November 29, 2020 - "The McCarrick Report continued"

The McCarrick report remains in the news and probably will remain in the news for some time as we absorb some of things that have been related in it.  Greg Erlandson, director and editor-in-chief of Catholic News Service, commented that that were heroes in this sad story.  One such hero was the late Cardinal John J. O’Connor who tried unsuccessfully to stop our former archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s appointment to the Archdiocese of Washington where often the Archbishop receives the red hat.  Even more courageous were the victim survivors who tried to speak up, the mother who sought to protect her children, the counselors who warned of the allegations that they were hearing.  Sadly, the impression that we receive is that those who wanted to raise concerns were not given an attentive listening and rumors were dismissed rather than investigated thoroughly.
 
Erlandson’s observation on the whole matter:  “Like many large and not particularly efficient organizations, the church is a series of silos, inhibiting close communication and collaboration.  Also, like large organizations, it is inherently cautious and self-protective.  Add to this the deference given to rank and hierarchy, and it is too easy to see how the default was to explain away, ignore, or hide.”
 
He concludes his article by noting that the sin of abuse, the sin of covering up, or ignoring the abuse will not go away with this report. Pope Francis realizes the challenges before him.  The Holy Father must continue to press for accountability and transparency without fear or favor.  Both laity and clergy likewise must continue to press for reform and renewal.
 
Cardinal Wilton Gregory issued a statement on Monday, November 16 after reading the McCarrick report.  Let me quote a few excerpts from his excellent statement:
 
The Vatican’s report demands to be viewed through the eyes of the survivors and their loved ones without prejudice to where they may have first encountered Theodore McCarrick or where they may be today. As has happened too often in recent history, it revealed to me and to you dark corners of our Church of which I am deeply ashamed and profoundly angry - again. It pushed into sunlight a culture that has too often served not to build up our cherished Catholic Church – Jesus Christ’s greatest Gift to us – but to undermine it, far beyond the amoral ecclesiastical tenure of a single fallen cleric. Those of us in leadership have too often failed to understand, to acknowledge, to respond to, and to prevent the damage done to our innocent faithful – minors and adults.
 
In the report there were mercifully no revelations of sexual abuse alleged to have been perpetrated in this Archdiocese, and while I am of course grateful for that, it provides little comfort. I promise you with all my heart that our vigilance in the Archdiocese of Washington will continue – we will support the healing of those who have been harmed, our protocols for reporting and responding to these crimes will continue unabated and with renewed vigor, our safe environment efforts on behalf of those of every age will reflect the very best practices available.

Even so, as I read the Vatican text I felt such deep sorrow for those who should have been able to rely on the ministers of Christ’s Church to protect and respect them. Instead they found themselves abused by a man who may have been outwardly charming and gregarious, but who allowed himself to be motivated by his own sinful gratification rather than the diametrically opposite Gospel call to go and make disciples for Jesus Christ. For a priest of His Church there can be no greater failing, except possibly to be aware of such incongruity and, in response, do nothing.
 
In his concluding remarks Cardinal Gregory notes that the Church has taken a step forward in looking honestly at both this particular case and the future of accountability within the church.  People are waiting to see how large and how enduring this step  indeed will be.  There are challenges to our integrity that must be met before we move forward.  At the same time it seems that we cannot move forward until integrity is restored.  This will require time and transparency, contrition and commitment, prayer and reconciliation, authenticity and humility.
 
Let us join Cardinal Gregory in imploring our Heavenly Father to shower His grace upon all whose faith has been tested too often by what we have done and what we have failed to do.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John