"SPIRITUAL MURDER"

(or, perhaps even worse, "spiritual suicide")

Last week, after an analysis of still another scandal — an open abettor of Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Mill who incidentally holds a key position at Catholic Charities — I asked:

“Where is God taking us in this latest challenge?”

After a week of praying, thinking, questioning, reading, and praying some more, I’m here to tell you: I don’t know. Some thoughts, though, for whatever they’re worth.

I’m grateful to Catholic Charities head Dr. Joseph Doolin for his acknowledgement of the mess the agency is in, and his promise that steps are being taken to correct it. Fine. It’ll be even finer when those steps — whatever they are — are successful. Meanwhile, we’re living in a time where a key player of Catholic Charities which is, however tenuously, a part of the Archdiocese of Boston, is actively abetting the murder of unborn children.

Oremus!

(A request for the pew folks: when we are called upon to pray for the victims of abuse during the Offertory Intercessions, please include in your hearts those victims who, while nestled in their mothers’ wombs, are escorted to their deaths by Catholic Charities Director of Counseling and his counterparts.)

Show me the money!

I don’t pretend to understand the intricacies involved in running a non-profit organization. (My own business doesn’t count...it might not show a profit, but that’s unintentional, sheesh.) But two phrases have become thematic in trying to understand why on earth any agency’s upper management could find itself hamstrung in dealing with employees: The Federal Government and The United Way.

Catholic Charities relies heavily on funding from both sources. Neither source is exactly known for embracing the pro-life cause. Planned Parenthood receives money from both, for example.*

*I dislike footnotes as a rule, but this is necessary. At least I’m not making you scroll ‘way down.

Anyway, Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts is not a United Way agency.

Planned Parenthoods in other states are, however. Back to the column, and my apologies for the interruption.

I don’t know that United Way has any say in its agencies hiring practices, but I know the Federal Government sure does! Heck, the Federal Government can, and does, get involved with companies who give it money in taxes.

A simple — or, I guess the word would be "simplistic" — solution would be to tell the Federal Government to take a hike. Easy for the Lady in the Pew to say. Easy for the many well-meaning, hard-working, pro-life adherents to say.

But would the Lady in the Pew and those who think like she does be willing (or able, let’s be fair) to make up the lost revenue out of our own pockets? Hmmm...that sound you don’t hear is called "deafening silence." So what’s the answer? Again, I don’t know exactly. I do know that prayer is essential.

"And that’s why I don’t go to church anymore!"

Are you like me? Are you hearing the above statement more and more lately? And aren’t the "whys" amazing in their diversity? In the last week alone, I’ve heard or read the following:

"I don’t go to church anymore because__________"

The blank contains, but is not limited to, the following:

"I know some guy who was abused by a priest."

"I was abused by a priest."

"Sister Mary Whosis scared me when I was a kid."

"Priests should be allowed to get married."

"There are too many gay priests."

"The Church is anti-gay."

"The Church is anti-choice."

"The Church is not pro-life enough."

"Women should be ordained."

"The parish counsel sucks."

"The parish counsel never had any power."

"Father was always asking for money."

"The Church doesn’t spend enough money helping people."

"The Church spends too much money."

"Annulments are too expensive."

"There are too many annulments."

If you’ve entered the Cathedral on the Washington Street side on Sundays during the past few weeks, you’ve heard most of the above and more. And here’s a head’s up: it’ll probably get worse during Holy Week. It’s not fun for parishioners.

But it’s absolutely tragic for these people! They’re missing the Sacraments, especially the life-giving Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.

The issue with Catholic Charities has given me, if not complete empathy with, then certainly far more compassion for, the people who are screaming at us. When the realization that an abortion facilitator was employed by a Catholic organization finally hit me, I’ve gotta admit it: I experienced a feeling of betrayal. "Betrayal." Their word. Their word became my word. For different reasons, I am nevertheless able to, on some scale, relate to them.

“Hey, Kelly. Has it occurred to you that maybe this is where God is taking you?”

Good point. In the days when I was trying very hard to get answers about Catholic Charities, it seemed that nobody was listening, nobody was interested in my distress. One day I was so numbed that I spent most of it in mutely before the Blessed Sacrament, too weary to formulate any intelligible prayer.

Thankfully, God understands the unintelligible. And now what I hear Him telling me is this:

"Do not abandon your brothers and sisters."

How can I avoid abandoning my brother and sisters in Christ? Prayer, of course, heads the list. But equally vital is for me to avoid scandal! Scandalous behavior is not limited to priests or Archdiocesan employees. It is fully in my power to commit scandal. Everyone I know understands my love for and devotion to the Church. Therefore, any sinful act on my part — from swearing to rudeness to unchaste behavior — reflects badly not only on me but on the Church Herself! In other words, if I sin, then I risk destroying another’s faith. My sins hurt the entire Body of Christ. (I realize this revelation isn’t exactly news, Saint Paul having preached it to the Corinthians a long time ago...still, it abounds with life as does the entire Word of God.)

Over 400 years ago, a bishop found himself surrounded by scandal, both within his Church and from heretics without. Here’s what he preached:

"Those who commit these types of scandals are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder by destroying other people's faith in God by their terrible example."

A message aimed directly at me. Saint Frances de Sales continues:

"But I'm here among you to prevent something far worse for you. While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy their faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."

Prayer:

"+ Father, guide me away from the temptation to give scandal. Forgive me if any action of mine has destroyed, or even bruised, the faith of any brother or sister. I do believe; help me in my moments of unbelief. Never allow me to destroy my own faith, which is Your gift to me. Through Jesus Christ. Amen. +"