A Reaction to the Abuse Crisis & the Release of the McCarrick Report
It is approximately a week and a half since the McCarrick report was released on the 10th of November 2020. I felt moved to write to you about it and so here are some thoughts.
What happens when evil is discovered under your own roof? How should we treat someone who has wronged us? What should we do when we notice sin as Catholics and Christians?
Well, it is important to be compassionate. Towards the one committing the evil, it is important to be hesitant to cast judgment. If you prepare to deal with or speak into a situation it is important first to pray and reflect: "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner. I have noticed the sin of my brethren, I know I am often the sinner, the one who betrays your goodness for a sad excuse for it and burden all who experience the consequences of my own sin. Please help me to hastily seek forgiveness of my own transgressions" When to recognize evil in another, gentleness is important but also authenticity. One day, we will each be brought before an all perfect and loving God. When God reveals all we have done/not done, how will we respond? Will we deny any wrongdoing and lash out in anger with excuses, blaming someone else, or even God? Will we try to lie our way out? Will we deny forgiveness and love? Will we own up to the evils we committed, and recognize our sinfulness asking we be forgiven for our evils? Truly, the is nothing hidden that will not come to light if not on Earth then at the end of all things! Evil seeks to conceal itself from the light, thus the light is where it belongs.
There are so many hurting people. Some think what has been considered a sin is actually good for them. There are some who think they deserve evil because of what they have done and reject love. The victims of many crimes and sins are broken and are in desperate need of love. Will you reveal God's love to them? Some are neglected because of mental illness, disformities, and the like. Will you love them even when society would rather they be forgotten about? Recognize that evil can remove us from God if we let it or that it can bring us much closer. If you have ever been denied love or searched for it in places it cannot be found, seek forgiveness, love others when it is hard, and unite yourselves to Christ. Find those who love you because you deserve love. Love others because they deserve it.
Let us seek to expose and remove the sin in our own lives. We respond to such problems with anger, and justly so. However, we must not let this anger control us. Justice is wanting, yes, but we must move past our immediate impulses. Surrender hurt to God who came to suffer from all men and women, and become the victim of all suffering that our good may remain not just possible, but wholly achieved. It is important to accept the consequences of sin (fortunate or otherwise). When you have done wrong, admit it. If you would desire that it had not happened then make it known. It is a healthy practice to reflect on the ways in which we have worked against the good of another, ourselves, and the world at large. We need to become as aware as we need of the evils committed and call them out if we encounter them. As they who desire heaven, we should seek to expose all evils. We should recognize evil for what it is. Evil at times may seem as Eve saw it as "good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise". However, especially moments like these when such evils are revealed it is important to realize it is all a trap. By sinning, we hurt ourselves as much as anyone else, we hurt others, and we break God's heart.
Last, we reform the Church. That just anger can be channeled toward something good, preventing it from happening again. The direction of this reform should be aimed at removing the “cancer“ from the Church and not killing it. Likewise, we should deal with our friends and family in their sin. They are not their faults and we should refuse to give up on them, remembering that they are good with a few poor tendencies. The idea that “if something goes wrong, then leave” comes from Martin Luther in the late Middle Ages. What is wrong with this idea? Well, by making this move the problem is not solved. Upon making this decision, we give up on not just the bad of an institution but also the good. It takes a love of the good in the institution, pastoral concern/love for those involved, hatred of the bad, and patience to do whatever it takes to accomplish reform. Will there be resistance? Maybe at first, but if it is truly God’s Will it will happen. St. Peter Damian dealt with this very issue (sexual abuse). St. Thomas More defended the sanctity of Marriage with his life and death. St. Junipera Serra resisted the Spanish army He traveled with as they dealt harshly with the native peoples. And there is a litany I could continue to recant but I feel my point has been made.
Should we be surprised at such evil in an institution that opposes evil?
Simply, no. Indeed, we are called to greatness, but we encounter many "bumps" on the way there. By opposing evil, the Body of Christ receives evils of all kinds and magnitudes. It is horrendously tragic that this evil sometimes comes from within. Evil, out to prevent salvation which the Church promises, would desire nothing more than to undermine the Church. Is there a better way to do this than a sexual abuse crisis? I do not think so. Ever since sin entered the world man's moral "compass" has been severely compromised. This causes man to trade evil for good, sometimes in gigantic ways. I think that is what we encounter when some decide that sexual abuse, emotional abuse, gang affiliations, addictions, etc. is good for them.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1811 states," It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil."
How can I learn more about this problem, prevent it, and/or report it?
Institutional Prevention: The Church put together countermeasures, find out how you can report in your diocese.
How you can help: PRAY! Prayer is the most most effective antidote to evil (penance and asceticism are worthless without it). I encourage you this advent to pray the following prayer at the end of the most significant moment of prayer of your day:
God and Father of Mercy, We your people come before you today in deep humility, Aware of our own sins and asking your forgiveness. Lord, we trust you to take care of us. Time after time, you have rescued your people from the power of their enemies, You have renewed Your covenant when your own people have broken it, And You have healed the wounds which sin and unfaithfulness have unleashed on your sons and daughters.
Father, today we come before you invoking your mercy, and offering you our prayers and sacrifices of reparation for the scandalous crimes that have been committed. By some of those appointed to proclaim your Word and lead your Church. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
We pray for the victims of these crimes, both known and unknown. Protect them with your mighty hand, Heal them with the soothing balm of your Spirit, And console them with the loving presence of our heavenly Mother.
We pray for those who have committed these crimes. Give them sincere repentance and the humility to accept the consequences of their actions. We pray for those responsible to correct the abuses that have occurred. Give them wisdom, a desire for authentic reform, and courage to carry it out.
We pray for those who have been scandalized by these crimes. As your Son Jesus calmed the winds and waves, Let him speak his Word again to calm the confusion and concern in their souls.
Renew the faith of us all – A faith which acknowledges that you have appointed shepherds to lead us and a faith that likewise acknowledges that we have only one Master, the Christ, and all of us are brothers and sisters.
Father, at the beginning of time, Your Spirit hovered over the darkness and chaos and brought about light and life, order and beauty. After the chaos of Good Friday and the darkness of Holy Saturday, Your Spirit again breathed on the apostles and brought about a new wave of grace for the world. Send that Spirit now upon our souls, upon our Church, and upon our world.
Keep our eyes fixed on you, and renew our commitment to follow your Son, in the holiness of life, and with the joy and peace that come only from you, and that nobody can take away from us.
We pray with humility and with confidence, Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
by Fr. Frank Pavone
Learn More: I encourage you to watch Bishop Barron talk about it, possibly read his Letter to a Suffering Church and watch the Bishop of Sioux Falls talk about it. Further, you can reflect on sin and evil.
