Voice from the Desert
May 30, 2011
http://reform-network.net/?p=10687
 |
The annual Peter's Pence papal collection will take place in U.S. Roman Catholic parishes the weekend of June 25-26. This event provides an excellent opportunity for Catholics to communicate to the pope what they think about his scandalous mismanagement and cover up of clergy sexual abuse of children.
And you can do it for as little as one cent!
Send the Bishops a Message, an initiative of Desert Voices, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation, urges all U.S. Catholics to put just one penny in the Peter's Pence collection plate June 25-26 as a witness to the pope, the world, and God that they are deeply distressed and disappointed in the way the pope has brought shame upon the Catholic church, and all Catholics, and placed countless children in harm's way of dangerous clerical sexual predators.
Giving to the pope as usual means church officials have no incentive to change. If you don't give anything, church officials can mistakenly say, "It's the economy!" When you put a penny in the collection plate, there can be no doubt about your message. One penny expresses your deep dissatisfaction with the pope's scandalous handling of the global clergy abuse crisis. Send a message telling the pope to stop making a mockery of both Catholics and their universal church.
Every penny counts!
If you eat at a restaurant and the service is awful, you have three choices: 1) you can leave the usual tip—and the waiter has no incentive to change his/her service; 2) you can leave no tip which allows delusional thinking such as "They probably forgot;" or 3) you can leave a penny (or two) so that there can be no doubt in anybody's mind about your dissatisfaction.
So give more than ever on Peter's Pence Sunday. But please donate to organizations that protect kids, not one that endangers them.
If you won't be at Mass on June 25-26, you still can send a strong message in the universal language of money. For 45 cents—a penny and a 44-cent stamp—your voice will be heard and your vote counted. We recommend you send a penny with a brief note to:
Peter's Pence Collection
The Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See
3339 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
For more information, send an email to Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, at frankdouglas62@yahoo.com or call Frank at (520) 404-2489.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.