At a meeting yesterday one of the pastors attending commented that most parish schools are in financial trouble and that the Catholic school system as we know it and are used to it no longer works.  The parish schools are now unsustainable.  I felt a surge of excitement.  Here was someone, a priest, confronted with the reality of the situation of parish school sustainability, and not only accepting that reality but acknowledging that what worked in the past isn’t working now because of a shift in what parish schools are at least in our diocese.

His clarity was refreshing and sparked hope in me that there are others in the clergy who recognize reality.  If that is the case then they may also recognize that a new ministry needs to be birthed in the Church.  That ministry would not only help those people who have been abused by clergy and laity working for the Church and have come forward for help.  It would also be a tool utilized for all other people who have suffered abuse in their lives.  The Church should be a leader in the world in this ministry.  A separate ministry should be formed and financed by the Church to minister to the members of the Body of Christ who have left, hate God, hate the Church and refuse to come forward,  (except for their participation in punitive law suits),  The disservice done to those individuals needs to be rectified. 

The Church can do so much, (and should do all it can) for ALL victims of abuse not just abuse by clergy.