The Word of the Lord?
On Good Friday, the Catholic Church, through the pope's personal preacher, compared the current scrutiny of both the pope and the church to the historical suffering of Jews. Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa said, "They know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence and also because of this they are quick to recognize the recurring symptoms." To make matters worse, these words were spoken during the homily of the Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica, while the pope looked on.
I can understand that the church feels under siege. It is and should. Everything that is happening now is a direct result of the church's own doing, and as I have said before, none of this is surprising when seen in its proper historical context. The responses are typical, and sad—that facts are being misrepresented and that the church itself is the victim.
These statements, from which the Vatican has since backtracked, are merely a public admission of what is the predominantly held belief of the church hierarchy. A belief that is the foundation of all that is wrong with the church. A core belief that has put so many children in danger for so many years. A core belief that has led to the suicides of so many clergy abuse victims. A core belief that has been a true obstacle to healing of physical, emotional and spiritual wounds of untold thousands.
What do such statements say to those who were sexually abused by deviant clergy and whose abuses were covered up for decades? I will tell you what I heard and felt: That we survivors are demons. That we survivors mean nothing. That we survivors merely incite violence.
The irony of these statements by the church is that in reality they do not apply to church suffering at all, but to the suffering of victims of clergy abuse. In fact, this is a parallel I made in Jews.
Whenever I think there is hope that the message I heard loud and clear as a child and teenager and adult is now different, I am given a dose of reality that it is not. These statements have served, in my mind, to nullify any prior or future statements of empathy or support for the abuses and cover-ups that have occurred. The Catholic Church does not have the right to say one thing one week, do nothing at all in its deeds at the highest of levels, and then say something so appalling and unholy the next week on one of the holiest days of the year—and expect to retain any shred of credibility.
I am certain Jesus does not at all approve of what the church has become, supposedly built around his life and teachings. If Jesus were giving the Good Friday homily, I would suspect he might repeat Matthew 21:13 in which he said: "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves."
On Good Friday, the hours of 12 noon and three are known as the Three Hours' Agony, representing the last three hours before Jesus died on the cross. Tradition holds that these hours are for specific prayers and acts of reparation for Jesus' suffering; acts meant to repair the sins against Jesus. For me, this year, I spent these hours in a psychiatric hospital, tortured by internal conflicts about religion, God, Jesus, and Satan. When I read these statements spoken on Good Friday, precisely in the middle of these three special hours, I could not help but have the immediate reaction that I should die. It was then not easy to stay safe, and eventually I found myself sleeping in a hospital Quiet Room.
But I fought.
A couple days removed, I have gained some perspective.
In Galatians, Jesus said that we are all sons of God. My interpretation is that these acts of reparation are meant to acknowledge all of God's children who have suffered in the name of religion.
Instead, in St. Peter's Basilica, we are not reached out to; only the church is the victim.
Unfortunately, this leads me to conclude that the words of the Catholic Church are clearly not the Words of the Lord.
Related Posts:
- Holy Week, Church Visit, Scandal, and Miracles (March 29, 2010)
- Thoughts on Catholic Church Abuse Reports (March 15, 2010)
- Ireland's Church Abuse Scandal and Personal History (May 24, 2009)
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Paul,
I have found the same as you. Though I am not Catholic, I work with those who are. My past is directly linked to "Holiness", demons, and a man's twisted desire to be a God. What you describe is also typically how families react when they learn of the abuse of one of their members. Suddenly, the victim is the cause of all the conflict and emotional upheaval, and sadly, is revictimized. I am sorry that you needed time away from the horror of it, but I believe that some day it will become evident that the victims are not the cause for the downfall of the unity of the Catholic Church. There is way too much abuse and tyranny done all in the name of God. How sad.
As always, thank you Ivory, for your validating words. It's interesting you brought up the typical reaction in inter-family abuse. This is also my experience based on those I have met throughout the years.
I fled from the sexual abuse into a boarding school, a nunnery. The verbal and emotional abuse I experienced made me feel worse. I believed boarding school and all these "holy women" would mean protection and calm. Wrong. Being introvert and always trying to hide, turned me into an outcast bullied by the nuns, mocked and presented as a liar and thief (which I wasn't, but I didn't dare clarify). When I left boarding school at 18 I was a greater mess then before!!! My refuge turned into an even bigger prison. We might be still be stigmatized but we aren't the downfall of the church, that they manage all by themselves. Hugs and love.
Paula, my heart goes out to you. Truly this is not just a problem with priests. I wonder if you've seen the movie The Magdalene Sisters? When you describe some of your experience, this is what came to mind for me. Peace and love to you too!
Having been raised in the RCC and having read the Bible, I can tell you that the teachings of the "church proper" are NOT what Yeshua/Jesus taught... not at all. That is not to say that there are not good teachers in the individual "churches" or good people, but the RCC as a whole... as an organized religion... no!
The RCC is under attack because its children have been under attack by it for generations... nay... for centuries! This is the counterattack. This is the accountability attack. They teach accountability for sins through mandating a priest confession... yet they will not apply that to themselves!
I am saddened that you had to spend that time in the hospital and am very glad that you are out now. The time will come when they will not be able to get to you... or anyone else... in this manner. I believe they are intentionally using wording to trigger guilt, shame, etc... in the victims! The REAL victims! We do NOT have to buy into it... although it can take time for that message to work its way all through our souls.
Keep fighting!
OneSurvivor, Thank you for sharing your views. I truly appreciate them. In fact, I am still in the hospital, in a rather nice single room with two large windows (covered by "hospital screens") with a nice breeze coming through on a nice sunny 70F day. I understand what you are saying. And I can appreciate your point of view. I don't view the response, though, as a counter-attack. This, I fear, plays into their hands. They have attacked, yes. Maybe they don't think they attacked. I don't know. But I do think the solution is simply to shed light on the truth. Nothing more. Maybe I'm not having the anger I should have. I'm not so sure. I'm still trying to process all of this. The last week plus has been kind of a blur. I do know, though, I will keep fighting. But for me.
Thanks, Paul... I hope you can come home soon.
Perhaps "attack" is relative. When people share the truth and hold the perps accountable... the perps will feel as if they are being attacked... whether or not they actually are. I also think that, when we tell the truth... it IS a kind of attack. It is an attack against the lies using truth. Those who hide behind the lies may feel as if it is a personal attack... especially if they have told the lies... or covered up the truth.
I also think that every time we fight for ourselves... we are also fighting for each other. For every one of us who speaks... there are more who cannot speak... for whatever reason.
Do what you need to do to stabilize, Paul. Right now that is the most important thing on your agenda. I am glad that they are giving you computer access while you are there.
Thanks OneSurvivor. I totally get what you are saying. Someday I will write about the hospital more than I have in the past. They have WiFi on the floor, I have my laptop, iPod, iPhone, drawing journals, tea, and sheet music for piano (though I usually play piano only the day before I leave). I try to make it as comfortable as I can. But I know I am not home and not with my family. Plus, the Quiet Room is certainly not a pleasant place to visit. And, yes, I do fight. I understand that my fight is also a fight for others. That's why I mentioned those who did not make it through suicide. Thank you so much for the support you give me here. It's truly appreciated!
Hi Paul,
I'm so sorry that they are still playing the part of victim in this. How truly appalling. And how totally inappropriate to use the suffering, persecution, and holocausts perpetrated against those of the Jewish faith and heritage. How doubly horrific since the Catholic Church was involved in so much of that persecution, if not in fact, then in ideology and were complicit in devaluing human life and human free will.
As Jesus said: let the children come to me, do not turn them away. He never meant that they should come and be betrayed, violated, and sexually abused. How truly horrible that they do not see they are the authors of all that they are reaping.
Good and healing thoughts to you.
Kate
Thanks, as always, Kate.
Thanks for writing about this. I left the Catholic Church a long time ago, and this reminded me exactly why. The outrageous statement that the public outrage about the clergy abuse cover up has any parallel whatsoever with the torture and death of millions of Jews shows how completely the Church has mistaken power and entitlement for holiness, compassion, or any other spiritual value I can think of.
I'm sorry this hit you so hard, Paul. Seeing the monster when society finally begins to shine light on it is devastating, but please be assured that there is a community here that stands by you. There is a community here that sees this monster for exactly what it is. And this is the community that will continue to call out its demands for the abuses, the silence, the secrecy, and the cover ups to end.
Sarah, Your words are truly touching to me. I do not at all feel alone in any of this. Otherwise, I would not ever write such a post. Thank you so very much. Peace to you.
When I see the news about the abuse scandal, I'm reminded of how "black and white" the thinking can become when threatened. The Church has taken a divisive stance towards the victims of abuse and the media... it has become a story of "us versus them". But this is exactly the sort of thinking and actions that will destroy the church's credibility. If only there was an open and honest dialogue about the abuse and it's after effects, the church would have maintained some credibility and come out of this scandal stronger.
When I read your comments OneSurvivor, I'm reminded of the historical events that have involved what we in New Zealand call "passive resistance". It's actually far from passive, it's about standing true to your beliefs and acting in a non-violent way. In particular I'm reminded of Parihaka and the work of Martin Luther King. This is not to draw comparisons about the situation, other than to highlight the integrity and strength that was exhibited by these two examples. There doesn't need to be raised voices when the stories of abuse, victimisation and cover-ups are there for all to see. The raised voices can act as a distraction, but the truth is out there now... if there is strength in the church it is in how it responds to that truth, and so far I see it failing miserably.
My heart goes out to you Paul. To yet again be betrayed and hurt by the church... I'm sorry.
Take care,
CG
Thanks CastorGirl! I certainly don't see myself as being part of any movement. I don't really feel like I have any power. I just am saying my peace in my small little corner of the Internet, thinking it really doesn't amount to a whole lot. I view my voice as insignificant. But maybe it's the collective voice that matters and that every little bit counts.
The bullies often feel themselves to be victims - and that this justifies their violence.
Jesus had things to say about those who caused little one's to stumble - and that not all those who call him "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom. I think the religious hierarchies have usually betrayed the founders teachings.
If they asked forgiveness and sought to make sincere reparations then healing for them may be possible. I don't see any sign that this is going to happen to these institutions - though it does at the individual level.
I hope you are getting through this difficult time Paul. Perhaps the word of the Lord at this time is: as much as you have done it to one of these little ones, you have done it unto me.
Evan, Thank you so much! I knew this passage, but didn't want to quote it directly in the article. But, related, is this, Matthew 18: "For he that is least among you, shall be great. But he who offends one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he was thrown into the depths of the sea and drowned." Kind of very direct!
Exactly, CG.
I do believe there are times to express the fact that there is anger and hurt, but how it is done is so key. A soft answer turns away wrath. The church is not giving a soft answer... it is backpedaling. How we respond to the backpedaling is very important. We can rage against them... which is rather non-productive... or we can firmly keep telling the truth and bringing the focus back on to what needs to be done. Done to bring healing and done to stop ongoing abuses.
Paul, I'm so sorry that you are in the hospital because of the mess which caused this statements of the RCC.
Thank you for your post. In my eyes the RCC mocked with such statements all the victims of the abuse. The RCC as an institution, has lost all credibility.
I really hope that many people recognize this and leave the RCC. It's the only way, so that the RCC recognizes that she loses the support in the population. The RCC will never change. Never.
Take care
LSC
Hi LostShadowChild. Thank you for sharing your view and validating mine.