On
Wednesday, the Catholic Cardinals elected the first pope ever from
the Western Hemisphere – Francis I. Let's hope that this new world
pope can spearhead a new type of vision for a church that very much
needs one. It's time to address a church culture that has allowed
drift, corruption and the horrors of the sex abuse scandal that's
rocked the faithful for the last ten years and its victims for
decades – and presumably, much longer.
Several
years ago, I expressed to a good Protestant friend my horror, anger
and reflected shame at the scandal. He counseled me that perhaps
this would be an occasion for the Church to examine it fearlessly and
come to grips with it through a collective penance and purging of its
soul. I certainly hope he's right, though I've yet to see that to my
satisfaction.
I
continue to pray for the victims – primarily those who suffered the
abuse directly – but also the Catholic faithful (especially good
and innocent priests who are left to suffer the consequences; my
former pastor once told me that the collar has been made to sometimes
feel like a target) and the wider world. Non-believers whom the
Church seeks to evangelize are only left less prone to receive Jesus
as a result of this monstrously counter-productive activity. This,
of course, is just a polite euphemism for what it really is –
perhaps the gravest of sins.
I'm
left to constantly remind myself that the Church is made up of very
imperfect people who continue to betray the truth of the Christian
message of love and forgiveness that promises salvation to the world.
Here's hoping that that message, and the Church, can somehow rise
above and beyond the sins of her children.
St.
Francis of Assisi, our new pontiff's patron, pray for us.
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