Here is the reflection I shared with those who came to pray with us today: some thoughts motivated by the meeting for the Protection of Minors in the Church.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you (Lk 6:27-28). The gospel passage that we have just heard describes a defining moment in the ministry of Jesus and in the lives of his disciples. There were a few such moments during the time that the disciples shared with Jesus when he described a way of life that was – and still is – very different from the life that his followers had been used to living until then. Ever since that moment, those who have followed in his footsteps have been trying to put those words into practice ... including us.
This week, there is a special Meeting taking place in Rome, one that has drawn the attention of many in our country and indeed around the world. At the very beginning of their meeting, Pope Francis set the tone: In the light of the scourge of sexual abuse perpetrated by ecclesiastics to the great harm of minors, I wanted to consult with you, Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Religious Superiors and Leaders, so that together we might listen to the Holy Spirit and, in docility to his guidance, hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice (Pope Francis, Introductory Remarks, 21 February 2019).
In various parts of the world, Bishops and other Leaders in the Church have been listening to the cries of the little ones – children, teenagers and adults – who have been crying out for justice, but unfortunately, too many of these voices have been ignored. Not any more! This is a defining moment in the history of the Church. For far too long, we have not wanted to stand face to face with the truth that innocent people have suffered unspeakable harm and the result is that the reputation of the Church and of her members has suffered and continues to suffer. Many of those who once placed great trust in us have turned away because when they needed us, we too turned our backs. Not any more!
From a human point of view, it does not seem natural for us to want to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us or to pray for those who abuse us, but these are precisely the attitudes that have defined Jesus’ disciples throughout the centuries. He never wanted us to be like everyone else. He wanted us to set an example so that others would see a different way.
On Wednesday of this week, prior to the beginning of the Meeting in Rome, the members of the Organizing committee met with 12 people who have suffered abuse – men and women from different parts of the world, who wanted to share their stories. In addition, each of the participants who is present for these Meetings has brought stories of others who have also suffered.
Skeptics would have us believe that nothing will come of the meetings that are taking place in Rome this week, but the gospel by which we live challenges us to show the world that this is indeed a defining moment in the life of the Church. The holy people of God are watching, and we must all pray that this Meeting in Rome will result not in simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken.
A defining moment
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you (Lk 6:27-28). The gospel passage that we have just heard describes a defining moment in the ministry of Jesus and in the lives of his disciples. There were a few such moments during the time that the disciples shared with Jesus when he described a way of life that was – and still is – very different from the life that his followers had been used to living until then. Ever since that moment, those who have followed in his footsteps have been trying to put those words into practice ... including us.
This week, there is a special Meeting taking place in Rome, one that has drawn the attention of many in our country and indeed around the world. At the very beginning of their meeting, Pope Francis set the tone: In the light of the scourge of sexual abuse perpetrated by ecclesiastics to the great harm of minors, I wanted to consult with you, Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Religious Superiors and Leaders, so that together we might listen to the Holy Spirit and, in docility to his guidance, hear the cry of the little ones who plead for justice (Pope Francis, Introductory Remarks, 21 February 2019).
In various parts of the world, Bishops and other Leaders in the Church have been listening to the cries of the little ones – children, teenagers and adults – who have been crying out for justice, but unfortunately, too many of these voices have been ignored. Not any more! This is a defining moment in the history of the Church. For far too long, we have not wanted to stand face to face with the truth that innocent people have suffered unspeakable harm and the result is that the reputation of the Church and of her members has suffered and continues to suffer. Many of those who once placed great trust in us have turned away because when they needed us, we too turned our backs. Not any more!
From a human point of view, it does not seem natural for us to want to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us or to pray for those who abuse us, but these are precisely the attitudes that have defined Jesus’ disciples throughout the centuries. He never wanted us to be like everyone else. He wanted us to set an example so that others would see a different way.
On Wednesday of this week, prior to the beginning of the Meeting in Rome, the members of the Organizing committee met with 12 people who have suffered abuse – men and women from different parts of the world, who wanted to share their stories. In addition, each of the participants who is present for these Meetings has brought stories of others who have also suffered.
Skeptics would have us believe that nothing will come of the meetings that are taking place in Rome this week, but the gospel by which we live challenges us to show the world that this is indeed a defining moment in the life of the Church. The holy people of God are watching, and we must all pray that this Meeting in Rome will result not in simple and predictable condemnations, but concrete and effective measures to be undertaken.
Un moment déterminant
Aimez vos ennemis, faites du bien à ceux qui vous haïssent, souhaitez du bien à ceux qui vous maudissent, priez pour ceux qui vous calomnient (Lc 6, 27-28). Le passage de l'évangile que nous venons d'entendre décrit un moment décisif dans le ministère de Jésus et dans la vie de ses disciples. Il y a eu quelques moments de ce genre pendant le temps que les disciples ont partagé avec Jésus lorsqu’il a décrit un mode de vie qui était - et qui est toujours - très différent de la vie que ses disciples avaient l'habitude de vivre jusque-là. Depuis ce moment, ceux qui ont suivi ses traces ont essayé de mettre ces paroles en pratique ... y compris nous.
Cette semaine, une réunion spéciale se tient à Rome, une réunion qui a attiré l’attention de plusieurs personnes de notre pays et même du monde entier. Au tout début de la rencontre, le pape François a donné le ton: Face au fléau des abus sexuels perpétrés par des hommes d’Église contre des mineurs, j’ai pensé vous consulter vous, Patriarches, Cardinaux, Archevêques, Évêques, Supérieurs religieux et Responsables, afin que tous ensemble nous nous mettions à l’écoute de l’Esprit Saint, et que dociles sous sa conduite nous écoutions le cri des petits qui demandent justice (Pape François, Introduction, 21 février 2019).
Dans diverses parties du monde, les évêques et les autres dirigeants de l'Église ont écouté les cris des tout-petits – des enfants, des adolescents et des adultes - qui réclamaient justice, mais malheureusement, trop de ces voix ont été ignorées. . Plus maintenant! C'est un moment décisif dans l'histoire de l'Église. Pendant trop longtemps, nous n'avons pas voulu nous confronter à la vérité selon laquelle des personnes innocentes ont subi un préjudice indescriptible et il en résulte que la réputation de l'Église et de ses membres a souffert et elle continue de souffrir. Beaucoup de ceux qui nous faisaient une grande confiance se sont détournés de nous parce qu’ils avaient besoin de nous et nous avons tourné le dos. Plus maintenant!
Du point de vue humain, il ne nous semble pas naturel de vouloir aimer nos ennemis, de faire du bien à ceux qui nous haïssent, de souhaitez le bien à ceux qui nous maudissent ou de prier pour ceux qui nous calomnient, mais ce sont des attitudes qui ont défini les disciples de Jésus au cours des siècles. Notre Seigneur n'a jamais voulu que nous soyons comme tout le monde. Il voulait que nous donnions l'exemple afin que les autres voient les choses différemment.
Le mercredi de cette semaine, avant le début de la réunion à Rome, les membres du comité d'organisation ont rencontré 12 personnes (des hommes et des femmes des quatre coins du monde) victimes de maltraitance, qui souhaitaient partager leurs histoires. De plus, chacun des participants présents à ces réunions a apporté d’autres histoires de personnes qui ont souffert.
Les sceptiques voudraient nous faire croire que rien ne viendra des réunions qui se tiennent à Rome cette semaine, mais l'évangile selon lequel nous vivons nous met au défi de montrer au monde que c'est vraiment un moment déterminant de la vie de l'Église. Le saint Peuple de Dieu nous regarde et nous devons tous prier pour que cette réunion à Rome ne débuche pas sur des simples et faciles condamnations, mais des mesures concrètes et efficaces à préconiser.
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