Where do we go from here as Roman Catholics

Where do we go from here?

Rhetorically speaking, the question can produce many thoughts that too many choose not to get into.  The one I am asking is the scandal of not too many years back regarding pedophilia priests.  Thinking back to my own ordination as well as those who answered “I will” to the response of the bishop when the imposition of his hands were placed upon the ordained ministers.  A promise to the bishop to be faithful to accepting the rule of holy orders.   This is not just a decision of adhering to the by-laws of another institution, but to the promise before God of a covenant that demands complete honesty to a promise very few have the opportunity to share with Almighty God.

There were many whom God called to ministry.  Most did not come from cathedrals or status belonging to upper class proponents, but simple men who worked the fields or tended sheep, simple workers who had no following of those who meant nothing to the general populace.

Yet, here we are, centuries later, with men called from various positions in life to answer the same call as ancient patriarchs to take upon themselves a task that would lead many to the cross, either walking the same path of Jesus, or suffering the same rejection from the general public.  

Perhaps, the most penetrating sword to this newly ordained is to live a life of avoiding the very elements of temptation that the rest of us do not have to comply with.  We all face temptations on a daily basis, but with the freedoms we find tolerable, the priest cannot partake of.  

A movie named the Cardinal depicted the life and incidents a cardinal had to deal with in his role as a cardinal.  The scenario of those in ministries that deal with individuals in personal consequences find themselves within a web-lined existence that at times draws them away from orders and into the midst of a terrifying problem that many have a difficult time removing themselves from.  This is where the question of “where do we go from here” becomes more than rhetorical, it hinges on the factuality of our priests leading with their hearts and inner-promise of following Christ, but the reality of  temptation has entered the picture and becomes the struggle each of us must encounter on our daily walk, with Christ, for Christ, and the suffering Christ experienced himself.

How do we as the populace in the pews take into our hands and accept a priest who has fallen with such a debilitating action upon the most defenseless of our community?  Can we define the enormity of this sin in a way that excuses their evil inclination without any mercy from God?  We are told, theologically, from Jesus when he said all sin except that against the holy Spirit is forgivable.  (Mk. 3: 28- 30).

St. Paul condemned Christians and was on his way with writs of arrest to have them imprisoned or killed.  Yet he did not go against God.  The sins of all of these priests was and is a terrible disease against humanity, as are the sins of so many dictators around the world.  Which ones will be forgiven, if any?  We cannot judge any of these persons with no love for their victims.  Here we must totally place the judgment of them upon God who is merciful, yey judgmental as well.

Ralph B. Hathaway