Rah, rah, sis boom bah. Are you feeling it? The Archidiocese of Philadelphia hopes so. They will be announcing the details of the World Meeting of Families for September 2015 during a press conference later today. I’m sure they want this to serve as a pep rally for area Catholics beleaguered by the priest pedophile coverups of the past and current scandals.
“This forthcoming international event has the power to transform, in deeply positive ways, not just the Catholic Church, but also our entire community. At the conclusion of tomorrow’s news conference, you will be provided with additional information. Please pray for the success of our endeavors as we continue to plan the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia and prepare for our city and region to be on the world stage next year,” wrote Kenneth Gavin, director of Communications.
I can think of a few more immediate ways to transform the Catholic Church and the entire community. What about you?
Is the bloom coming off the rose:? Francis
‘comments on sexual abuse are disheartening. No mention, no mention of the Pastors and bishops who enabled the abuse?
Ok, I just returned from the AOD headquarters and never seen Corbett or Nutter, monique braxten was there reporting and never acknowledged the VICTIMS standing in front of 222 N. 17 th Street, she certainly IMHO lacks in manners ! Hopefully Corbert & Nutter will extend the same courtesies to the VICTIMS but I will not hold my breath, this is just another PR tactic by chaput and his sinning entourage ! Soulless and shameless !
How ironic, that Mayor Nutter should refer to his Jesuit education at St. Joe’s Prep and the Ignatian motto of “man for others”. Maybe the Mayor could ask his two fellow leaders at the news conference, Archbishop Chaput and Governor Corbett, why they have not supported the important and valuable legislative proposals in Harrisburg that would eliminate the Statute of Limitations for child sexual abuse no matter where the incidents occur. When planning for the World Meeting of Families, this city, this Catholic Church and this Commonwealth should ALWAYS remember those child abuse victims and their families who struggle day in and day out throughout their lives with the emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical pain of their sexual abuse in their most innocent time of life. Reps. Rozzi and Bishop in Harrisburg have shared their own personal struggles and families throughout the state endure the devastating effects of child sexual abuse from many years ago. They deserve and are entitled to have their stories told and access to justice through the PA legal system. Let us have Archbishop Chaput and Governor Corbett be “men for others”, which, in this case, is “men for children.”
Michael Skiendzielewski
Captain (Retired)
Philadelphia Police Dept.
“Prepare to be on the world stage…”
Oh, but you already have been! Known the world over for your re-abuse of victims and flimsy policies that lack true protection of your children. You’re famous!
Not all Catholics are proud that Papa is visiting. I think advocates should organize with much signage to demonstrate exactly what they want the Pope to focus on. My sign will be all caps, in bold: I BELIEVE THE VICTIMS!
With the remarks of Pope Francis this week, Perhaps we need to turn up the volume. I do not believe he is hearing those of us who were sexually molested as children by his clergy. Perhaps the possible visitation by the pope in 2015 will present us an opportunity to make him hear us loud and clear. There are many ways we can accomplish this task. Perhaps a country wide demonstration by victims and their supporters in Philadelphia at the same time as the popes visit. Perhaps acts of non violent civil disobedience to draw attention to the plight of victims of clergy abuse who are still suffering despite all the “good” works the Church has done for us. I am sure there are many other ways to get this pope to listen to us. For someone who heads one of the last monarchies on this earth, perhaps some lessons on how democracy works is in order.
I’d ask him to save his time and save his money, and use both of them RIGHT NOW to ponder and work on the problem. That sure sounds logical to me!
It’s a shame that this is a public forum because I would like to express my innermost feelings and sentiment after viewing the front page of the Inquirer today. In the picture, as Mayor Nutter is at the podium, Governor Corbett and Archbishop Chaput are smiling and laughing. What have you done, Thomas and what have you done, Charles to reach out, ensure justice and show compassion for all of those past victims of criminal sexual abuse by certain clergy not only here in the Philadelphia archdiocese but across the state in all environments, whether they be public or private, religious or secular?
Why, tell us all why, do you Thomas and you Charles stand in the way of the important, valuable, life-protecting, and rights-enabling legislative proposals languishing in the Harrisburg legislature while many victims and their families STATEWIDE suffer day in and day out from the ravages, torment, despair, and hopelessness from sexual abuse perpetrated on them many years ago?
What are you going to do THOMAS and what are you going to do CHARLES to ensure that the children of the Commonwealth in the future are provided better protection, more fuller access to the courts, both civilly and criminally, when they become sexual abuse victims and when they are finally able to come forward during a life of torment to name their accusers and file charges?
Where is your leadership, CHARLES? Where is your leadership, THOMAS? The abused children, now adults, are right there in front of you…….do not turn away, you can see them if you CHOOSE to see them. Look at what they have endured; look at what they endure NOW and what their families have endured throughout a lifetime.
CHARLES, THOMAS……stop thinking about institutions, organizations, leaders, lobbyists, supporters, and all of the rest…….think of the CHILDREN, only the CHILDREN. Those who have suffered great harm and ignominy and those in the future who will be victims of such evil and criminal conduct and behavior. They are ENTITLED to better protection, better laws, fuller access to the legal system, WHEN they are able to face the demons that have been with them since their childhood sexual abuse and finally speak out against their abusers.
These efforts by the victims, their families and advocates across the state are to do whatever is possible to PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. These efforts are for ALL of the children throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Finally, since this is a primarily Catholic forum and audience, though these principals, values and concerns involve all people, regardless of religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, social status, etc., what are you going to do THOMAS and what are you going to do CHARLES as adults in the Roman Catholic faith to help and protect all of our children. Yes, indeed, all you need to ask is the phrase that rings all too familiar and true and is an ideal grounded in the Catholic tradition and theology………………WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Michael Skiendzielewski
Captain (Retired)
Philadelphia Police Dept.
As a major US city, Philadelphia is already on the World stage… A visit from the pope and his Vatican entourage is not necessary or wanted. Nobody with any sense cares what these men have to say about family or anything else to do with humankind. They continue to be exposed for the thugs they are.
I feel Jesus would banish them from the church. No matter what, He does know all…
I believe the victims/survivors.
Denise
Denise,
I watched Jesus Son of God and I cried thru the whole thing. Certain scenes in the Bible in the past gave me comfort that Jesus understood our suffering. And when I watched the movie certain scenes like Jesus being whipped and suffering on the cross reminded me of my dads suffering how his heart finally gave out and his lungs filled with fluid and his spinal cord collapsed on its self all end results of his cancer. I also was struck by the scene where Jesus turned over the Moneychangers tables. In the movie Jesus said that this was suppose to be a house of prayer but they have changed it to a house of thieves. And what struck me is that many catholic churches are now not viewed by our survivors as houses of prayer but places where part of their souls were stolen. It just really made me think that he might not just have been talking about money and I had never thought about it in that way before……..
Beth, I, too, am stunned at how clerics, through their sins and crimes, have contaminated the image of the Church as a house of prayer.
Too, I am confounded by the practical manner in which clerics have sought to address the chaos they have inflicted on survivors and the faithful. Absent are timely and intelligent responses, reflecting fundamental human decency.
Why is it that clerics will not resolve the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in an intelligent and decent manner? Because to do so would not serve their interests among which are protecting the assets of the Church, hiding offenses that stain the image of the Church, and saving priesthoods. So ingrained in clerics are these obligatory promises and duties that they supersede, stifle, and extinguish clerical intelligence and decency.
Reform the priesthood.
Beth, That is what I pictured as Jesus was turning over the moneychangers tables, so that is a confirmation. He threw them out of His Father’s house.
I am sorry about your dad. Our Lord absolutely knows every pain every emotion sadness everything we endure on this earth. He felt everything on the cross, and died for each of us, and rose again. They do not represent Jesus here on earth. How can they think they do???
.
He know all…………
Peace.
What is utterly incomprehensible, and reported in a Delco Times editorial, is that the chief executives chosen by Chaput to act as his “public ambassadors for the World Meeting of Families” are ALL men.
Katherine Fitzgerald……we should not be surprised by this fact; we are speaking of the conduct and decision-making of Archbishop Chaput. Let us all here in Philadelphia not ever forget (and this writer will be posting this fine example of Christ-like leadership and discipleship many times over in the future) what this fine leader stated exactly four years ago this week. Once again, the question is this:
What will Archbishop Chaput do? Will the Archbishop act in the best interests of the children?
You decide. There is no finer example to illustrate the heart and soul of the leader of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput. Well, unless you’re talking about this week’s decision by our spiritual leader to stop the tuition subsidies for children of those clergy abuse victims and their families. Charles, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
======================================================================
Archdiocese defends decision to deny children because of lesbian parents
March 10, 2010
The archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, is defending its decision not to re-enroll two children in a Catholic school in Boulder next year because their parents are lesbians.
“The Church does not claim that people with a homosexual orientation are ‘bad,’ or that their children are less loved by God,” wrote Archbishop Charles J. Chaput in an article to be published in Thursday’s edition of the Denver Catholic Register.
“Quite the opposite. But what the Church does teach is that sexual intimacy by anyone outside marriage is wrong; that marriage is a sacramental covenant; and that marriage can only occur between a man and a woman. These beliefs are central to a Catholic understanding of human nature, family and happiness, and the organization of society. The Church cannot change these teachings because, in the faith of Catholics, they are the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
He added people with a different understanding of marriage and family life “have other, excellent options for education and should see in them the better course for their children.”