MASSACHUSETTS
Gloucester Times
Eileen Ford
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” — Edmond Burke
The good weather allowed me to walk a lot last month along Atlantic Road in Gloucester, enjoying the salt air and waves crashing against the rocks.
Instead of exchanging gifts, I made my own cards, contributed to local causes, went to Mass on Christmas morning, and later enjoyed “War Horse,” an inspiring story of a young man, the horse he loved and a war that separated them.
In an age where the spirit of the season is overwhelmed by Black Friday sales that begin on Thanksgiving, it’s a joy to live on Cape Ann where the gifts of nature are available all year long.
News reports, however, were far from joyful, with repeated revelations of the sexual abuse of children by coaches at Penn State and Syracuse universities.
On Dec. 10, while listening to “Only a Game” on NPR, I heard a proud Syracuse graduate say that he would remember the good in both institutions, but that it was even more important “never to forget what happened there.”
I, too, will always be grateful for the good I found in the Catholic church, including many wonderful nuns and priests I’ve known throughout my life — but I cannot forget the darker side of a system that protected itself instead of children.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.