The continuing mess that is the Archdiocese of Philadelphia clergy sexual abuse issue seems to continue to brew like some potent poison tea.  This poison is being served up to all of us who are faithful. 

For God’s sake and the sake of all that is true and good fall on your sword.  That is the message I would give to Justin Cardinal Rigali.  Admit all that has been done in the name of the Church that has nothing to do with God, truth, love or goodness and beg those that have been abused by priests & the rest of the faithful that have been abused also by the lies/cover-up, for forgiveness.  If the hierarchy had any clue at all about the effect the current scandal has had on Catholicism they would fear for their immortal souls.  Bishops your lies of omission and commission have nothing to do with the Church’s true beliefs.  Collectively you should all hang your heads in shame and crawl on hands and knees to the dwellings of the faithful and BEG forgiveness.  But your pride, (a sin), will keep you from doing that.  And because assets seem to mean more to you, (the collective you), than healing this terrible rupture that you caused in the Church the rupture will continue…and get worse.  That too is soul murdering to the faithful of God!

On a Grief to Grace retreat, www.grieftograce.org while working as a team member I encountered a man who had been abused by a priest in Ireland.  Since I was on this retreat in my priestly capacity I was in clerical clothing.  This was a trigger for him and during one exercise he stood in front of me toe to toe and said he wanted to, “bash your head in.”  He did not know that I too had been sexually abused by a priest.  Since my presence was a constant trigger for him I was asked by the moderator to share my story.  I did.  Even though I have shared my story numerous times with others I shared it again on this retreat and I cried.  I had not done that for a very long time when sharing my story and was caught totally by surprise.  But because of it I was no longer a trigger for him I was an ally.   All members of the Catholic Church and Catholic Clergy & hierarchy need to become allies for victims.   Why is that so hard for bishops?  It is the right thing to do.