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A Seminarian addresses the priest sexual abuse scandal
My friend Michael, a seminarian and a pre-novice in formation with the Augustinians, has written an open letter to seminarians addressing the ongoing revelations of sexual abuse of minors by members of the Catholic clergy. I encourage you to read the letter on his blog Psalm 46:11: A Journey to Truth.
This is a very tough topic and a terrible experience for the people who have suffered this abuse. It has also stirred much sadness and anger as well as outpourings of prayer and compassion. With Michael, we stand in prayerful solidarity with those suffering and we stand in direct opposition to their abusers and those who egregiously mishandled these situations. We must do everything in our power to protect children and to see that this does not happen ever again.
With the swirl of voices out there on this topic, Michael’s perspective on this is unique because he is a seminarian, someone who is in the process of becoming a priest. It is a difficult time for seminarians as well who are trying to come to terms with what is happening among their brother seminarians and clergy and with their own call to serve as priests. While intensely conscious of the wrongs committed and great suffering involved, Michael’s words are a voice of hope in the church.
I join Michael in his prayer request:
I would ask that you find it in your heart to pray for all seminarians and priests in the Church today, so that we might live in true integrity to our vocations as priests, so that we might truly be holy and humble priests, so that we might become part of the process of healing that our Church so desperately needs
What is your voice of hope? What is your prayer?
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{ 3 comments }
Dear Sr. Julie,
Thank you very much for posting this open letter by Michael. I plan on sharing it with several young men I know who are in formation as well as confreres in my community. I would like to encourage you in your ministry in cyberspace!
God bless you,
Fr. D.
Dear Sister Julie, Many thanks for your post of Michael’s letter. Earlier today, I had the pleasure of reading the late Sister Thea Bowman’s meditation entitled: “Let us love one another during Holy Week”. I think there’s something in her simple yet profound words that we can all use during these trying times.
It’s very sad indeed that seminarians such as Michael, and other clergy & religious are now subject to ridicule due to the global clergy sex-abuse scandal. As a man, I must say that perhaps one way that we can “move forward” is to have women appointed to key positions at the diocesan & Curia (Vatican) levels; and I don’t mean a “token few”. Let’s face it, this entire mess was caused & covered-up by men, & in “moving forward” we need absolute transparency. Also, attacking the media (ie the NY Times), victims themselves, &verbally bashing gay people (as Bill Donahue of the Catholic League did on “Larry King Live” (CNN) last evening is vastly un-helpful. God Bless your vocations, Sr Julie & Michael; wishing you both a Blessed Easter.
Hi Niles, Thank you for writing in. I do love that meditation! Thank you for bringing it here.
We most definitely need to move forward and find ways to stop the abuse and to truly be the body of Christ. We all need to be educated about all issues related to sexual abuse, especially priests and bishops at the diocesan and curia levels. We can be compassionate and we can also be just.
I didn’t see the items you mentioned, so can’t really comment on them except to say that if it is true, it is indeed vastly unhelpful and I would add mean-spirited.