UNITED STATES
Questions From A Ewe
September 2, 2018
Dear readers,
It’s been a very long time. The demands of caring for an aging parent combined with those of traveling extensively for work provide precious few moments to write. However, recent hubbub compels me to sacrifice a few moments of sleep to write.
At Mass last weekend, the priest spoke of the clergy abuse revelations in Pennsylvania and described it as, “the scandal in Pennsylvania.” With 200+ dioceses and growing having abuse scandals worldwide, we are safe to call it “globally systemic” rather than confine it to any geographic area as if it were a surprising anomaly. Let’s stop being shocked that the abuse is uncovered in yet another group of dioceses. Let’s work to shine the light to expose it everywhere.
The pastor discussed the PA abuse scandal while defending the Lansing diocese’s decision to continue holding its “Made for Happiness” Diocesan Assembly in a few weeks despite this latest sex abuse scandal news. Tragically ironic, the diocesan shindig will be held at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center, the basketball arena for a university recently publicly criticized for institutional enablement of a serial child molester, Dr. Larry Nassar. Side note: Prior to prison, Nassar was a devout Catholic in the Lansing diocese. The diocese could only be more tone-deafly insensitive if it asked Larry Nassar to speak at the assembly.
All this pissed me off but did not compel me to write. No, no…it took former papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Vigano’s recently published lengthy letter calling for Pope Francis’ resignation to do that.
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