Bishop Robert Morlino's written an outstanding letter to the faithful concerning the recent and ongoing scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. A scandal which he identifies as stemming from a "homosexual subculture within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church."
Here's an excerpt:
It is time to admit that there is a homosexual subculture within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that is wreaking great devastation in the vineyard of the Lord. The Church’s teaching is clear that the homosexual inclination is not in itself sinful, but it is intrinsically disordered in a way that renders any man stably afflicted by it unfit to be a priest. And the decision to act upon this disordered inclination is a sin so grave that it cries out to heaven for vengeance, especially when it involves preying upon the young or the vulnerable. Such wickedness should be hated with a perfect hatred. Christian charity itself demands that we should hate wickedness just as we love goodness. But while hating the sin, we must never hate the sinner, who is called to conversion, penance, and renewed communion with Christ and His Church, through His inexhaustible mercy.
At the same time, however, the love and mercy which we are called to have even for the worst of sinners does not exclude holding them accountable for their actions through a punishment proportionate to the gravity of their offense. In fact, a just punishment is an important work of love and mercy, because, while it serves primarily as retribution for the offense committed, it also offers the guilty party an opportunity to make expiation for his sin in this life (if he willingly accepts his punishment), thus sparing him worse punishment in the life to come. Motivated, therefore, by love and concern for souls, I stand with those calling for justice to be done upon the guilty.
The sins and crimes of McCarrick, and of far too many others in the Church, bring suspicion and mistrust upon many good and virtuous priests, bishops, and cardinals, and suspicion and mistrust upon many great and respectable seminaries and so many holy and faithful seminarians. The result of the first instance of mistrust harms the Church and the very good work we do in Christ’s name. It causes others to sin in their thoughts, words, and deeds — which is the very definition of scandal. And the second mistrust harms the future of the Church, since our future priests are at stake.
You can and should read the whole thing here.
While you're at it, applaud bishop Morlino for standing up for the truth as opposed to compromising with the culture unlike, say, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Welby, you may remember, was unable to classify homosexual behavior as a sin.
And, as you read the grand jury's report, which isn't easy, ask yourself if this isn't a primarily a homosexual sin. Hint, almost all of the 1000+ victims were teenage boys.
If you're still in doubt, attend the nearest Pride parade and wonder if the behavior on display isn't intrinsically disordered.
Forward in Christ urges your prayers for the victims of sexual abuse and for an end to this scourge within the Body of Christ.
Fr. Michael Heidt is a priest in the Diocese of Fort Worth and Editor of Forward in Christ.
