The Bishop Writes

(From the May 2, 2002 edition of the Inland Register)

As I write this, I am on the way to Rome this morning for the meeting called by the Vatican with the members of the Curia, the Cardinals from the U.S., Bishop Wilton Gregory (the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), and myself, the vice-president. I was home only four days before I returned to Rome.

The paper I read this morning had four articles about the present situation of the Catholic Church and the sexual abuse problem. The requests for interviews and comments have been something I have never encountered before. The issue continues to be a focus of our national media, and I see no letup in the immediate future.

What are we to make of all of this? Almost everyone I encounter these days, including the stranger seated next to me in the plane, seems to have a comment. I offer these thoughts as a reflection for the moment.

Clearly this is a watershed moment for the Roman Catholic Church. These past events which we have come to know so well demand honesty, integrity, humility, a request of forgiveness, and a bold approach to the future which ensures, as far as it is possible, the safety of our children. So much of our ministry in the Church focuses on children, and we must protect them and help them grow in a nurturing and safe environment in every way. The request of the Vatican for a meeting of the Cardinals clearly demonstrates that the Holy Father and the heads of the dicasteries have a sense of urgency as we address this problem and as we look to the future.

As you read this, I'm sure you will have already seen the media reports about the meeting at the Vatican. I suspect the conversation at the meeting in Rome will frame the discussion and goals for the United States bishops' meeting in Dallas in mid-June. I would also hope the tragic events here in the U.S. will assist the Church in evaluating our procedures on several levels that deal with sexual abuse.

As we scrutinize the decisions made by bishops, and as we examine how ministers in the church failed to live up to their sacred trust as priests and bishops, we experience pain and shock. Yet, in retrospect, I hope we might see these moments as truly an opportunity to be far more faithful to our mission, to be more effective witnesses and examples of the Gospel and the message that we preach. As we look to the future, we must concentrate on qualities of personal leadership, holiness of life, and personal integrity. Collaboration — laity, clergy and bishops working together, as called for by the Second Vatican Council — can be enhanced to a new level of implementation. We must evaluate how we teach and what we teach. We must evaluate the seriousness and depth of our commitment as a community of faith. Yes, we are a Church of the magisterium, but always we must search out how we can do Church better and more faithfully. I was struck by an article in the paper this morning as the columnist evaluated the Church leaders according to some of the Ten Commandments. He wasn't very complimentary. Good pastoral leadership is critical as we look to future leadership.

There has always been brokenness in pastoral leadership in the Church. Witness the very beginning: Judas and Peter who, in different ways, failed in fidelity to the Lord. St. Paul had his own history of violence before his conversion, and even as he embarked on his missionary journeys, his strained relationships with members of the community of faith were well known. Church history is not all rosy. Far from it. We need to keep the moment in perspective. We have never been a Church of perfection; in fact, we preach and celebrate our faith with our sinfulness and failures. We begin every Eucharist with the penitential rite. Yet, the constant call to the ideal, and to the images Jesus uses — of being a salt of the earth and a light to the world — are foundational in making the Christian life credible, inspirational, and genuine. We must now set a future course that is wise, pastoral, creative, and faithful.

Already some plans in certain parts of the country are beginning to take shape. Just yesterday a bishop in the Midwest told me that the dioceses in his area are working on a joint policy that will address the issue of formation, accountability and responsibility. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is considering offering not only psychological assistance to victims of abuse but spiritual support as well, in the form of support and sharing groups. They are also planning a formational program for all of the young people of the archdiocese to help them be aware of the danger signals of possible sexual abuse and of possible addiction to internet pornography. The whole area of sexuality reminds us of this powerful and beautiful gift. But the gift can also be terribly abused and misused, with often tragic and traumatic results.

In the Diocese of Spokane, for some years now, we have had an annual orientation workshop for new employees on boundary and harassment issues. Each newly ordained priest receives a personal orientation session which in part deals with boundary issues in ministry and sexual integration. Periodically, the diocese hosts a mandatory workshop for all diocesan employees. A workshop of this type is scheduled for October 2002. All of the priests of the diocese are encouraged to come to the afternoon session of the presbyteral council meeting in May, at which our sexual abuse committee will also be present as we process this moment. The sexual abuse issue will be the main thematic topic of our Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting in early June.

Both of these meetings will be very important for me personally in preparation for the June meeting of bishops. Perhaps we will need to establish a special "blue ribbon" committee to review our policies and procedures in the diocese.

In any case, we need to be proactive as we move into the future. It is my hope that we will be a stronger Church which draws from our tradition and our experience to do and be better than we have in the past. This moment in our history is full of opportunity. We dare not waste it.

May God bless you and give you peace.

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