Archbishop Sartain: Bishops ‘must be held accountable’ for shielding abusers
Big Al is currently in Seattle where Kathy is undergoing some additional medical testing. Big Al did attend Mass with Kathy on Sunday where the official position of the Arch Bishop and the Archdiocese on the recent illegal and immoral activities involving sexual abuse and the coverup of these actions was again addressed. When the presentation was over Big Al let loose with a huge sigh of relief and wiped tears from his eyes as he became fully aware of how his church is handling this situation and how the priests; bishops; and, fellow Catholics feel about it and the actions they will take should these mortal sins occur in Western Washington. Big Al also prays that these actions will be taken by the Catholic Church in its entirety.
Statement of Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, August 17, 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report
‘With the recent allegations of sexual abuse committed by Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the release of a Grand Jury Report involving several dioceses in Pennsylvania, the tragedy of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is once again brought to light. The sexual abuse of a minor is an intrinsic moral evil and a crime. Anyone responsible for such an act or for shielding those who do, including bishops and other Church leaders, must be held accountable for their actions. I join with other bishops from throughout Washington and the United States in expressing our sincere shame and remorse for the incredible harm these crimes have caused the victims and their families.
The Catholic Church in Western Washington continues its focus on providing a safe environment for all minors and vulnerable adults in our care. Special procedures, training and reporting protocols were adopted in 1990. Our policies, training and procedures are reviewed frequently and have been updated several times.
To report any suspicion of abuse by any Church personnel, please contact local law enforcement. In addition, anyone who has knowledge of sexual abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy, an employee or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Seattle is urged to call the archdiocesan hotline at 1-800-446-7762.
As Catholics, we believe that every life is sacred. Each person is created in the image and likeness of our loving God. Violence and abuse of any kind are unacceptable, and we have a serious responsibility to work towards their end. Together, we must do everything we possibly can to protect children.”
[http://www.usccb.org/news/2018/18-139.cfm] USCCB Statemen
Never the less, I appreciated the comments which were made at Mass on Sunday. I look for the situation to iimprove.
The problems in the Catholic Church is a problem called ” The Lack of Leadership.” The Pope should stand for the salvation of The Catholic Church, but when there is no justice there is no leadership and hasn’t been for probably many, many years, and many, many, Popes. There should be a new provision in The Catholic hierarchy to exclude the election of Cardinals and Popes who can’t prove their innocence before hand. DT
Some Words of Support and Encouragement for Al, Kathy, and other Roman Catholics in the Korelin Economics Report community
Al, your indignation and outrage about the sexual misconduct and cover-ups in the Roman Catholic Church are clearly well-founded. The RC leadership does need to be—and I believe will be —held accountable. Whether you stay in the Roman Catholic Church or not, I believe this to be true: The pressure must stay on the RC hierarchy even after the media headlines move on to other stories until real and permanent change happens.
My words of support and encouragement has to do with a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as sacramentally expressed in worship. The following are not my words but those of Dr. George Wiegel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington, D.C.’s Ethics and Public Policy Center where he holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies:
“Everlasting life is offered to us sacramentally at every Mass. That is what we believe; that is why we remain in the Church; and that is why we must all bend every effort, from our distinct states of life in the Mystical Body of Christ, to reform what must be reformed so that others may know and love the Lord Jesus and experience the life-giving fruits of friendship with him. The Church’s current crisis is a crisis of fidelity and a crisis of holiness, a crisis of infidelity and a crisis of sin. It is also a crisis of evangelization, for shepherds without credibility impede the proclamation of the Gospel—which, as the other headlines of the day suggest, the world badly needs.” (FirstThings.com 8/28/18)
Al, you wrote: “Big Al is currently in Seattle where Kathy is undergoing some additional medical testing. Big Al did attend Mass with Kathy on Sunday where the official position of the Arch Bishop and the Archdiocese on the recent illegal and immoral activities involving sexual abuse and the coverup of these actions was again addressed.”
Al, I very much support your attending Mass with Kathy. Dr. Wiegel is right: “Everlasting life is offered to us sacramentally at every Mass.” I only wish that I could say this is true of every protestant worship service, but most protestants (inlcluding most, but not all, Lutherans) do not believe that the body and blood of Christ are present in the Sacrament of the Altar. Symbolism is no substitute for the body and blood of Christ.
Al, you also wrote: “When the presentation was over Big Al let loose with a huge sigh of relief and wiped tears from his eyes as he became fully aware of how his church is handling this situation and how the priests; bishops; and, fellow Catholics feel about it and the actions they will take should these mortal sins occur in Western Washington. Big Al also prays that these actions will be taken by the Catholic Church in its entirety.”
You may still find it necessary—for awhile—to attend another church as part of your witness against the sins/crimes of many priests and overseers in the Roman Catholic Church. (Of course, the vast, vast majority of priests and bishops are faithful and honorable servants of Christ and His Church.) But my hope for you is that you ponder deeply Dr. Wiegel’s words truth: “Everlasting life is offered to us sacramentally at every Mass.” Indeed, it is.
God’s blessings to you,
Rev. Brad Jenson
Many thanks, Rev. Jenson
I would agree with you Mr. Tracy. I realize that all of us are “mere mortals”
Doesn’t the evil emanating from Vatican City mean that the pope is not the vicar of Christ? Catholics ought to jettison the Vatican and pay a professional wage to clergy so that they may enjoy the fruits of family, home and profession.
The system, as it is today, encourages recruitment of those who desire access to the young. If the system isn’t changed the same problems will resurface.
Appriciate your comment, Marty.
Pope Francis ! It’s Worldwide Epidemic ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frwg_nJQx9g