Today on Listen Up we’ll explore the Pope’s recent
visit to the United
States, and how he tackled the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic
church. He came. He comforted. Now what?
It could well prove to be the one and only visit of Pope Benedict the
16th to the U.S.
And
what a visit! While there was speculation before the trip as to whether
he would address the sexual abuse crisis of 2002, the question was
quickly put to rest. That’s because - before the
pontiff’s plane had
even touched down - he delivered his first remarks on the subject;
saying he felt, “deeply ashamed.”
Today we’ll bring a
Christian perspective to the question of what makes healing possible
–
for a broken church and for a broken soul.
We’ll delve into
the Pope’s visit with priest and media expert Father Tom
Rosica. We’ll
speak with a man who’s suffered clergy abuse at
Canada’s infamous Mount
Cashel orphanage. And we’ll explore ‘the way
forward’ with priest and
columnist Father Raymond De Souza.
THE
CONTEXT
It
was the pontiff’s first visit since becoming Pope. And it
turned into 6
days of significance. Days during which he celebrated his 81st
birthday. And his 3rd anniversary as Pope.
He was the first
foreign visitor to be greeted on the tarmac by U.S. President George W.
Bush. Formally received at a White House ceremony for 12-thousand; it
was the largest such event of Bush’s presidency.
During a
pastoral visit that took him from Washington to New York, Benedict the
16th gave personal expression to his horror over the abuse scandal time
and again, returning to the subject at almost every major address. The
Pope pledged to “do what is possible so that this cannot
happen again,”
and called on Catholics to “foster healing and
reconciliation, and help
those who have been hurt.”
But he also acted as a pastor –
meeting and praying with abuse victims privately – in a
Washington
session that was both unannounced and closed to the media.
Father Tom Rosica is the Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s
Catholic Television Network, Salt and Light, and was a guest
of President Bush and the First Lady at the welcoming
ceremonies for the Pope on the South Lawn of the White House.
Fr. Raymond de Souza is a Queen’s Alumnus (B.A. Honours in
Economics and Masters in Public Administration). He also holds a
Masters degree in Economics and Politics from the University of
Cambridge, England. Subsequently, he began studies for the priesthood,
earning a License in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.‘03) from the
Santa Croce University in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood for
the Archdiocese of Kingston in July, 2002. Fr. Raymond is a frequent
contributor to various publications, including the National Post, The
National Catholic Register, and First Things.
“At the age of four I was abandoned by both my parents. I was
placed in 15 different foster homes from then to the age of 16 yrs. and
an orphanage ran by the Catholic Church called Mount Cashel. Also I
grew up in group homes and boy’s homes all in Newfoundland. I
grew up in an abusive environment. Sexually abused, physically,
emotionally, mentally and also spiritually due to the fact that some of
the abuse was done by those who claimed to be religious or church
attendee’s.
When I was released to be on my own at 16 yrs old, I had no life skills
whatsoever. How to find a job, how to keep a job, etc… I
started drinking and doing drugs at an early age. This I thought made
me feel normal for the first time in my life. I did not feel all the
hurt or pain that I carried for years. But what I did not know is that
this was now turned to anger and rage, and those wounds were only being
masked and hidden. I traveled all over Canada and partly in the U.S
searching for something I did not even know. Just searching, looking. I
found myself in a lot of trouble fast, because I wanted to belong or be
wanted. So I did those things I thought would cause others to accept
me, a lot of things.
At the age of 23 on the streets of Toronto, while contemplating
suicide, a voice spoke to me clearly and led me into a Salvation Army
Hostel to ask for help. This voice was not from within myself like all
the other’s I had heard, but this voice spoke to me from
outside of me from all around like water everywhere and trumpets. I
gave my heart to the Lord that hour. That was 18 years ago.
I am presently the director of the Outreach Ministry at our
church, where the main focus is the poor and the needy in our
community. I preach to the poor as well as feed them and clothe them on
a regular basis, with a dedicated team of volunteers from our church. I
have been doing this for 5 years. I am also studying for my credentials
in a degree program for Pastor with the Pentecostal
Assemblies’ criteria at I.C.I Global University/ Masters
Seminary and colleges. I am also working with the Christian radio
station here in Brantford. “Power 93.9 FM”.
“
When people meet Jesus through the Catholic Church, they enter a
fascinating global history.
Today’s
Pope is not content to brush the darkest period of
Catholicism’s
contemporary history under the rug. His work was part of discovering
that 4% of the Catholic clergy in North America had sexually abused
children in their care. Before even landing on this
continent’s soil,
he made it clear that he was on a mission to heal those hurts. What was
concluded from those efforts is his passion for a greater need for
personal holiness within the priesthood. As we heard today, there is
fresh movement underway to coach personal holiness amongst priests.
That's
good and needed news. But people who make a career out of the Christian
faith don't have a corner on wrong moral choices, evil behavior or
causing deep pain. That's something we're all capable of. It is only
through humbly acknowledging our great need of Jesus - every day - that
we can hope to lead the lives God intends for each one of us
If
you've ever felt hurt by religion - or by those who claim to be
religious, write us at listenup@listenuptv.com. We'll do our best to
help you begin the journey of healing.
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On April 30, 2005 Lorna was privileged to receive an honorary Doctorate of Christian Ministries from Canada's largest Christian university, Trinity Western University. Lorna was recognized for the witness and leadership that Listen Up TV has provided in public messaging: "a leader in the voice of evangelical life in Canada."
