Greetings from Fr. Dave

Seems like the Catholic Church cannot stay out of the news with more accounts of clergy sexual abuse. The following is an excerpt from the preface to Brandon Vogt’s book Why I Am Catholic, which presents some clear reasons why we should not give up and leave. I personally found it helpful and encouraging.

“The main answer is that I’m Catholic because of Jesus, not because of the leaders of the Church. It’s Jesus I’m drawn to, Jesus I’m committed to, and Jesus I trust. It’s true that Catholics are often drawn to the faith by charismatic leaders, warm parish communities, or impressive schools. There’s nothing wrong with those entry points, as long as we remember that our faith is not ultimately rooted in those things and isn’t compromised when they fail. As a Catholic, my faith is in Jesus Christ, not his followers. When sin and evil swirl through the Church, I keep my eyes fixed on that reliable center, that untainted source of the Church’s authority and
attraction: Jesus.
 
My second answer is that I know that the sexual abuse crisis is not indicative of the entire Church. The percentage of priests and bishops complicit in these crimes is relatively low. The vast majority of priests and bishops are good, holy men who are just as disgusted as the laity about this abuse. One reason there’s so much outrage over sexually abusive priests is because most people know, intuitively, that priests are supposed to be moral exemplars. I’m convinced most still are, and it’s a reason I remain close to them.
 
My third and final answer is that I remain Catholic because I want to be part of the solution. The Church is not just an institution but also a family, and when your family faces a crisis, you don’t flee — you stay and help. When we experience evil or terror, our natural reaction is to run. That’s understandable; we’re scared and scandalized. But for Catholics, the Church is our family and home; and when evil threatens your family or home, you don’t give up and run away. When a family member has cancer, you don’t just give up on them and leave. You move closer to them. You resolve to stay by their side and help battle the cancer. You give all you can offer. That’s what the Catholic Church needs now.
 
I want to be very clear: these sexual abuse cases are horrific. There’s no downplaying them or justifying them or explaining them away. They’re egregious and scandalizing. But Catholicism doesn’t fall when its members fail. I’m Catholic not because Church leaders are perfect, but because the Church channels to me the love and forgiveness of Jesus in unparalleled ways: his body and blood in the Eucharist, his forgiveness in Confession.   Life may seem easier outside the Church. But these divine treasures are only found within, and they carry Catholics through even the darkest of times.”

 
Congratulations and blessings to Cory Poland and Hannah Ramoran, who were baptized last week!
 
Funeral services for Shirley Fedr are scheduled for Saturday, March 2 ^nd, at 11:00am. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.