Priests and Religious:
Clerical Abuse

Much has been written and reported by the media about the recent issues concerning the abuses by some members of clergy of minors. We have seen a Cardinal and several Bishops tender their resignation and a number of priests have been removed from their positions and remanded to the authorities. The behavior of these priests who were trusted by their parishioners is nothing short of abominable and I laud the efforts of the Vatican and, in the United States, the National Council of Catholic Bishops' group led by Bishop Gregory to deal with those unfortunate souls.

In the cases discovered in the Archdiocese of Boston, 24 priests were removed from their posts. That's about 2.6% of the 900 priests in the Archdiocese.  In other parts of the United States, the percentage is lower. Anywhere from 0.3% to 1.3% has been mentioned. It depends where you get your information. The media's percentage of abusers are higher. But then we know that the media has a tendency to overestimate such issues, particularly as regards the Catholic Church. However, what have we done to help the other 97.4% of priests who serve the Lord and the faithful with zeal and caring?

Having left an order of monks, a small contemplative monastic community, located in Venice, Florida, recently (July 2, 2002), I get a lot of questions from people in my parish. Did I leave because of an abuse issue? Certainly, not. I left because of reasons of health after it became clear that this small order did not have the resources to take care of me financially given that none of us had health insurance. It was a mutual decision between the Order and myself, after much dialogue.

In my life till now, I've been a member of three different Orders. I spent about two years with the Capuchin Franciscans in New York, and left when Dad passed away and Mom needed my assistance. Since I was an only child, I felt it necessary to help her through these difficult months, years.

Later in life, in the mid 1990's, I entered one of the Franciscan Orders in the Midwest. I stayed with them also about two years. I left when I discerned a greater passion for the contemplative life and also because I found the interpretation of some tenets a little too liberal.

The Monks of Adoration where I spent 4-1/2 years, was a wonderful community of three men. I miss this community life very much. If it weren't for my illnesses, surely I would still be in their midst.

I've kept abreast, however, with the changes in the Church. While in the Capuchins, it was just before the Second Vatican Council began. The changes promulgated there were almost too much for me. They were enacted just after I had left the Capuchins, and thus I wasn't in a place where there was much explanation of the issues (in fact, I was in the U.S. Army at the time).

In none of these three Orders I had been a part of did I see or hear of any behavior by priests or religious that fell short of the mark. For those serving Jesus as closely as priests and religious do, or ought to do, there is the understanding that we must love Jesus as much as we love ourselves, and that we must love our neighbors, be they poor or rich, healthy or crippled, in the same way. Actually this applies to all men and women, but priests in particularly. In this day and age, however, since vocations to priesthood and religious life is so far down, it is possible that people are accepted by reason of need rather than proper discernment. I certainly can't say that for the Franciscans who tested and retested me, with lots of tests. This is to their credit, but not every Order does that so thoroughly.

So what have you done, to help the other 97.4% of priests and religious, who serve the Lord and the faithful with zeal and caring? There are several ways to help.

1. They deserve your loyalty, understanding and love.

2. After a particularly good homily, do express your gratitude to the priest, in person.

3. Give affirmation to priests when they do something that you are particularly grateful for.

4. It's okay to disagree too, but do so nicely. Priests and religious deserve our respect.

5. It is particularly bad form, in my opinion, to enter into a lengthy discussion with priests why you think they should be married. They've made their choice willingly. Don't belabor the point.

6. Likewise, what's the point of wasting his time with a lengthy discussion about why you think women should be priests, when the Vatican has ruled on this subject, and your priests cannot change this, no matter how he feels.

7. Stop calling the pastor with every little thing, particularly after hours. There usually is an office staff who are equipped to handle most questions, leaving Father free to tend to his work.

8. In a large parish, do not expect two or three priests to make any except the most necessary communion calls or visitations to the sick... it is almost impossible with the huge parishioner to priest ratio. That's why many parishes have Deacons (ordained members of clergy) and Special Eucharistic Ministers who can visit people in hospitals, nursing homes and the home-bounds.

9. Do invite Father to gatherings, e.g. a spaghetti dinner, perhaps.

10. Finally, show respect for all priests and religious. They have given their life to God. We should thank them for that. They are our mentors, advisers, and they too, would like to see us in heaven at the end of time.

I hope this helps overcome some of the pain all Catholics feel about the recent issues in our Church, today in the 21st Century.

F. Schaeffer, SFO
1/17/03

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