A recent ABC Q&A Program brought attention to what was explained as a
church
in crisis plaguing significant sections of Australian Catholic
community and the country at large. This follows on not only from the
conviction of Cardinal Pell (case under
appeal, author respects court processes and rights of all involved to due
process), but also the aftermath of revelations of the Royal Commission
into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse.
I want to make
a few observations but I suggest first best you watch this compelling Q&A
for yourself. It raises pertinent
questions about faith. https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/2019-04-03/10838558.
The panel conversation touches on subjects of trauma victims and survivors
have been subject to. There are hints about mental health and some resorting to
self harm, overwhelmed by what had been inflicted upon them.
There are also crucial indications in the program about inadequate
institutional redress and patchy national compensation schemes for victims. How
after the Royal Commission has concluded Australia has not fully succeeded in setting
up a decent compensation framework and scheme that reduces re-traumatisation of
victims and survivors is a puzzle. There is some compensation framework to be
sure, but events this week brought the matter before public eyes that not all
is well with the patchwork of current schemes.
Most telling during the televised sentencing of the Cardinal this week
survivor groups outside the court were demanding fair compensation. Regardless
of the outcome of the upcoming appeal in the criminal case involving the
Cardinal, as a nation it seems more need to done in establishing a workable
compensation scheme.
How some of the complex compensation issues are tackled, I don’t know –
God help us! Some months back I heard on tele stories of churches needing to
sell some of their property including a cemetery and church buildings. The
irony is that some local communities (including non-Catholics and
non-Christian) at times use these facilities as part of community resources.
Of course there are also those abused in State and various secular
institutions, one hopes their redress and care needs are being attended, especially
following the completion of the Royal Commission work.
As for the faith community, the program summation about despair and trauma is palpable. This compelling ABC discussion motivated my putting pen to paper. People spoke about ‘loss of faith’, experiences of ‘sorrow’, ‘trauma’ and ‘despair’ upon learning about abuse, cover ups and protection of abusers for decades leading to multiple repeat offending that could have been avoided had steps been taken.
People of Faith
As for the faith community, the program summation about despair and trauma is palpable. This compelling ABC discussion motivated my putting pen to paper. People spoke about ‘loss of faith’, experiences of ‘sorrow’, ‘trauma’ and ‘despair’ upon learning about abuse, cover ups and protection of abusers for decades leading to multiple repeat offending that could have been avoided had steps been taken.
It was noted that substantial numbers are quitting church, no longer
attending or disconnected from church community. I have come across a few
Catholics over the last year in my everyday going about who testified to quitting
church and didn’t understand why anyone would still engage with it.
It’s almost impossible to comprehend the burden people have carried from
their trauma. Even for those of us non-Catholic, but believers in Christianity
and beyond, you can’t fail to be touched by what has happened.
For some of us church goers (albeit non-Catholic) it’s simply a question
of ‘there goes I but by grace of God’.
A non-believer lawyer who has represented over thousand victims remarked
on Q&A “don’t let your church be stolen from you”. Others made comments on the
lines of “a church is something bigger than individual or a group of clergy”.
I learnt that one of the difficulty besetting Catholics in crisis is the
notion of clericalism, and how this notion lead to reverence of Catholic
priests, even at the expense of Christian biblical word of God. This is an eye
opener. I googled up the concept of clericalism – it’s worth looking up for
yourself folk. It also turns out even the current Pope has warned about the
dangers of clericalism!! According to those in the know the concept of clericalism
is also seen in the secular sphere – go figure.
Here are some
links to what clericalism is about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clericalism
and here is what the Vatican has to say about it at least according to Google: https://aleteia.org/2018/08/23/what-is-clericalism/
If you watched you will see questions raised posed about where to from
here? Personally I believe on things spiritual only God knows. But we are also
God’s co-labourers. Yes? (See 1 Cor 3:9). And we know those who search for Him
will find Him.
I hope those searching will find God
in the New Covenant, Christ the High
Priest and redeemer instead of clericalism. We need to remember the
veil of the temple in Jerusalem was literally torn apart at the hour Jesus
freely sacrificed Himself on our behalf (See MT 27: 50-51).
What with the veil? The veil no
longer separates the Holy of Holies. Yes, spiritual talk now for fellow
folk on the journey. We can access the
Almighty directly through Jesus. I respect the Christian clergy and the anointing
God places on them (if anointed for the role), but we are also no longer in the Old Testament times when Aaron and His
descendants served as priests with the veil separating the Holy of Holies.
Jesus finished that. I don’t mean the Old Testament is not relevant. And I
don’t mean the church institutions are not relevant.
Pray that those who search for Him will find Him and not completely give
up. And may the foundation of our faith be built on the rock alone (See LK 6:48). Luckily we can all even access the bible
online and read for ourselves. While we are at it, pray the Holy Spirit guides
us in ways forward to discern institutional aspects that are man-made and those
build on the rock.
Folks, as man-made stuff fall away I hope you can cling to your Jesus.
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