The actions by His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali this week in placing 21 priests on administrative leave in response to the ongoing Grand Jury investigation deserve positive commendations from all parties. While the subject of clergy sex abuse is one that continues to haunt Catholic dioceses around the world, it is finally a subject that is receiving proper attention and response.
Collectively, as a Catholic Church, and The People of God we need to devote all of our efforts and prayers towards the eradication of this blemish on the Church's temporal body. While there are many victims of abuse at the hands of a small minority of Catholic priests, we need to remember all of the faithful priests that continue to serve the Church in priestly ministry. They too are victims and deserve not only our prayers, but also our support and continued cooperation.
Our Catholic theology teaches us that we are collectively affected through the individual sins of just one person. As a spiritual body, joined together by Eucharist and the Word we also need to minister to one another for conversion, peace and collective healing.
While I personally know many of the priests named in the Grand Jury report, I help to wonder what has caused this proliferation of carnal offenses among our Catholic clergy. However, the mere fact of this issue's existence clearly indicates there is indeed a presence of evil that indeed is attacking the Catholic Church from all directions. As followers of Christ, Light of the World, we need to ensure that all Catholics, regardless of age, sex and canonical status are positively influenced by the works of not only priest but all Catholics as well.
There have been many Catholic priests that continue as effective role models and inspired ministers of the Church's Sacraments. Lets rally around them and support them, because without them there is no Eucharist.
Numerous priests have positively influenced my life, my education and my choices. Without their counsel and direction only God knows what the outcome might have been. All Catholics have similar recollections of their parish priests. Perhaps in our modern society, with a leaning towards secular humanism we have forgotten the great things our priests, our Catholic Church and our Catholic Faith has provided us in our lives.
In the Sacrament of Penance, the priest begins the form of absolution with the words," God the Father of mercies..." Well, mercy has been shown to us many times by the Father, we in turn have the obligation and responsibility to show that same mercy to all of those that have sinned...priests included.
Lets pray for forgiveness, reconciliation and healing so all of us in the Body of Christ will experience mercy and love from God, the Father of all mercies.
Cardinal Rigali...deserves support and encouragement during this period of great turmoil and pain in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Catholics everywhere need to listen to the words of the priestly prayer of Jesus in John's Gospel, "Father, that they may be one!"
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