Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Catholic League Prepares for Holy Week.

It's holy week.

For believers, it's the most solemn week of the year. A time of prayer, reflection and repentance.

It's a time to remember Jesus not merely as man, but as God. To think of his death and glorious Resurrection--his gift to mankind.

It's also a time for the faithful to remember to act like Jesus. To strive at all times to be Christ-like.

And so I was saddened to read in The "New York Times" that Catholic League president, Bill Donohue, chose to run an add blaming gays for the church's insidious pedophilia epidemic instead of owning up to the Vatican's shameful attempts to cover up abuse.

Wayne Bessen, Executive director of Truth Wins Outs, had this to say about the ad. “We should remind Donohue that there is no child sexual abuse crisis in gay community centers, neighborhoods, churches or social organizations. This nightmare has to do with Catholic pedophile priests and those who served as their enablers. The Catholic League thinks it is mounting a defense, but it is only exacerbating the pain felt by the defenseless who were taken advantage of by authority figures in the church.”

I believe that It is possible for the church to recover from even this heinous crime. But not without remembering that the church is made up of men, not God. And all men are capable of sin. Even Popes.

After we sin, at least as I was taught in Catechism, we ask for forgiveness. We do not blame others.

We take responsibility. We are humble.

We are penitent.

I hope that someday soon the church will recall its teachings.

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