I’ve probably written enough about the current sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. But I think it’s helpful to keeping dissecting the comments people make about it, as they’re ripe for learning about God, religion, spirituality, and manhood.
Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla spoke this week at the funeral Mass for Father Don Rooney, a priest who committed suicide after he faced accusations of sexual abuse.
- “The meaning of Father Rooney’s death is hidden from our eyes.”
Maybe in some cases, but it’s pretty plain here. A guy screwed up. The Catholic Church screwed up. And his suicide is another screw-up. All based on mistaken ideas which, if closely examined in the spirit of trying to learn and understand, are NOT hidden from their eyes.
- “Our God does not give up on anyone… God became a father most of all to the prodigal son. He became the shepherd most of all to the lost sheep.”
True, but somehow this message failed to get through to this priest, who by all accounts was an effective clergyman in many ways. What failed? Prodigal sons (and daughters) wake up to the errors of their ways only when their lives come crashing down around them, often with the help of those who love them enough to intervene… as well as via the legal system.
- “Mary Lou, you have been told many good things about Don and his priesthood. Hold on to that love and cherish those memories and leave the rest to a merciful God.”
Courageous words for the bishop to say to Father Rooney’s mother. I don’t know that Bishop Pilla mishandled the sex abuse problems in his diocese. But if so, it would be more courageous for him to say, “I failed him. I failed to intervene when he had his problems. I failed him when he was devasted by the accusations. And we failed those who may have been harmed by him. I pray that his death will help me and all of us learn from our failures.”
- “God’s holy love touched Father Don. You are here because there was good in his life.” Pilla told the parishioners.
Well, yeah, but that could be said of everyone. Better to say, “God’s holy love touched Father Don, but enough other stuff got in the way that this was not enough to prevent him from hurting others and himself. We owe it to Father Don, his victims, parishioners everywhere, and to God to find out where we went wrong and do what we can to correct it.”