people

  42. All that is coming out needs to come out so healing can take place. However…. If I was a non Christian ot sure wouldn’t lead me into a Church. Sure would not evangelise me. We all need Repentence and those who make up the church need to lead the way.
    Sadly I have seen other things years ago that would have pushed me out the door fast if I had not been given the grace to hang on. Imagine being a poorly formed convert…. I know one…. Wonders what he came into… And why?? I keep hearing the words …..we will know they are Christians by their love. Not by bad behaviour and taking advantage of one another!!!
    Has to come out…. But so sad!

    Liked by 6 people

  44. This piece points to many problems in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

    Opener to this story: “Later this year, Kevin Funk, the co-chair of the Gay+ Ministry at Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church located in the Archdiocese of Chicago, will wed his same-sex partner.”

    There’s contact info for registering a complaint with the Archdiocese. However, they must be feeling the pain from email contact because that option has been moved from the Archdiocesan web page.

    http://josephsciambra.com/archdiocese-of-chicago-co-chair-of-catholic-lgbt-ministry-to-wed-same-sex-partner/

    Liked by 2 people

  45. When my wife and I got married 28 years ago we had to go through pretty rigorous pre-cana examination by the pastor of our parish. Lots a questions and forms to fill out. An Engaged weekend.

    The Pastor told us that the Church was tightening up on the front end underwriting process of people wanting to get married in the church. This because so many Catholic marriages were winding up in divorce. They didn’t want so many failures in the future. Kind of like the underwriting you go through to get a mortgage. To assess the risk of failure and to safeguard the institution.

    Seems to me the Church needs to tighten up on the front end underwriting of those who seek to enter the seminary and/or the priesthood. And to continue it throughout the course of preparation for priesthood. To assess the risk of failure and to safeguard the institution.

    There needs to be a very serious discussion about homosexuality and the priesthood. Homosexuality is a high risk factor for a successful priesthood. Given the potential for catastrophic scandal it out to be a disqualifier. Homosexuals put the whole institution at risk as we witness now almost on a weekly basis.

    I think we also need to look into possibly reforming the way Bishops are selected. The Pope has to rely on a lot of input from people he doesn’t know well. In the early days of the Church the Bishops were elected by the community. James the Just who was the brother of Jesus was the natural leader and Bishop of the very earliest Christian Jewish community in Jerusalem. After his martyrdom in AD 67 the community elected Simeon Bar Cleopas who was Jesus’ cousin as the second Bishop of the Jerusalem community.

    These men were known by the communities they were asked to lead. Maybe it’s time to go back to that tradition of local input into the elevation of our Bishops.

    Liked by 4 people

  46. I’ll take all of the below as good news … even the PA Story as it tells me that the days of Cover-Up are over and the Road to Renewal has been found … Please God!

    02 August MILINET: Articles for Christians
    ==================

    “Why Christians Can’t Compromise on Conscience–DAVID FRENCH”
    https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/08/catholic-hospitals-abortion-comprimise-conscience/

    “Hollywood’s void: Liberty University students fill growing demand for faith-based films”
    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/1/liberty-university-students-release-trump-prophecy/

    “SOUTH KOREA: Talk by ‘ex-homosexual’ stirs controversy at SNU Truth Forum”
    http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/08/181_253217.html

    ‘Unprecedented’ removal of bishops’ names signals ‘they have all been culpable’ in clergy abuse scandal”
    https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/legacy_catholic_bishops_priest.html

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 5 people

  47. Someone may have mentioned this already so forgive me if so. “Windswept House” by Malachi Martin written in 1998 exposes the corruption from the Vatican to the parishes. The church has been infiltrated with satanists at the top who use sexual perverts and blackmail to control people. It is helpful to read his 1986 book “The Vatican” first but not necessary.

    Pope Paul VI said in 1967 that he feared the smoke of Satan has entered the church. We should not be shocked by the recent allegations then. What is happening now is that God is cleaning house. Thank God.

    When I came back to the church in 1987, I was flabbergasted at the changes. Having received my first communion in 1962, I had been schooled by nuns and the catechism. Of course, I knew changes had taken place but I had not witnessed them with the eyes of faith. It has been a long wait, but the church of my youth may be on the verge of reappearing albeit in a smaller, more faithful form such as Pope Benedict prophesied years ago. We should cheer on the disclosures. Dark to Light!

    Liked by 7 people

  49. For today’s feast of Our Lady of the Angels, (hat tip to Traditioninaction(dot)org )

    A Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Angels,For Protection

    A Bernardine Sister was shown in spirit the vast desolation caused by the devil throughout the world. At the same time, she heard the Blessed Virgin telling her it was true, Hell had been let loose upon the earth, and that the time had come to pray to her as Queen of Angels and to ask of her the assistance of the Heavenly Legions to fight against these deadly foes of God and of men.

    “But, my good Mother,” she replied, “you who are so kind, could you not send them without our asking?”

    “No,” Our Lady answered, “because prayer is one of the conditions required by God Himself for obtaining favors.”

    Then the Blessed Virgin communicated the following prayer, bidding her to have it printed and distribute it gratis.

    PRAYER

    August Queen of Heaven, sovereign Mistress of the Angels, who didst receive from the beginning the mission and the power to crush the serpent’s head, we beseech thee to send thy holy angels, that under thy command and by thy power, they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their bold attacks, and drive them hence into the abyss of woe.

    Most holy Mother, send thy angels to defend us and to drive the cruel enemy from us.

    All ye holy angels and archangel, help and defend us. Amen.

    O good and tender Mother! Thou shalt ever be our Love and our Hope.

    Holy Angels and Archangels, keep and defend us. Amen

    NIHIL OBSTAT: Arthur J. Scanlon, S. T. D., Censor Librorum
    IMPRIMATUR: Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbhishop of New York, September 5, 1936

    Liked by 6 people

  50. Okay, here goes. I am sick to death of this horrific scandal and yet I have unanswered questions. There is an old quote of which I am sure all here are familiar. This is off the cuff so please bear with me. “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to be silent”. Some of the words may be incorrect but I think you all know this concept.
    Back in the 1960’s we saw the beginnings of many things, one of which was peaceful protests, sit-ins and bra-burnings(of all things). When I hear a person, clergy or otherwise, saying that they all knew thirty or forty years ago a red flag jumps out at me. Where was the courage of the martyr? Some were in seminary and maybe felt powerless but they knew they weren’t alone. Why did they not rise up? Fear of being tossed from the seminary or having accusations thrown their way? There had to be more than half who were not of the homosexual persuasion. Must we not recognize Jesus and the truth to in turn be recognized by the father?
    My point is that all over the world Power to the People was cropping up and these poor men had the right to exert that power but chose to ignore it or walk away causing a huge loss to the true faithful. This could have been nipped in the bud. We had good and holy Popes the whole time. All I can think is that this was meant to be to fulfill a higher plan. Still…the smoking causes cancer campaign worked. So did so-called feminism. Why didn’t they speak up? Not singly but as a group?
    On one other point, having many children and grands and even great grands I think I can speak with an informed opinion here on this subject. An awful lot of young people not going to church is simply one small thing: they are lazy and have found an excuse not to attend Mass. The world has become their spiritual place. They believe in God but not Church, Look at the scandals they will say. Asking them to give $20 to the collection plate is like robbing their pockets. But ask them to go to the Mall with $20 and they think you’re nuts. They would tell you it isn’t enough for a lunch there.
    Just my two cents but so many of us are culpable. If you know something and don’t tell someone, regardless of your outcome, you carry some culpability. Even if you think it’s for the right reason…

    Liked by 7 people

    1. You are so right, St JoanM,
      we are all culpable – in what we have done and what we have failed to do. Just as in ancient Israel all suffered in times of God’s ‘wrath’, so now, we all must bear the burden of our iniquity. God chastises only to heal and that can not happen until the wound is exposed and cleansed, painful as it is.
      Jesus, I trust in you…but my stomach and heart aren’t there yet [as Mother Angelica might say].

      I’ll say this, although most here seem to know, the evil of sexual perversion is not just with our priests and the Church. It is in our homes, schools, governments, corporations, entertainment… throughout the world, in every culture. It is demonic! When exposed to its hellish depths, we risk being horrified to untold hopelessness and despair. Lord, have mercy!!!

      Not to worry, God is in control. His plan unfolds despite us. He desires our salvation. Help me, Lord, to keep my eyes and heart on you, and not the storm.

      By thy Precious Blood, Lord Jesus, purify and sanctify all thy priests, and all humanity. Gracious Father, see us only through the wounds of Jesus, covered with His blood. Holy Virgin, Most Powerful, pray for us sinners, and spread the effects of grace of thy Flame of Love over all humanity now and at the hour of our death. AMEN

      Liked by 5 people

    2. I hear your lament, StJ. What you describe reminds me of the analogy we’ve heard for so many years, “the frog in the cold water”. It’s the devil’s perfect tool b/c he does his evil work a little at a time. It is mind boggling to try to fathom how we got to this point, as we see it all being revealed, which is a good thing! I read “Windswept House” that Paricia mentioned above, and so many, many books since then, plus all the spiritual revelations, MMP and others, but I never realized the extent of the problem. That is obviously why the Lord is exposing all this in what seems to be an avalanche – it’s high time!! Let us pray for the good and loyal priests. They must be suffering!

      Liked by 5 people

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.