Church Crisis of Abuse by Priests

Glory To God

Ministry of Outreach, Education, and Music

With the variety of responses to the Church crisis of abuse by priests, I felt led to write the following. I hope it's a helpful look at the teachings of Jesus applied to this situation. If you would rather watch a presentation click here - Regina Simon

Response to the Church Crisis about Abuse by Priests

Introduction

The recent news about the abuse by priests in the Church has brought about a variety of reactions. Some, unfortunately, are given by Christians, yet are not in keeping with the truth of Christ's teaching. This writing is directed at this purpose mainly – to take a closer look at the truths of Christ to insure we don't respond with evil to evil.

Authority by and Obedience to Jesus

Knowing Jesus' commandments and teachings and being obedient to them, is critical to having the best possible life, especially in times of crisis. He and St. Paul state clearly that all are to obey those in authority (Romans 13:1-7). By submitting our will, being meek as Jesus was, Christ will turn that submission of power into amazing grace for his perfect will to be accomplished, not ours.

There is a hierarchy of authority in most institutions that is to be followed when there are grievances so that the Holy Spirit can act in good order. The Spirit is not one of chaos and confusion, but of order. St. Paul gives the steps for dealing with grievances, showing that there is an order to it of dealing directly if possible in private with someone, then with a witness, then with the authorities of the Church (Matt 18:15-17). Jesus shows that he too is obedient to those in office when he pays the temple tax (Matt 17:24-27). If one has a possible problem with a priest, there is a process and structure to deal with it. It is not in keeping with Christ's teaching to not exercise this process first, because it will cause chaos and confusion. The proper authorities need time to examine the problem and deal with it justly in accordance with the office they have been given by Christ.

Jesus is the one who has given the positions of authority to all those in them, including the clergy. He purposefully put them in their positions and endowed them with gifts and authority and power. He did this knowing full well what their talents and interests were, as well as their flaws, temptations and brokeness. Jesus is perfectly wise and his ways are far above ours. Therefore, Great care needs to be taken in assessing with our limited minds and positions, the entirety of his purposes in any given situation, but especially in times of trouble. David states this very clearly in the case of Saul, when he is trying to kill David and he is delivered into David hands. “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed,” and kill him (1 Samuel 24:6). He is respectful of the office given by God to Saul, even though Saul is using it for evil. Instead of taking matters into his own hands, David says, “May the Lord therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see to it, and plead my cause” ( 1 Samuel 24:15). David knows that God is the perfectly just judge and that he will handle it. When Saul sees the mercy that David has given him, he weeps, and even asks the Lord to bless David all the more generously for the kindness David showed him (2 Samuel 24:16-20). How differently it would have ended, chaos and death, had David not been respectful and obedient to the will of God, and how different it shall be if we are not obedient and meek as David was.

Powers or Persons?

This fact is very important: We are always fighting the principalities and the powers of evil, Satan and his demons, not the people perpetrating the evil (Eph 6:12). So too we are in this crisis. Satan constantly tempts us to evil, thereby, using people to do his dirty work. How do we know that Satan is real?

Jesus taught us so in the scripture: he warns about Satan and he casts out demons who are described as causing much suffering. St. Peter states from experience and learning that Satan is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). St. Paul speaks about him many times and the reality of this adversary.
Everything has a source. Evil has a source. It's not organic, it is supernatural – has powers outside of nature to act. So where does it come from? It can't be God because he is all goodness. It has to come from someone else, who has our destruction in mind since it always acts destructively toward humans.
St. Paul states that he does not do the good he wants to do. He cannot will himself to be good. There is instead a war within him and all, that Satan is trying to win by tempting all people to be and do evil, instead of the good they are created to be and do.
The force tempting humans to sin/do evil can be completely overwhelming: the sinner eventually cannot stop doing the sin - drinking, drugs, pornography, etc. This shows evil to be powerful and hard to break free from.
We are constantly tempted in our personal weaknesses to sin because they are the best way to get us to act against Jesus. This shows that evil is perpetrated by a person, Satan, because it reveals a strategic, formidable adversary with a strong intellect that is cunning and powerful. This is not just a force – it thinks and is strategic.

Therefore, send the outrage and anger at Satan, not sinners. We all have been used at one time or another by Satan to cause another person harm: the critical remark, the short tempered response, etc. Knowing that someone has committed serious sin then should cause a response of pity, since he/she is being used by the adversary.

Satan at work

Satan is working diligently for the downfall of humanity. His strategies include:

Knowing each person's weaknesses, then tempting each mercilessly to act on them. He attacks all the more fiercely when the person is debilitated because Satan knows he/she will be far less able to resist. Debilitation spiritually is caused by lack of spending enough quality time on one's spiritual life. Physical debilitation includes illnesses, lack of sleep, being hungry, stressed out, etc. There is mental and emotional debilitation as well.
Divide and conquer – get a sheep away from the flock, so that then it is unprotected, has no support from others, and is much more easily swayed by lies because of lack of exposure to the truth. The result is that it will be destroyed much more easily.
Tempting people to take matters into their own hands, making themselves judge and jury, and not following the structure that Jesus put in place to handle problems. These are sins of pride and disobedience; an evil response to matters that haven't even been accurately shown by due process to be either good or evil.
Dehumanize – make a person or group of persons an idea/label instead of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, then its very easy to instill judgment, hatred, condemnation of the them: “those crazy hippies”. Satan is playing one's emotions against one's intellect/the truth in this case.
Pride – I know better or am better than that person. I am pround of my accomplishments, etc.
Strike the Shepherd, scatter the sheep (Strike the parents, break up the family) – if the Shepherd has been wounded or is absent, the sheep are not being protected or led in unity, and will go all over the place (fall off the cliff, get eaten by wolves, get lost, etc.).
Tempting people to assess the intention of another's err to be deliberate ill will, which allows Satan then to tempt them to ill will in response.
The more powerful the person is for the Kingdom, the more powerful Satan attacks him/her. The Shepherds are the most powerful for the kingdom by the power given them by their office. As a result, Satan is mercilessly, relentlessly pursuing them in comparison, in general, to the sheep.

Ways to combat Satan's strategies (by number matched to those above):

Know your own weaknesses and try and keep for falling into them. Try and guard against any form of debilitation.
Stand firm no matter what, on Jesus and his Church. Don't let Satan steal your faith.
Be obedient to the authority and structures that Jesus put in place. He knows what he is doing. Moreover, if you don't, you are an instrument of evil because you are setting yourself against Christ. Remember that countless atrocities have done in the past in the name of justice that have grossly erred by taking this path.
Make a personal connection with the people involved. Use intellect not emotion to factually assess what the person/group is/are truly doing.
Be humble and obedient to Jesus' commands: love others as he has loved us.
Help the Shepherd - pray and sacrifice for him, encourage him, so that he will be and act well.
Give the person the benefit of the doubt, much understanding and compassion, as Jesus has given you. Because Jesus has given it to you, you know that it is the correct response: you hadn't intended to do the evil you did and cause harm - so too for other sinners.
Pray for, sacrifice for, help, and encourage the Shepherds. We need them and they need us.

In general, Satan is best defeated by each person by his/her diligent pursuit of personal holiness: humility, obedience, seeking Christ as much as possible, etc.

What would Jesus do?

I too have been a victim many times of Satan's evil works (including violence, verbal abuse, persecution, false accusations and slander, threats, etc. ) at the hands and words of others, and, as a result, learned what Christ teaches to best combat him. Here is an example from my own life given to examine the questions and answers more easily. One of my family members was beaten nearly to death by a burglar when I was young. I was taken to the scene of the crime not long after and can still remember the horror very clearly decades later. The perpetrators of the crime were apprehended, convicted, and jailed. The 2 young men who committed the crime were involved in gang activity and it was required by the gang that they commit robbery to get into the gang. Unfortunately, for all, the victim, heard them robbing the house and fought back. She called the police and told them someone was in the house during the robbery – immediately a squad car was sent but the officers for some reason chose not to stop and see if something was wrong. In other words, perhaps the crime could have been prevented by the police because of the call, but wasn't. The children of the victim attended the trial, and the daughter said that all she felt was very sorry for the accused, “Their life is over before it has even begun.” I relayed this story to someone years later who stated that if that had happened to their family member, the family would have “made sure that justice was served” to the perpetrators. This is a true story with very different reactions by 2 lifetime Christians.

So, what is the best response in situations like this or like the ones currently in the news? Do I have a right as a family member to be angry, want justice for these young men for their crimes? Should I be outraged/enraged with the police for not acting to protect my family member in the way that I think they should have? What is the truth of Christs's teachings? What would Jesus do?

Jesus teaches us a lot about these issues in the Bible. Oftentimes, he teaches by example, as he does in the case of Paul. Paul was persecuting the church, hauling people to jail, overseeing their death, etc. What does Jesus do? He stops Paul and teaches him what the truth really is. Paul is rightly directed, healed, and sent forth to teach and heal others (Acts 9). Jesus doesn't condemn him, he doesn't act in anger, outrage, or threats. Instead, Jesus builds Paul up by way of instruction, forgiveness, and healing, and empowers him. The result of all these blessings from Jesus is that Paul blesses the whole world by preaching the Gospel with great signs and many believe.

Another time Jesus teaches by example is when he encounters Zaccheus on the road (Luke 19:1-10). Zaccheus is a tax collector, who has likely injured many by exacting money from them unlawfully. He has by his office violated the trust of the people he served, and injured them by way of his desire for power/money. What does Jesus do? He spends time with him, teaches him the truth, loves him, has mercy on him, and builds him up. This in turn then inspires Zaccheus to make restoration for his actions. He also serves as an example to others that they too can be forgiven and healed and move on, and that shame, regret, and disordered desires, can be forgiven, healed, and then used to help others.

What does Jesus say directly about these issues? In the Our Father prayer, Jesus teaches that to be forgiven, one must forgive others (Matt 6:9-14). He also states that the measure by which we measure will be measured back to the us – to the extent I show mercy, mercy shall be granted to me, and vice versa (Matt 7:2). Jesus warns us to stop judging others, so that we may not be judged (Matt 7:1-2). He teaches that no one is to act in revenge, an eye for eye, but instead turn the other cheek (Matt 5:38-42). Jesus says to do unto others as you would have them do to you – show mercy and kindness, not outrage and anger (Matt 7:12) . He says that we should love our enemies and those who persecute us (Matt 5:43-48), be merciful toward them, and that we are to forgive others 70 x7 times – at all times (Matt:18-22). There are many other examples of similar teachings as well by both Jesus and St. Paul in his letters. They both teach us to be a help to others when they sin and wrong us, so that they can repent, be forgiven, learn the truth, be healed, help others, etc. just as Jesus has done for us. In other words, we have a debt to pay. Jesus forgave us when were yet sinners, so must we do to others.

Accountability and Justice

If we are called to act with love, mercy, and forgiveness, what about accountability? Accountability is taking responsibility for one's actions. We know that Jesus knows everything that happens, and that all actions will be revealed in the end: each of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). Therefore, no one gets away with anything, ever, whether it it is revealed now or in the next life (Matt 4:22). Since we are one body in Christ, we are to help members of the body in need, so that the whole body is healthy. We are all family. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1-2). Thus we are called to gentle correction and assistance, remembering that we too are tempted and sin. We are to encourage others in their spiritual maturity and build each other up in the process (Heb 10:24, 1 Thes 5:11). “The Lord's servant is not to be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,” (2Tim 2:24-26).

How then does justice come about? Justice is fairness in protection of rights, and punishment of wrongs. Real justice is accomplished by Jesus the true judge. Jesus states that our Father has given all judgment to him (John 5:22), and that he has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:38-42). “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10). Moreover,”will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? He will see that they get justice and quickly” (Luke 18: 7,8). Judgment and justice by Jesus then is inevitable, swift, and perfectly just.

Jesus is Judge

Why is Jesus the only just judge? Because he alone knows the heart of each of us. He alone knows what brokenness/disorder we have that causes us to sin: what our freely chosen, true understanding is of the truth of our actions. Many feel that abusing others who are vulnerable by means of position, power etc. is a despicable act. Likewise then, that those committing these acts are to be viewed with disgust and that anger and outrage are justified. However, remember that everyone is born with weaknesses and ways that they are tempted to sin. Some are passed down through families for generations or are brought about through life experiences that are not chosen, neither of which the individual is responsible for: instead he/she is just the unlucky recipient. In other words, we don't choose the sins we are tempted to, or the weaknesses we were born with. Instead, each person has do their best to work with whatever ordered and disordered desires each has been given. Would those who are succumbing to the temptations in this crisis have chosen them to be the temptations they were given, had they gotten to choose? Not likely. Am I very fortunate through no fault of my own to not have been given less overtly offensive types of temptations instead of those? Yes. There but for the grace of God am I.

As such, do I have a right to be outraged by the sins of others? I succumb at times to my temptations and weaknesses. Do I have a right to think that had I been given the same disposition, experience, and temptations as another that I would have done better than he/she has? Not likely. Just as we fall into that sin of pride, Jesus will reveal how we too have fallen far short of the call he has given us. Jesus speaks of this in his proclamation of Woe to the cities who did not repent during the time of visitation, and how others would have done far better in their situation (Luke 10:13). He also gives us an example of this in speaking about the Pharisees who show disdaim for the sins of others. Jesus shows that the repentant, humble sinner is the one who is justified - whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:9-14).

Jesus is described as humble and so then should we strive to be. In the case of facing serious wrongdoing on the part of others what would a humble person do? The humble person is not likely looking for accountability and justice, since he knows that Jesus will accomplish that in his perfect wisdom. He/she is most likely looking at how best to assist those involved – since all are in need of healing, the sinners and the victims of the sinners. Is the humble person making demands or threats? Jesus, who is humble of heart, certainly did neither one. He was gentle but firm, teaching truth and warning against sin.

Mercy

By this time, one can notice that the truth of Christ's teachings above center on mercy. In the Beatitudes, Jesus says Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy, and Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God (Matt 5:7-9).

Since Jesus is the just judge, and he alone knows each heart, he alone knows what justice in the strictly legal sense is for one's actions, and he knows what justice is going to bring about the best result from one's actions. If he gave us what we deserve, no one would be saved. Instead he is merciful, giving us what we need, to be and do better in the future. He knows we are all going to make mistakes and he does not hold them against us. Mercy triumphs over strict justice – thank Heavens! So too are we then called to do likewise to others.

Truth and Sin

What then of sin and truth? Truth is not a concept, it is a person, Jesus Christ. We are called as Jesus disciples to give the truth of Jesus' teachings in love: be firm in what the truth is but speak and act gently toward sinners. This method results in building them up, so that they can repent and be healed – just as Jesus did for us.

Does truth about sin necessarily lead to judging the sinner? No it does not. We can know that some action is a sin, and that a person is committing that sin, without judging him/her as being good or bad. However, it is a great temptation to do so.

For example, a close friend of mine smokes cigarettes. I often see others passing judgment on him when they see him smoking – assuming that he must be weak in faith or character to do such a thing. Remember, however, that just as St. Paul had a thorn in his side, a weakness that Jesus did not heal so that his power could be made perfect in Paul, so too do you and I (2 Cor 12:7-10). Similarly, when the woman who was caught committing adultery was brought to him, Jesus said, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). In other words, great care should be taken when demanding justice for another person's sins, since all have fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified solely by his gift of grace (Romans 3:23-24).

Practically speaking, does it help a sinner to speak or act in negative ways toward him/her? No, because it results in kicking them when they are down. When someone is committing serious sins, he/she is filled with darkness and brokenness. Condemnation is not going to help him/her to repent and heal - which is what Jesus wants, and so what we should want also.

Evil

All of this begs a question from the all powerful God. Nothing can happen without Jesus allowing it, including evil, so why does Jesus allow it? Only he knows for sure, but practically speaking, if he didn't, there would be no world, for even the most righteous person sins. More importantly, one reason he may allow it to bring about a far greater good. We know this because he says it in scripture, that he works all things for the good for those who love him, and we have all seen him amazingly turn our bumblings into beauty (Romans 8:28).

Another reason that Jesus will let us undergo trials/evil might be that it helps us seek him for his help, strength, and healing. It humbles us knowing there are things we can't fix or undo. Humbler people are much more likeable and kind than arrogant and prideful people are. The more we seek Jesus, the more we are surrendering control of our lives to him. When we do that, he is essentially being invited by us, to guide us much more fully, and to fill whatever is empty, renew us, teach us his truth, etc. When Jesus does this, it is all goodness we are filled with, helping us be better people. If we let him, he puts us on the best path possible for our greatest good because he loves us perfectly - and that is what a great Savior would do. When we try and fill the voids in our lives by ourselves without him, it is generally with something that is going to bring about a lesser good, like alcohol, drugs, unhealthy relationships, comfort food, or destructive types of pleasures. So, through the suffering of trials and difficulties we are redeemed from being more selfish/sinful to being less so, because we ask Jesus to be more present and active in our lives. He heals us, renews our minds from lies to truths, lets us know how much we are loved and cherished and that we are never alone, etc. Human nature is such that when things are going well, we don't tend to seek Jesus all that much. When things are going badly, we tend to seek him much more.

Similarly, Jesus may allow hardships like this because, since it is news, all those involved receive countless more prayers and, therefore, graces then they would have had the events not taken place. The prayers result in great graces for those recipients, such that they are better off than where they would have been, in the long run.

Here's a concrete example to look at in this regard. I used to work in the locked down unit of a hospital that was for the recovery of people who had attempted suicide but lived. One day, the question of why Jesus allows evil came up and I gave the above reply – to bring about a far greater good. One older woman reacted with great anger and pain, lunged across the table at me, and fumed that her son had died young many years ago, and that his death could not possibly have been a good thing. She had obviously been, of course, terribly wounded by this experience. After a lengthy discussion with me about it, she realized that because her son had died, she learned that a serious illness ran in her family. As a result, all of her many grandchildren were tested for the disease at birth, and at least 7 were saved from death because of that knowledge. By the end of the conversation, the truth revealed had given her a deep healing. It changed the loss and pain into a great blessing.

Many times, however, what is gained in trial and suffering is not always so obvious until later, or perhaps not until in the hereafter. What we know in general is that people have a tendency to seek Jesus much more in the bad times, than in the good ones. Since Jesus is love, peace, joy, etc. More Jesus, means more love, peace, joy, etc. Humans also tend to better appreciate blessings received, when they are in more serious need of them. Blessings come from God alone, so knowing that we are well cared for by him, by his blessing us, helps us in our relationship with him: more God, more of everything good. So we can see the immediate benefit of undergoing evil: overcoming it through Christ – it helps us grow into better people, and have better lives, now and for eternity.

Persecution and Opposition

Jesus life was not easy and so we should not expect ours to be either as his disciples. Jesus warns that his followers will be persecuted and opposed just as he was (John 15:20). Why? Because Satan hates Jesus and his followers, and will use every trick to damage them. It is actually a good sign. If Satan is after a person, then he/she must be doing good work for the Kingdom, otherwise Satan wouldn't be bothering because he/she is not a threat to his plan. That is why Satan is constantly, relentlessly attacking the Church, because of all the good work it is doing.

Discipleship

Jesus acts with great mercy to those persecuting him, but can a normal person do this? In the case of the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7), during his last breaths he asks our Father in heaven not to hold the crime of his murder against those perpetrating it. As a disciple of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit and preaching the Gospel, he knows his faith: that the Father loves all of his children beyond telling, regardless of what they have or have not done, and he is called to do likewise. Stephen also wants all people to be saved and be with him in heaven one day, for they are his brothers and sisters, his family. So too he knows that the Father has shown mercy and forgiveness to him, and that he is called to do likewise. Stephen also knows that when people are sinning, it is a sign of their need for knowledge and healing, not for condemnation. If he can know these things and act upon them, so too can you and I – be true disciples of Jesus if we so choose, and pursue it with diligence.

Timing

Jesus' timing is always perfect. So, why did he bring to light this tragic news now? Only he knows for sure, but one reason might be to purify his Church: clean out the skeletons in the closets, reveal the truth, take responsibility, right the wrongs, and do what's best to heal. This is especially a real need given that the Church is calling for a New Pentecost and a New Evangelization. Sin blocks the Holy Spirit from acting. Likewise, the Church needs to be a creditable witness in the world of Jesus Christ and his teachings for a fruitful evangelization to happen.

Similarly, it's important that Jesus gets the credit for the works being done and not his followers, that he gets the glory. If the Church is stripped down, like it appears to be getting in this process, then only God can bring people to his church because of the seeming problems therein, using his flock of course. All will know that only he could have made it happen. In that way, we don't fall into pride or arrogance.

Another reason for the timing might be to help all the members of the Church go deeper in their faith and grow closer to Christ. There may be far worse trials ahead and Jesus could be trying to get us prepared for them by pushing us to go deeper with him now.

This news also provides an opportunity to look again at processes put in place to prevent wrongdoing in the future as much as possible, to see if they are working.

Prayer and Sacrifice

If we are not happy with our leaders, then we haven't been praying and sacrificing for them enough. This is a true statement and holds true for all to whom we have responsibility: friends, family, etc. Thus, we are partly responsible when our leaders and others fail, as this applies to each of us, and owe them our apology. We are guilty of sins of commissions (what we did that was wrong) as well as omission (the good that we chose not to do). Have we put other things before Jesus and our spiritual life including praying and fasting for others, such as career, family, house, hobbies etc.? If so, we need to repent and make different life choices - to spend more time on Christ. He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30). Remember the story of Mary and Martha – the better part chosen was to put Jesus first, ahead of our worldly concerns (Luke 10:38-42).

How else have we failed to help others when we could have with our time, talent and treasure, failed to be virtuous (generous, kind, compassionate)? “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” (Edmund Burke), or do things other than the work of the Kingdom of God. Great spiritual life means great impact for goodness, and vice versa. To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Knowing the truth of Jesus Christ has responsibilities attached to it that are inescapable, so we need to be striving daily with fervor in our faith.

One example of the importance of prayer was in the movie the War Room (2015). In one scene, the older woman says to the younger woman struggling in her marriage, that she deeply regretted not praying more for her husband when he was in need, when she had the chance, because in hindsight, she knows that it would really have helped him be/do better. This is a very true statement. It was a lost opportunity for goodness that could have changed his life.

When the Blessed Mother gives messages to her children she is constantly asking them to pray and sacrifice for others, because it is desperately needed. She has stated that prayer has the power to stop wars, the dissintegration of familes, save souls, etc. It is powerful and effective (James 5:16)! Does anything more need to be said to motivate us to be more about the Kingdom of God and less about ours?

Change takes time and effort

Our sanctification is a process and it doesn't happen overnight. Hopefully, as a person grows in faith, he/she becomes more like Jesus – more holy, less sinful. Along this journey, Jesus is ready to help at any time – just ask. Making mistakes that hurt others and ourselves in the process is inevitable because there is a lot to learn and overcome. The important thing for the sinner is to be truthful about what happens, repent, make amends if possible, and get back on the path. The important thing for those around the sinner is to be truthful and supportive, to help the person learn and heal, all in the method of love and mercy, just as Jesus did. We have all marveled at the sins we have done looking back on our actions, thinking that if we knew then what we know now, we would have made better choices.

Here is a true life example of this exact thing. Joe is a man who spent a few years in federal prison. During that time, he noticed another incarcerated man, Sam, had tattoos that indicated the number of people he had killed. Joe asked Sam one day about what the tattoos meant, as if he didn't know, to see what Sam would say. Sam pulled Joe aside to speak him privately, and told him what the tattoos meant. Sam looked at Joe with complete sincerity and said he could not believe that he had done the terrible things he had done.

Jesus had mercifully given Sam a time-out in prison to get Sam's attention, so that he could be forgiven, taught, healed, and move on. Now Sam was helping others do the same, and was very well respected at the prison. Jesus protected Sam so that Sam could have a chance to know him, learn the truth, repent, believe, and work in vineyard. Praise God! Would it have been better to let Sam die in his life of violence? Of course not. Should he have been lynched by an angry mob of the relatives of the people he killed to show him true justice? Obviously not.

Jesus is a God of a million second chances thankfully for all his children. Each person is moved by Jesus from problems into possibilities, perpetual sin into potential sanctity, everchanging from glory to glory.

Jesus Corrects Errors

From the example above, what then of the people Sam injured? Jesus more than makes up for the injuries of others. So too will he with his Church in this crisis, but it does take time. Why? Because people grow and change very slowly, and, therefore, institutions full of people do as well.

One example of this can be seen in the life of a friend of mine who was robbed of much of her inheritance by her siblings. She was a hard worker but finances had always been tight for her and her family. It seemed so unfair that this was happening, yet in prayer, Jesus gave me peace – he would make up for it. In years to come, many financial blessings were brought to my friend, such as full scholarships to excellent colleges for her kids, etc. Jesus was making it clear that he was providing abundantly to offset the injury done to her. So too, he does with all his children, in whatever way we have suffered at the hands of others, and even at our own. Sometimes we can see it, other times we need to ask for it to be revealed. In this way, Jesus is all the more encouraging us to forgive those who have wronged us, because we are even better off than we would have been had the suffering not occurred, in the long run, because he rights the wrongs generously.

In the case of Sam above, once again, specifically, people were killed. How can Jesus right that wrong?

What is death? Death is the transition from knowing and experiencing Jesus imperfectly, to being fully united with him in paradise. It is the reward, not the punishment. We can't even begin to imagine the good things that the Father has in store for us in heaven (1 Cor 2:9). We are only here to get there. Jesus is in complete control of all of his creation, so there is no chance that we are coming home to him unless he allows it: our God-given mission is up, Hallelujah! Heaven with Jesus is the goal – paradise, unimaginable peace, beauty, joy, goodness, etc.

How do we know this to be true? One way is by near death experiences. A friend of mine's mother was very sick and the family was called to say their goodbyes. Amazingly, she recovered and was sent home. Although she was neither a great prayer or church goer, she said that when she was in the hospital in the coma, she was brought to a gate. On the other side of the gate was the most beautiful place she could ever imagine. She said that all she wanted to do with every fiber of her being was to be there, it was so beautiful. But there was a man at the gate that told her she couldn't come in yet, because it was not her time. She told many people about her experience when she arrived home shortly thereafter, then she died 2 weeks later.

Suffering

What is obvious to all is that suffering at some point is inevitable. Thankfully, however, it is also redemptive. Jesus redeemed the world by suffering in his life and his horrible death on the cross. His suffering was turned into grace by the Father, who then uses this grace to make salvation available for all people. When one embraces suffering, deliberately chooses to bear a sacrifice well for the love of Christ, that sacrifice is turned into helpful grace for someone else – just as it was with Jesus. Moreover, through the sacrifice one is making in doing so, one is blessed as well, since the Father blesses those who bless others.

A great example of this is the ministry of St. Paul. Paul seriously suffered and sacrificed constantly. He was beaten, stoned, threatened, ridiculed, starved, imprisoned, etc. all for the love of Christ. Paul didn't revenge these attacks, he embraced and endured them. As a result, Paul's ministry was filled with the Holy Spirit/Power – he preached, healed, helped, taught, persuaded, guided, etc. powerfully. His suffering was redemptive – useful.

Another lesson in this example is the fact that if you want to really pray, you have to pay. In other words, the sacrifice of personal suffering is necessary for our prayers and actions to affect others powerfully for Christ. This is nothing new. Hard work, being diligent, pays off. So too, faithful, steadfast prayer and real sacrifice really heals and saves.

Seek Healing from the Healer

It's very important not to injure others with our baggage, especially in times of crisis. I heard someone recently speaking with a lot of anger about the current news to a group of people. He stated that this was personal to him because he had been influenced by a member of the hierarchy in his youth in ways that were unjust. Clearly, by his demeanor and tone, he had not been healed of this experience which happened decades before. Instead, the latest news only rubbed salt in his wounds. Unfortunately, he seemed unaware that his words did the opposite of building up/helping those listening: instead he fostered anger, discouragement, distrust, etc. So what individual responsibility does one have in this regard? His lack of healing from events many years before was damaging others now. Healing from trauma takes time, effort, and prayer, and seeking Jesus. One does, however, have a responsibility to actively seek healing, so that a person can be at peace with whatever has happened. If not, others may be negatively affected, which only adds to problems. Jesus is ready to take our burdens from us, as soon as we are ready to give them to him. Jesus loves to heal!!!

Jesus doing a great work of healing has been reported by many in a variety of circumstances. One example of this is the annulment process. Many have stated that through the retelling of their story in the annulment process, which dredges up at times deep feelings of anger, pain, sorrow, regret etc. Jesus is invited into all those painful places and does a great work of healing: relief, freedom, a much more positive and hopeful outlook, much more peace, etc. Marital discord and divorce is often very, very painful, yet all things are possible with God. Jesus states that when a person seeks, he/she shall find...his help, healing, love, mercy, etc. (Matt 7:7). But one does need to seek, to ask, to knock.

A Role in the work of the Kingdom

Having been a counselor in the suicide ward, as described above, I was forced to seek many answers from Jesus. The people I was helping had been through great trauma, had different types of illnesses, etc. Just one person's story was so complex with tragic life experiences and difficulties it was very overwhelming. Here are some of the things I learned, which is why I can still do any kind of Kingdom work in the peace and joy of Christ each day, and not become burned out, bitter, etc.:

Jesus already saved the world, so I don't need to save anyone. Instead, Jesus has simply given me a role to play in helping others in need, first, for my own growth in holiness, then for theirs. Whether I do well or not, either way, he has got this, and everything else.
Jesus has each person in palm of his hand, always under his special care, at every moment. If that were not true, many, especially the people in this ward, would have perished long ago.
Given the 2 above points, it is not my place to take on the burden of other people's lives, their suffering and needs. It is too much, I can't do it. I am to give it all to Jesus – his yoke is easy and his burden light (Matt 11:30). He carried his cross so that he can help carry everyone else's.
Jesus is the only one who can manage people's burdens anyways. If I don't give them to him, I am in essence saying that I don't think he will take care of them, and that I can do a better job. I am way out of my area of knowledge, of power, etc.
To best complete my role, my focus is to be on being as good a person as I can, more Jesus, less me, so that Jesus can use me as well as possible. I can do this by means of daily prayer, sacrifice, surrender, repentance, spiritual reading, etc. In this way, I will know the truth, so I can live and give the truth, and I will know Christ's love so I can love others as he does. I am also called to testify about what Jesus has done for me and point others to him, so that they too will be blessed by knowing him.
If there is something more than this I am called to, Jesus will open the door for me to walk through.

Build Up

Building up and being hopeful brings about the best result for victims and sinners – healing. For example, speaking to the person about wholeness and hope in Jesus, etc. In this way, the victim can begin to get past the traumatic events and heal, moving toward a place of wholeness, peace, and forgiveness over time. So too the sinner learns truth, repents, moves on, etc.

If instead, people respond with negative rhetoric/action, such as anger, outrage, and violence, it will cause further damage to the victims, and will damage those speaking/doing it as well. Studies about physical health indicate that anger and negativity cause great stress to the human body, and, as a result, debilitation and illness.

This is the case as well at the level of emotions and spirit. Animosity toward another for any reason, fuels negative emotions, which are not pleasant to experience and bring us to a lower level of feelings of peace and hope. It also damages our spirit by going against our nature, that naturally seeks truth and love, peace and light, not anger, violence, and darkness.

Anger

Practically speaking, how do you feel when you are angry at someone, versus how you feel when you are laughing at something funny? In the first case the feeling is not pleasant, whereas the second is. Anger is a snap reaction emotion, a natural result of a first assessment of a situation. However, if it is not let go, it leads to bitterness, resentment, and hatred. Jesus teaches us that whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and that we are to try and reconcile with others as quickly as possible for this very reason (Matt 5:2-26) . Jesus at times shows the emotion of anger, which is natural, but never acts angrily toward another person. In the case where he is overturning the tables in the temple, which is often cited, he isn't described as reacting with anger. His actions get the people in attendance's attention, so that they will hear his message of truth and act on it (Matt 21:12-13). St. Paul too speaks of the emotion of anger, but warns not to let it fester and not to act out of anger (Eph 4:26-27). There is no mention anywhere in scripture of “righteous anger” which justifies any sort of negative reaction toward a sinner.

You get more bees with honey and it has a domino effect. If you are acting with kindness, people will respond likewise and the world will be filled with more kindness. In an atmosphere with more kindness, people get along better, and there is more health and harmony. When there is more health and harmony, people act more peacefully and there is less conflict, etc. etc. By common sense/wisdom, if you want world peace, be a peaceful person. If you want people to be better people, then bless them, don't curse or condemn them.

Reaction/Action

In times of crisis, everyone needs to go very slowly and carefully before reacting to make sure that there is an accurate revelation of the facts, and the response is like Jesus would.

Given the above, whenever there is a grievance, the process that is in place is the one to follow to be respectful and obedient to the Christ's will. Do not rush the process or take matters into your own hands or you will be in great error, for you know not Jesus' perfect will by this method. Obedience then foils Satan's attempts to cause chaos and discord in this way.

Satan will constantly be stirring up trouble, so don't let him steal your peace and joy or change your course of disciplehship no matter what happens. This type of deep peace and joy is from one knowing Christ, his love, and how there is reason for great hope in all things - for he is Lord of all, is always faithful, and has the Victory – conquered sin and death forever.

Many safeguards have been put into place in the Church since these events have happened, and people's awareness has been raised. All are encouraged to report suspected abuse to the proper authorities and the information on how to do so has been widely disemminated. Going forward, it is likely that these measures will succeed, but no system is perfect. There may need to be changes, that is normal. Judging the past based on what is known in the present is not possible to do justly. Are there more problems in need of addressing, of course. There always will be, because humans have countless ways to be faithful as well as falter, especially when there are well over a billion of them, as there are in Christ's Church. Let us hold tight to Jesus, to his beautiful teachings, to his wonderful church, pray, pray, pray, and see what the Holy Spirit does next.

Regardless of the actions of some, most priests are wonderful men doing a great work, and giving honor to their office. As their position allows, over time, they will be doing their best to help in this crisis. I ran across an article that is a great reminder of this just last week, as an example, to show what is actually the norm (www.osv.com “Priestly heroes on the Titanic” - 4/4/12).

Jesus needs time to answer our prayers, so patience is a must.

Remember well Christ's teaching and act upon them: treat all with kindness and gentleness, the victims and the sinners. They are beloved, and they are family.

Remember too the parable of the seeds. Are we seeds that stay strong in all circumstances and yield much fruit, or the ones that spring up readily but then fall away when persecution or trouble comes our way ( Matt 13:20-22 )? Choose what side you are taking. Will you stay faithful to Christ's Church despite the failings of some it's shepherds, knowing that you too have failed? Will you embrace the beautiful history and teachings of Christ's Church and be steadfast, helping the body of Christ to heal? Are we faithful or fair weather followers? Jesus was faithful to us when we were still sinners (Rom 5:8), are we not called to do likewise?

If one leaves the Church as a result of this crisis, where would he/she go, since Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68)? Should we let Satan and his tactics win: tempting the Shepherds to sin, resulting in suffering and discouragement in the sheep, so that they will turn away and then be devoured by him when they are defenseless and unsupported on their own?

Conclusion

The truth of Christ's teachings:

Jesus is the just judge to whom we are all accountable.

Jesus came to call sinners, not the righteous. He came to save, not to condemn.

Jesus says that if you love me you will keep my commandments: Love one another as I have loved you.

Jesus gives authority as he sees fit: by his perfect will. He has set up a structure which we are to act within when dealing with authority for a good reason: order not chaos, his will not ours.

The inescapable, beautiful Responsibility of faith:

We must be merciful, if we want mercy.

We must forgive, if we want forgiveness.

We must not judge others, or we will be judged.

If we exalt ourselves, think we are better than others, we will be humbled.

Discipleship means being humble, meek, and obedient.

If we have any disagreement with someone, we should seek to reconcile as soon as possible, or our affairs will not be reconciled by Jesus. We can't act as if we love God, and not love our brother.

We should speak the truth in love and gentleness, not outrage and condemnation.

The measure which we measure will be measured back to us. We must be kind if we want kindness, etc.

We are the Body of Christ, all members of one family. We are to care for each other as Jesus cares for us.

We are to treat others as we want to be treated – understanding and compassion.

We have a responsibility to pray and sacrifice for others – to whom much is given...

We have all fallen short of the glory of God. We are all sinners.

We are to preach the gospel at all times in all seasons.

We can be redeemed, and help others, by means of our suffering, just as Jesus did.

Evil influence:

We are fighting the principalites and powers of darkness, not the people being used by Satan.

Satan and his demons are real, and are our ruthless adversaries.

We are in a real battle for souls.

Practically speaking:

Aingst makes you ill, in body, mind, and soul, because it is stressful.

If you want peace, be a peacemaker.

Positivity attracts and builds up, negativity detracts and tears down. You get more bees with honey.

Seek healing actively so your woundedness does not hurt others.

Beware of your own weaknesses, and Satan and his tactics - then you can best combat him.

More Jesus means more peace, joy, hope, etc. So take time to get to know him.h

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8qLlEua19I

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