Concerned Grandmother/Earthen Vessels Opinion

Dear Bishop Elya,

Regarding your article about the scandal in the Catholic Church, I feel I need to express what I am thinking and probably many other Catholics as well.

We can forgive, but changes need to be made. What appalls many of us is the cover up by our bishops and the institution by paying hush money for damages to the injured and then letting the offenders stay in service.

We can understand affairs with adults (male and female), but children need protection and our bishops let the wolves back into the flock. Our bishops didn't protect us, they protected the wolves.

I belong to Holy Angels Church in Bainbridge, Ohio. Our pastor Father Joseph Labbe is one of these alleged offenders. I admire Fr. Labbe for his leadership, and many people truly love him. This 'scandal' has wreaked havoc within our community and we are struggling to move forward. We are all human, we all sin. We can and do forgive. We must learn from our mistakes.

We need reformation in our church. Priests are men, nothing more. Yes, they dedicate their lives to serving God and us. But, it does not mean they are above the law. Yet, our bishops felt they should be. I find it ironic that while perusing your interesting web site, I found this quote by Edith Stein. "We know from the Gospel accounts that Christ prayed as a believing Jew and faithful follower of the Law . . .." - E.S.

You mentioned in your article that "When I do right nobody remembers. When I do wrong no one forgets." Tell that to someone who was abused. I have a relative who was abused by her stepfather as a child. To this day she receives psychological care. This person paid his debt and is forgiven. But the atrocity is not forgotten. I would not leave my Granddaughter alone with him.

You also stated, "Ordinary people may commit atrocious misdeeds and do not attract attention; but less offensive deeds are unacceptable in people engaged in God's service." You must not watch the news. Child abduction and abuse has been the headlines for "ordinary people" too. It was the lead in story on the "Today Show" this morning. And a negligent story about a mother from Ohio letting her children get too sunburned was the second headline story. We find all these stories unacceptable whether an "ordinary" person committed it or a priest. And maybe therein lies the problem. Priests are 'ordinary' people too. The church puts them on a pedestal. I don't, not anymore. I respect them for their work, but we are all God. God is all of us working together to make the world a better place. I attended a meeting to give my input into where Holy Angels should go in the future.

And I plan on attending the Town Hall meeting on what type of person/priest should be appointed our "Temporary Administrator." More of us 'ordinary people' should do the same. As the song says, "We are God's people, the flock of the earth."

Alice Geremia

Contact

CONCERNED GRANDMOTHER
OH, US
Alice Geremia - Lay person, 440 442-1270

Email

mrsmuir@stratos.net

Keywords

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