The sins of priests - Revision history

Mxmsj: /* Joel: A call to repentance */

2022-12-13T08:40:56Z

Joel: A call to repentance

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 13 December 2022
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	== [[Joel: A call to repentance]] ==		== [[Joel: A call to repentance]] ==

	From the prophet [http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/joel/joel1.htm#v13 Joel 1:13-~~15; 2:1-2~~] (circa 400 BC):		From the prophet [http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/joel/joel1.htm#v13 Joel 1:13-14] (circa 400 BC):
	<div style="margin-left:4em">		<div style="margin-left:4em">
	<br /> Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!		<br /> Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!

Mxmsj: /* A call to repentance */

2022-12-13T08:40:15Z

A call to repentance

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 13 December 2022
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	:The suffering of the church also comes from within the church, because sin exists in the church. This too has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way. The greatest persecution of the church doesn’t come from enemies on the outside, but is born in sin within the church. The church thus has a deep need to re-learn penance, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. Forgiveness does not exclude justice.		:The suffering of the church also comes from within the church, because sin exists in the church. This too has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way. The greatest persecution of the church doesn’t come from enemies on the outside, but is born in sin within the church. The church thus has a deep need to re-learn penance, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. Forgiveness does not exclude justice.

	== A call to repentance ==		== [[Joel: A call to repentance]] ==

	From the prophet [http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/joel/joel1.htm#v13 Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2] (circa 400 BC):		From the prophet [http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/joel/joel1.htm#v13 Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2] (circa 400 BC):
	<div style="margin-left:4em">		<div style="margin-left:4em">

Mxmsj: /* Renouncing clericalism */

2022-12-10T16:30:18Z

Renouncing clericalism

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:30, 10 December 2022
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	No. The Body of Christ is innocent. The sinners are sinful and need to make full reparation for their sins.		No. The Body of Christ is innocent. The sinners are sinful and need to make full reparation for their sins.

			== I am not qualified to throw stones ==

			"Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).

			Every one of my own personal sins is a betrayal of Jesus and an act contrary to my vocation to be a priest and a Jesuit.

			I believe that I am "a sinner redeemed by grace."

			If I point one finger in condemnation at the priests whose evildoing has been made public, I am pointing three fingers at myself.

			If I want to enjoy the fullness of God's mercy for me, I have to extend the fullness of His mercy to everyone who offends me.

			I am allowed to think and to say that they have done evil. It is not rocket science to say that outrageous actions against chastity and sexual abuse of innocent victims is evil.

			I do not have the power to judge these evildoers justly.

			God knows us from the inside out, and He knows the full extent of our sins and crimes against humanity.

			They are not my problem.

			They are God's problem.

			I am not God.

			My problem is me.

			My solution is GOD.

	== Links ==		== Links ==

Mxmsj: /* Renouncing clericalism */

2022-12-10T12:33:37Z

Renouncing clericalism

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:33, 10 December 2022
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	Jesus is the true High Priest. He alone has the power to cause us to be born again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit; He alone gives us His sacred humanity and eternal divinity to be our food and drink; He alone absolves us from our sins; He makes two into one flesh; He places men in the orders of bishop, priest, and deacon.		Jesus is the true High Priest. He alone has the power to cause us to be born again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit; He alone gives us His sacred humanity and eternal divinity to be our food and drink; He alone absolves us from our sins; He makes two into one flesh; He places men in the orders of bishop, priest, and deacon.

	~~This~~ is a paper tiger. People attribute a false teaching to the Church, then justify their bitterness toward the Church on the basis of their claim that ~~the teaching of~~ the Church ~~is reprehensible~~.		The accusation that the Church teaches that priests are holier than the laity is a paper tiger. People attribute a false teaching to the Church, then justify their bitterness toward the Church on the basis of their false claim that the Church teaches clerical superiority.

	The sins of the priests and religious are monstrously evil. We know that they utterly contradict what the Church authentically teaches about the meaning of priesthood and of sexuality in God's plan of salvation. None of these criminals can claim that they were living according to the mind of the Church.		The sins of the priests and religious are monstrously evil. We know that they utterly contradict what the Church authentically teaches about the meaning of priesthood and of sexuality in God's plan of salvation. None of these criminals can claim that they were living according to the mind of the Church.

	The bitterness about these horrors seems to me to be the fruit of the same suppositions as clericalism: whatever a priest does is done by the Church in the name of God; there is no difference between the actions of the priest and the actions of the Church; the Church is responsible for all of the choices of all of the priests. If we hate the sins of priests, then we must hate the Church.		The bitterness about these horrors seems to me to be the fruit of the same suppositions as clericalism: whatever a priest does is done by the Church in the name of God; there is no difference between the actions of the priest and the actions of the Church; the Church is responsible for all of the choices of all of the priests. If we hate the sins of priests, then we must hate the Church.

			No. The Body of Christ is innocent. The sinners are sinful and need to make full reparation for their sins.

	== Links ==		== Links ==

Mxmsj: /* Justice and Mercy Have Kissed */

2022-12-10T12:29:44Z

Justice and Mercy Have Kissed

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 10 December 2022
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	"He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead."		"He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead."

	We have to hate and condemn the sins and crimes and stupidity of our fellow children of God. Evil is evil. Evil must be annihilated in its entirety. We have to do everything in our power to resist evil and choose good. GOD Himself is going to separate the weeds from the wheat and sift the wheat from the chaff. "All will be well again, and all manner of thing will be well again, I know" (~~BJ o'~~ Norwich).		We have to hate and condemn the sins and crimes and stupidity of our fellow children of God. Evil is evil. Evil must be annihilated in its entirety. We have to do everything in our power to resist evil and choose good. GOD Himself is going to separate the weeds from the wheat and sift the wheat from the chaff. "All will be well again, and all manner of thing will be well again, I know" (Blessed Julian of Norwich).

	The kenosis of the God-Man on the cross is sufficient to make reparation for all of the sins of all sinners and all criminals everywhere in the whole history of the world. GOD has the power to "make all things new" (Rev 21:5). When we see how much damage has been done to the children of God and the Body of Christ, we have to soak ourselves in the love of Jesus and let Him give us "blessed assurance" that He is with us, just as He promised.		The kenosis of the God-Man on the cross is sufficient to make reparation for all of the sins of all sinners and all criminals everywhere in the whole history of the world. GOD has the power to "make all things new" (Rev 21:5) because He has taken upon Himself the entirety of human wrongdoing, including the very worst sins and committed by the very worst sinners. If Jesus only died for good people whose sins were entirely respectable, then He lied when He said that He came to lay down His life for sinners.

			There is only one "unforgiveable sin" (Mark 3:28-29, Mt 12:31-32, Lk 12:10; Heb 6:4-6, 1 Jn 5:16), and that is to refuse to be forgiven and healed by God. Anyone who says that human sins are greater than God's mercy is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

			When we see how much damage has been done to the children of God and the Body of Christ, we have to soak ourselves in the love of Jesus and let Him give us "blessed assurance" that He is with us, just as He promised, and that He is victorious over all of our enemies.

	I am not saying that we should condone sin, crime, or stupidity.		I am not saying that we should condone sin, crime, or stupidity.
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	Not one teaching of the Church has been changed by the sins of priests or the stupidity of bishops. The Church has never taught that ordination makes men sinless or wise. That pious thought is part of clericalism, which is one of the ills that made way for the flood of scandals that are overwhelming the Church in our day. We can live without that belief. Our faith is anchored in our High Priest, not in the ministerial priesthood. Jesus is today as He was in the day of His suffering and death. He is betrayed by all of us sinners, but He is faithful even when we are unfaithful and undeserving of His love. He is the bedrock and the unshakeable foundation of our faith and hope and love. Without Him, we are lost; through Him and with Him and in Him, "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).		Not one teaching of the Church has been changed by the sins of priests or the stupidity of bishops. The Church has never taught that ordination makes men sinless or wise. That pious thought is part of clericalism, which is one of the ills that made way for the flood of scandals that are overwhelming the Church in our day. We can live without that belief. Our faith is anchored in our High Priest, not in the ministerial priesthood. Jesus is today as He was in the day of His suffering and death. He is betrayed by all of us sinners, but He is faithful even when we are unfaithful and undeserving of His love. He is the bedrock and the unshakeable foundation of our faith and hope and love. Without Him, we are lost; through Him and with Him and in Him, "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

	Yes, I believe what Jesus teaches us through His Body. Not one part of ~~revelation~~ has been changed by the revelation that priests can be sinners and criminals and idiots who are worthy of being drowned in a lake of fire with a millstone hung around their necks.		Yes, I believe what Jesus teaches us through His Body. Not one part of the gospel has been changed by the revelation that priests can be sinners and criminals and idiots who are worthy of being drowned in a lake of fire with a millstone hung around their necks (Lk 17:2).

	That's how it's been since the beginning. "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock" (Acts 20:29). OK. I thought we were better than that. I thought we were done with the corruptions of the Renaissance. I thought that I could put my trust in human beings. I was wrong. Not for the first time in my life, and probably not for the last time, either.		That's how it's been since the beginning. "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock" (Acts 20:29). OK. I thought we were better than that. I thought we were done with the corruptions of the Renaissance. I thought that I could put my trust in human beings. I was wrong. Not for the first time in my life, and probably not for the last time, either.

Mxmsj: /* Making reparation for the sins of priests (the Judas Factor) */

2022-12-10T12:16:56Z

Making reparation for the sins of priests (the Judas Factor)

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 10 December 2022
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	St. John Vianney, pray for us!		St. John Vianney, pray for us!

	=== Making reparation for the sins of priests ~~(the Judas Factor)~~ ===		=== Making reparation for the sins of priests ===

	[[The Judas Factor]]: '''Jesus has been betrayed in every generation by those who have been called and chosen to represent Him.'''		==== We must condemn the evil that has been done ====

			We must not minimize, alter, or deny the horror of what priests have done to the children of God.

			[[The Judas Factor]]:
			:: '''Jesus has been betrayed in every generation by those who have been called and chosen to represent Him.'''

	Judas was the first of many brothers.		Judas was the first of many brothers.

	In our day, the sins of priests and religious ~~is a grave scandal that has~~ injured multitudes.		In our day, the sins of priests and religious have injured multitudes.

	* The victims of the priests.		* The victims of the priests.
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	; St. Francis de Sales		; St. Francis de Sales

	:"While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."		:"While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."

	==== We need to use the Forgiveness Prayer ====		==== We need to use the Forgiveness Prayer ====

			That clerics have done evil is evil.

			Hating them is a separate and second evil that is not justified by clerical wrongdoing.

	The religious, deacons, priests, and bishops who abused children or who tolerated the abuse of children are our [[enemies]].		The religious, deacons, priests, and bishops who abused children or who tolerated the abuse of children are our [[enemies]].
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	[http://www.degrandisssj.com/index1.html Robert Degrandis] composed a beautiful "Forgiveness Prayer" that teaches us how to forgive:		[http://www.degrandisssj.com/index1.html Robert Degrandis] composed a beautiful "Forgiveness Prayer" that teaches us how to forgive:

	* God		* God
	* ~~Ourselves~~		* ourselves
	* ~~People~~ familiar to us		* people familiar to us
	* ~~Strangers~~		* strangers

			How many times do we have to forgive the priests who acted as antichrists?

	~~How many times do we have to forgive the priests who acted as antichrists?~~ "Not seven times. Seventy times seven times" (Mt 18:22; a favorite saying of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_du_Plessis David du Plessis]).		:: "Not seven times. Seventy times seven times" (Mt 18:22; a favorite saying of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_du_Plessis David du Plessis]).

	==== Forgiveness identifies, condemns, and cleanses sin ====		==== Forgiveness identifies, condemns, and cleanses sin ====

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

2022-12-10T10:18:21Z

Text replacement - "--" to " — "

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 10 December 2022
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	; St. Francis de Sales		; St. Francis de Sales
	:"While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal--who allow scandals to destroy faith--are guilty of spiritual suicide."		:"While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."

	==== We need to use the Forgiveness Prayer ====		==== We need to use the Forgiveness Prayer ====
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	=== Church documents ===		=== Church documents ===
	* [http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_crimen-sollicitationis-1962_en.html "Crimen sollicitationis"--"The Crime of Solicitation."]		* [http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_crimen-sollicitationis-1962_en.html "Crimen sollicitationis" — "The Crime of Solicitation."]
	* [http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_guide-CDF-procedures_en.html "Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations."]		* [http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_guide-CDF-procedures_en.html "Guide to Understanding Basic CDF Procedures concerning Sexual Abuse Allegations."]
	=== Other sites ===		=== Other sites ===
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	* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/04/07/mean-men.html ''Newsweek,'' "Mean Men."] "The priesthood is being cast as the refuge of pederasts. In fact, priests seem to abuse children at the same rate as everyone else." ''That's still sad, tragic, and criminal, of course..."''		* [http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/04/07/mean-men.html ''Newsweek,'' "Mean Men."] "The priesthood is being cast as the refuge of pederasts. In fact, priests seem to abuse children at the same rate as everyone else." ''That's still sad, tragic, and criminal, of course..."''
	* [http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=881 "Ten Years Later, the Church in Boston Struggles to Recover."]		* [http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=881 "Ten Years Later, the Church in Boston Struggles to Recover."]
	* [https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/pa-grand-jury-report-not-what-it-seems?fbclid=IwAR1qM2Wcn8FvlaDYmv-ZHp9StV2uwIgQTXHFtJ4KTTcM5te2k8OiFBzkO68 "The PA Grand-Jury Report: Not What It Seems--It’s Inaccurate, Unfair & Misleading."]		* [https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/pa-grand-jury-report-not-what-it-seems?fbclid=IwAR1qM2Wcn8FvlaDYmv-ZHp9StV2uwIgQTXHFtJ4KTTcM5te2k8OiFBzkO68 "The PA Grand-Jury Report: Not What It Seems — It’s Inaccurate, Unfair & Misleading."]

	[[Category:Priesthood]]		[[Category:Priesthood]]
	[[Category:Sin]]		[[Category:Sin]]
	[[Category:Sins of Priests]]		[[Category:Sins of Priests]]

Mxmsj: /* A prayer for healing */

2022-12-10T10:01:30Z

A prayer for healing

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 10 December 2022
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	We pray that through Jesus' priestly ministry, you will heal all of the sins of your people, especially the sins of priests and parents. Rescue your children from the wrongdoing of their elders. Renew in our hearts the wonders of your love. Strengthen, chasten, confirm, and preserve our priests in their vocation. In Your Mercy, send more laborers to work in Your vineyard as priests and religious. Raise up new holy families and dwell with them in Your Son and Your Spirit.		We pray that through Jesus' priestly ministry, you will heal all of the sins of your people, especially the sins of priests and parents. Rescue your children from the wrongdoing of their elders. Renew in our hearts the wonders of your love. Strengthen, chasten, confirm, and preserve our priests in their vocation. In Your Mercy, send more laborers to work in Your vineyard as priests and religious. Raise up new holy families and dwell with them in Your Son and Your Spirit.

	May you be pleased with the sacrifice that your priests offer you; may they serve you with humble and contrite hearts; may the Communion we receive with and through them wash away our sins, cleanse us of our iniquities, and make us white as snow.		May you be pleased with the sacrifice that your priests offer you; may they serve you with humble and contrite hearts; may the Communion we receive with and through them wash away our sins, cleanse us of our iniquities, and make our souls as white as snow.

	We ask all these things with the help of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name. Amen.		We ask all these things with the help of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Mxmsj: /* A call to repentance */

2022-12-10T10:00:15Z

A call to repentance

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:00, 10 December 2022
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	<br /> Proclaim a fast,		<br /> Proclaim a fast,
	<br /> call an assembly;		<br /> call an assembly;
	<br /> ~~Gather~~ the elders,		<br /> gather the elders,
	<br /> all who dwell in the land,		<br /> all who dwell in the land,
	<br /> ~~Into~~ the house of the LORD, your God,		<br /> into the house of the LORD, your God,
	<br /> and cry to the LORD!		<br /> and cry to the LORD!
	</div>		</div>

Mxmsj: /* A call to repentance */

2022-12-10T09:58:42Z

A call to repentance

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 10 December 2022
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	<br /> Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!		<br /> Gird yourselves and weep, O priests!
	<br /> ~~wail~~, O ministers of the altar!		<br /> Wail, O ministers of the altar!
	<br /> Come, spend the night in sackcloth,		<br /> Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
	<br /> O ministers of my God!		<br /> O ministers of my God!