OK, what has to be done by a priest or parish worker before the diocese steps in to correct/resolve the problem? The infraction de jure is molestation and that seems to be only in the last 20 years, at least on a whole scale level. But what about a priest who is attempting to destroy someones reputation? How about a priest who refuses to believe the truth or even refuses to investigate an issue to find the truth? Or even worse knows the truth but refuses to do anything about it even when it is causing spiritual harm to a third party? How about someone working in a parish who oozes toxicity and it spreads to others?

I do not get it. Why are so many people afraid of the truth…especially when God, who is truth, will forgive our transgressions if we ask? But still some people either choose evil or believe God will not or can not forgive them. There are some who don’t care. God is not us, (thank heaven), so is able to forgive us. It has taken me a long time to get to this…but if a molester, even a priest molester, is sorry for the harm caused to a person by molestation then God will forgive them. Who are we not to forgive? Who am I not to forgive? Since God forgives those things the mandate is for us to forgive too. I know, easier sad than done, but what choice do we have? Of course that doesn’t mean that there are no consequences in this life or the next. Forgiveness from God does not mean we are scot-free, but it does mean we are headed in the correct direction. The direction toward God.

Today I’m feeling magnanimous, tomorrow…who knows. Then. like everyone else, I will have to work it out again. We all need to stick with God. He is the only truth. Sometimes it is hard, but we all need to cling to the truth.