Where the Rubber Hits the Road

A column from Charles Lewis of the National Post . Mr. Lewis has been a fairly impartial if perhaps even supportive of the RC Church. His voice should not be ignored. He has earned the benefit of the doubt as to his intentions. I have called for very much of the same thing on this blog: I have shared it as well with virtually every friend I have within the RC Church in my attempt to sell the idea. To date, I have been seen as being an 'alarmist'; a 'chicken little' running around claiming the sky was falling. " We've dealt with the issue effectively here in Canada " I was told. " We don't need to follow the American model - it's too extreme for us " was the consensus opinion of those who reviewed my suggestion. I was even cautioned that to propose such a structure publicly would result in my possible suspension by my Bishop, should he decide to take offense at my 'overstepping' my position as priest. Well I posted it on my blog a...

There has been a great deal of coverage of a recent scandal that has erupted within the lay staff of the Vatican. It is alleged that a member of the Vatican Choir, Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, age 29 and Angelo Balducci, a Papal Gentiluomini (“Gentleman” usher who helps greet dignitaries), have been recorded discussing the procurement of gay sexual partners for Balducci, a married man. LifeSiteNews posts in its report a concern that this might be only the first of what will become all too common within the Vatican walls, now that its practiced walls of silence have been breached. "American priest and frequent media commentator, Father Thomas Williams told CBS News, "We're just scratching the surface here. There's definitely more to come"." “'We only know of these two men connected with the Vatican in some way, but obviously, they are talking about a ring, and a ring means definitely more people involved." Given the experiences of North American, Ir...

I have spent the better part of an hour on the phone today talking with a woman whose family had been devastated by the scourge of sexual abuse at the hands of a priest. She had discovered my blog and took the steps to find and contact me to share her story, her fears and even a few successes in the wake of the injury her family experienced. Even though the priest has been uncovered as an offender, was sentenced and completed his prison term; even though he is forbidden from ever working as a priest again - all necessary issues to pursue justice, she states that the effects upon her siblings and parents continues to metastasize in horrific ways even now, years after the event. Her parents marriage collapsed under the weight of guilt and recriminations at having not only bringing this "priest" into their lives as a "family friend", but also for the fact that they were unable to see the predator that lurked behind the friendly face and laughter that marked his vis...

Archbishop Anthony Mancini distributed a letter to the Catholic communities in Nova Scotia in the wake of the Bishop Raymond Lahey child pornography scandal. It is an excellent example of a Bishop directly, powerfully, and personally confronting the most important issue facing the Canadian Catholic Church today: the erosion of faith and moral suasion in the Church due to the malfeasance (sexual and other) of its' clergy. I offer to you a link which will bring you to this letter for your consideration. http://www.catholichalifax.org/images/stories/BishopOffice/2009%2010%2002%20All%20RC%20of%20NS.pdf