MASS OF CHRISM, MARCH 25, 2002
PASTORAL
LETTER APRIL 6-7, 2002
MY DEAR PEOPLE OF HAMILTON DIOCESE,
THE MASS OF CHRISM, ORIGINALLY CELEBRATED ON HOLY THURSDAY, IS
AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE GREAT GIFTS OF PRIESTHOOD: THE ABILITY
AT MASS TO STAND "IN PERSONA CHRISTI" AND CHANGE BREAD
AND WINE INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR SAVIOUR; THE POWER TO
FORGIVE SINS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD IN THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION;
THROUGH THE OTHER SACRAMENTS TO BRING INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
THAT SHARING IN THE LIFE OF GOD WHICH WE CALL GRACE.
INTO THE MIDST OF THIS CELEBRATION OF GOD'S GOODNESS TO US IT
IS PAINFUL TO HAVE TO INTRODUCE THE ASPECT OF EVIL COMMITTED BY
SOME PRIESTS AND SPECIFICALLY THE EVIL SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS
BY PRIESTS. IN HIS HOLY THURSDAY LETTER FOR 2002 OUR HOLY FATHER
POPE JOHN PAUL II, ADDRESSES THESE WORDS TO THE PRIESTS OF THE
WORLD. "AT THIS TIME TOO, AS PRIESTS WE ARE PERSONALLY AND
PROFOUNDLY AFFLICTED BY THE SINS OF SOME OF OUR BROTHERS WHO HAVE
BETRAYED THE GRACE OF ORDINATION IN SUCCUMBING EVEN TO THE MOST
GRIEVOUS FORMS OF THE "MYSTERIUM INIQUITATIS (MYSTERY OF
EVIL) AT WORK IN THE WORLD." THIS HAS CAUSED GRAVE SCANDAL.
THESE SINFUL ACTS OF SOME PRIESTS HAVE A THREEFOLD TRAGIC EFFECT:
1 - THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT IN THE LIFE OF THE VICTIM. THE CHURCH
MUST SHOW ITS CONCERN FOR THE VICTIMS AND STRIVE IN TRUTH AND
JUSTICE TO RESPOND TO EACH OF THESE PAINFUL SITUATIONS IN WAYS
WHICH WILL EASE THE PAIN AND DIMINISH THE SUFFERING.
2 - THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT IN THE LIFE OF THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY.
THIS SCANDAL CAN GIVE RISE TO GREAT HURT AND ANXIETY IN THE LIVES
OF BELIEVERS WHO FEEL BETRAYED BY CLERGY IN WHOM THEY HAD PLACED
THEIR TRUST.
3 - THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT UPON THE MORALE OF GOOD PRIESTS. THIS
GRAVE SCANDAL RESULTS IN "A DARK SHADOW OF SUSPICION"
WHICH IS CAST "OVER ALL THE OTHER FINE PRIESTS WHO PERFORM
THEIR MINISTRY WITH HONESTY AND INTEGRITY."
I WISH TO TELL YOU THAT IN THE DIOCESE OF HAMILTON EVERY CASE
OF THE ALLEGED ABUSE OF A MINOR BY A PRIEST IS HANDLED ACCORDING
TO A DEFINITE AND DETAILED POLICY. IT IS A POLICY WHICH INVOLVES
MEMBERS OF VARIOUS PROFESSIONS SUCH AS LAW, MEDICINE, AND COUNSELING,
AS WELL AS A CHURCH REPRESENTATIVE. IT IS A POLICY WHICH IS CONCERNED
WITH PREVENTING FURTHER HARMFUL ACTS AND ASSISTING THE VICTIM.
IF AN ACCUSATION OF ABUSE OF A MINOR BY A PRIEST IS MADE, TWO
RESULTS FOLLOW ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY.
1. THE POLICE ARE NOTIFIED AS REQUIRED BY CANADIAN LAW.
2. THE CLERIC IS REMOVED TEMPORARILY FROM PRIESTLY MINISTRY.
IF THE ACCUSATION IS VERIFIED, THE PRIEST IS SUSPENDED FROM ALL
PUBLIC PRIESTLY MINISTRY AND IS NOT ALLOWED TO FUNCTION AS A PRIEST.
I HAVE FOLLOWED THIS POLICY SCRUPULOUSLY AND CAN ASSURE THE PEOPLE
OF THIS DIOCESE THAT NO SUCH PRIEST IS OR WILL BE ALLOWED TO SERVE
IN ANY PARISH IN THIS DIOCESE.
THIS IS A TRULY DISTRESSING TOPIC. TO THE WHOLE CHURCH OF THE
DIOCESE OF HAMILTON I EXPRESS MY REGRET FOR THE PAIN AND SORROW
WHICH THE ACTIONS OF SOME OF MY BROTHERS IN THE PRIESTHOOD HAVE
CAUSED. I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU. IT IS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR ALL
OF US.
TO OUR GOOD AND FAITHFUL PRIESTS I OFFER MY CONCERN, MY ENCOURAGEMENT
AND MY PRAYERFUL SUPPORT.
AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT, I ASKED THE CATHOLICS OF THIS DIOCESE
TO INTENSIFY THEIR PRAYER LIFE. NOW, IN THE MIDST OF THIS TRAGEDY,
WE NEED THAT CLOSENESS TO CHRIST WHICH PRAYER BRINGS.
TO CLOSE, I WISH TO PARAPHRASE A STATEMENT FROM THE HOLY THURSDAY
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE JOHN PAUL II.
IT IS PRIMARILY OUR FAITH IN CHRIST WHICH GIVES US THE STRENGTH
TO LOOK TRUSTINGLY TO THE FUTURE. WE KNOW THAT THE HUMAN HEART
IS ATTRACTED TO EVIL, AND THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO RADIATE PEACE
AND LOVE TO THOSE AROUND US ONLY IF WE MEET CHRIST AND ALLOW OURSELVES
TO BECOME ALWAYS MORE FULLY UNITED TO HIM.
MAY
GOD BLESS YOU.
