Monday, June 5, 2023

Letters: The Catholic priest abuse scandal has another group of victims: The many clerics committed to service

 

Letters: The Catholic priest abuse scandal has another group of victims: The many clerics committed to service

CHICAGO (IL)
Chicago Tribune

June 5, 2023

Two weeks ago, a new, horrific chapter on sexual abuse by the Catholic religious began. By laying bare the magnitude of the tragedy, the Illinois attorney general heightened the consciousness of everyone to this issue. Once again, Catholics and others read a report wondering if they will recognize a name.

Catholics cowered at the thought of having to answer questions from friends or simply wondered what those too polite to ask were thinking. However, another set of victims gets scant press: the vast majority of priests and religious who have committed their lives to the service of others, the holy ones who have been steadfast in their faith and devoted to those they serve.

Every time one of these priests hesitates to wear his clerical collar in public, every time he approaches the altar wondering what his congregation might be thinking of him, every time he hesitates to linger after Mass in the sacristy.

No comments:

Post a Comment