The last few weeks I’ve been asked some of the most wide ranging questions people could be asking in regards to the Church scandal. Not because I’m an expert on what’s happening or an authority in any of these decisions (reading the same stuff all of you are if not more) (1)
Mostly because I’ve been preaching about the scandal, the victims, the horror of what we as a Church are dealing with. Not because I want to. I don’t. I hate it. I hate what was done. I hate that people are hurting. (2)
I hate even more that people’s lives have been devastated by “brother priests” (and want to throw up even referring to them like that). I’ve been sucking it up though, remembering a beautiful point @frmikeschmitz made in a video a week ago (3)
He said - the victims didn’t want any of this to happen to them either. And that’s been the thing that’s been the knot in my stomach but has pushed me to keep praying and letting the scriptures speak and make me talk about uncomfortable things (4)
So I just want to thank everyone who has been still coming to Mass despite the pain, the anger, the disillusionment your experiencing. It’s a sign of hope that in spite of all this crap, you’re still here. And to encourage you to keep doing so. (5)
Yes the devil has found many weaknesses within the achurch and wreaked havoc on us. But he’s not done yet. I can feel it in my gut when my anger or depression hits from all of this and I can see it on so many faces in the pews. (6)
Know though, there is still goodness in the Catholic Church. Jesus’ priesthood and His Church is bigger than any priest, Bishop, Cardinal or even Pope. At the end of the day... at the end of our lives... it’s all about and only about Him. (7/end)
