The Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse and our Response to Support these Survivors: 3rd Sunday in Easter Season

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

3^rdSunday in Easter Season: Victims

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

·      The Lord hears the cry of the victims and the survivors of sexual abuse from a priest or bishop

o   While sadly this occurs with many other adults who abuse children or adolescents, our priests and bishops do have a higher responsibility

o   And we must continue to support with our time, talent and treasure, praying that they may continue to grow with Jesus Christ our Victor King

While I was on vacation, I would like to add my spiritual prayer that reminded me of our brothers and sisters who have been quieted, shushed or not listened to from some of our leaders, our pastors, our bishops

·      On the island of Maui, we were blessed to see true beauty, which many call it paradise or heaven itself

·      I agree and was grateful to have some time off, relax, as well as be crazy

·      I took a bike one afternoon and I was thinking about that Island, a few miles away that we could see clearly: Mordecai

o   Mordecai, the island in which has the lepers’ colony that began in 1865 as the king quarantined as the disease spread to try to control it for everyone else

§  They were there over a century, and six people still live in that colony of the lepers, a horrifying history in our chapter

o   While or medicine world have figured out what disease it really was, as with new technology today, they did support them with humanitarian gifts

o   The saddest part is these people were left to a settlement and quarantined with no help, no food, no lodges

·      I am guessing that this is similar to the victims of sexual abuse that has been brushed under the rug, not listening, not supporting, not serving

·      That is our job as Catholics and Christians, to find out Jesus’ lost sheep and I am guessing that Jesus would go to Mordecai for the last six victims of that disease

Let’s next look to another powerful passage: 2 Maccabees 12

·      “On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers.  Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.  So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden; and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.  He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering.”

That’s where we come in

·      As we continue to grow with our time, talent and treasure, this is a time for the victims. Like the Maccabees, they offered that collection from them, even though it was not them, but their brothers, for that collection, as well as the sinners of their brothers

o   Meaning, we should also pray for our perpetrators, which I personally know is not easy

Finally, this process should be concluded in 4-6 months

·      All of our pastors agreed to support, with each parish, to support the victims

·      Now, this marathon is still not concluded, but the finish line is in focus, though I do not want to put out a number as we simply cannot until the judge for the court of bankruptcy agrees.

·      I may say this, though: our settlement gift, without the exact number, is about half of what our UCA is (3.5 x our UCA goal).  I will also be writing a $1,000 check to support the victims, as well as we pastors agreed with each other to do the same 

I’m ready for this process to be done.  I’m guessing you want it done.  Most of our country wants this done with frustration, anger and seeking for justice, and millions of Catholics want this in the light of Jesus Christ to find the victims for HIS love, like the Malakai lepers

God Bless you all, and as I am so proud of each of you, we must support these victims like “The LORD hears the cry of the poor.”

Mother Mary of the Rosary, pray for us.