Politics
Monday July 29, 2002
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POPE ADDRESSES ABUSE SCANDALS AND ENCOURAGES VOCATIONS
It is often heard that faithful priests are persecuted by chancery bureaucrats and bishops
TORONTO, July 29, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Addressing the world through the World Youth Day finale, Pope John Paul II begged the faithful to love the Church and not to be "discouraged by the sins and failings of some of her members." Poignantly he said, "The harm done by some priests and religious to the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame."
"But," he emphasized with a raised, firm voice, "think of the vast majority of dedicated and generous priests and religious whose only wish is to serve and do good!" After the thunderous applause died down he continued, "There are many priests, seminarians and consecrated persons here today; be close to them and support them!"
While the sustained cheering and applause of the crowd showed these remarkable youth were ready and willing to support faithful priests, the Pope's demand for support of priests would also naturally extend to Bishops.
Unfortunately many Bishops, in the U.S. and Canada have often chosen not to support faithful priests and instead give preferential treatment to dissidents. In Canada this has been especially due to the unusually autocratic influence of Canadian Bishops Conference bureaucrats to which most Canadian bishops unnecessarily hand over their authority and voice on many important matters.
It is often heard that faithful priests are marginalized or persecuted by bishops and chancery bureaucrats and for simply acting and preaching against contraception, abortion, homosexuality or other politically incorrect but valid universal moral church teachings or practices.
When the American Cardinals and Bishops met with the Pope to address the abuse scandal the Pope noted that "doctrinal issues" underlie "the deplorable behavior in question" and proposed three "lines of response."
Number one on the pope's list of suggested changes was "the Pastors of the Church need clearly to promote the correct moral teaching of the Church and publicly to reprimand individuals who spread dissent and groups which advance ambiguous approaches to pastoral care."
Faithful priests have often indicated to LifeSite that were Bishops to publicly reprimand dissenters it would be a phenomenal support for them that would end decades of heartbreak for the faithful priests.
The Pope continued, "And if, in the depths of your hearts, you feel the same call to the priesthood or consecrated life, do not be afraid to follow Christ on the royal road of the Cross!" He suggested that even the scandal caused by the abuse could not extinguish the hope in Christ. "Although I have lived through much darkness, under harsh totalitarian regimes, I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young."
See LifeSite's coverage of the Pope's suggests on dealing with the abuse scandal:
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/apr/02042601.html
See the text of the homily from the Vatican at:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/2002...
See LifeSite's Church Scandals pages
http://www.lifesite.net/features/churchscandals/
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