The Betrayal by Bishops and Priests

The Catholic Liturgy for the 20^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, August 19, 2018. Gospel – John 6:51-58. Theme: The Scandal of Bishops & Priests

As I was praying and pondering over liturgical readings this past week in order to prepare for today’s homily, the terrible news broke out from Pennsylvania about the Grand Jury investigation.  Just as I was starting to recover from the recent shocking revelations about former Cardinal McCarrick of Washigton D.C., the report over the abuse of children, along with the gross cover-up by some of the bishops, slapped me in the face, This is all something that I am sure most of you have heard quite a bit about that by now.

As a man, as a husband and father, and as an ordained deacon of the Catholic Church I am sickened, angry, disgusted, and overwhelmed. It’s difficult enough to hear these horrid stories when they come out one at a time and over time, but it is nearly paralyzing to have to receive them all at once – 70 years’ worth of stories all packed together as if they just occurred yesterday. It’s too much to bear. I feel like I am suffocating, drowning in an ocean of sickness and destruction.

And if the abuse of innocence and the ruining of young lives itself wasn’t bad enough, we come to find out that some bishops, men called to lead, feed and shepherd the flock, chose deception, legal gymnastics, corruption of truth and abuse of authority to cover-up the foul acts perpetrated by some priests. All in the name of protecting power, prestige and position! It’s nauseating and disgusting.  

And yes, I am quite aware that those priests who abused and those bishops who connived are by no means in the majority, but that doesn’t make all this any easier to hear. And it really makes no difference at all to those who have been abused and harassed, does it?  Their lives are forever changed.  And sadly, I do not think this outrage is limited to 6 dioceses in Pennsylvania. What will we find out when this same kind of scrutiny comes to our own state, to our own dioceses?

But this is not the message I wish to proclaim today. It is just something that I HAD to say. Something I needed to hear myself speak out loud to you. And I think it is also something you needed to hear me say out loud. No, the message I want you to take away from this liturgy is quite different and it is this:

Do not let the sins of these priests and bishops produce more victims by robbing you of your relationship with Jesus Christ through his Catholic Church! Our faith has always been, and always will be, in the Person and Message of Jesus Christ.  It has never been in any human being no matter who he is, not even the holiest of popes! Not in any saint! Not in any famous religious leader or personality.

Take to heart the hopeful words in today’s gospel and do not let the sins of others rob you of the Eucharist, the reception of the Jesus’ very flesh and blood by which we become intimately one with Him!  Do not let the infidelity of some stop you from being faithful members of the Catholic Church started by Jesus Christ.  The apostles did not leave Jesus because of the betrayal of Judas. Instead they ended up becoming even closer to Him.  We need to do the same.

For 2,000 years, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Church has withstood enemies from outside itself and traitors from within its own ranks. And yet it still preaches the gospel of Jesus, still celebrates the sacraments He gave us, and still carries out countless works of mercy through the ministry of many loving and dedicated bishops, priests, deacons, religious and laypeople!  The terrible fire we have to pass through now will helps cleanse the Church on earth from corruption in its leadership. But in the meantime, each one of us can console the agonizing Heart of Jesus and promote the goodness that it still found within His Church, by renewing and deepening our own personal commitment and relationship with Him, our Lord, our Savior and our Brother.