Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Wouldn't it be nice?
This past Saturday was the second anniversary of the dedication of the shrine church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe located just south of La Crosse. As I sat looking around at the great beauty of this church I couldn’t help but think about all of the grace that has flowed out from that place. So many have been comforted in tragedy, renewed and invigorated in faith, given hope in adversity. There have even been miracles reported.
So this got me thinking about how hard some people fought to keep this shrine from being errected and how many more have been bad mouthing it over the years. This brings me to my central question for reflection: Why is it that we, as a culture, waste so much time and effort tearing down or bad-mouthing others? We don’t just voice disagreement with the ideas, efforts or decisions of others. More and more we get intensely personal about it. We assign bad intentions to their efforts and decisions.
We seem to trade in bad news in a way that sometimes makes me feel like we are wallowing in used motor oil. More than once I’ve had people tell me that if I want to know what people are saying I should just ask them since they hear all the gossip.
I don’t want to know! I’m not burying my head in the sand. I know the gossip is out there but I refuse to get drawn into the game. As my dad always used to say, “You can’t fly with the eagles when you are trudging about with the turkeys”. Besides, if the people who are talking really loved me, cared about being good Christians, or wanted their community to be its best they would talk to me directly.
But what REALLY makes me shake my head is people who feel the need to comment on things that don’t even affect them. For instance, if you don’t like some privately funded project then why get so worked up about it? Don’t contribute if you don’t like or agree with it! Don’t join if you disagree with how that particular group sees the world or operates!
I would love to live in a community where people accentuate the positive. If you don’t like it, leave it alone. This assumes, of course, that it is an issue which is morally neutral and doesn’t affect the community at large.
Wouldn’t it be fun to live in a community where people refrained from commenting on that about which they know nothing or have information that is incomplete? Wouldn’t it be great if we spent more time “gossiping” about the good things in our community? And when the negative does come up we would discuss it with an eye towards what we can do to make things better for those involved? Wouldn’t it be totally cool if we could be as interested in, and kind to the person with whom we disagree as we are to the person with whom we agree completely?
Join the revolution! Speak the truth in love. Do the good. Think the best of those you meet. Build positive relationships by getting to know those around you personally. Know and care as much about what is going on on the other side of town as you do about what is going on on the other side of the world. In other words: Love your neighbor, and walk humbly with God. Just a thought!
So this got me thinking about how hard some people fought to keep this shrine from being errected and how many more have been bad mouthing it over the years. This brings me to my central question for reflection: Why is it that we, as a culture, waste so much time and effort tearing down or bad-mouthing others? We don’t just voice disagreement with the ideas, efforts or decisions of others. More and more we get intensely personal about it. We assign bad intentions to their efforts and decisions.
We seem to trade in bad news in a way that sometimes makes me feel like we are wallowing in used motor oil. More than once I’ve had people tell me that if I want to know what people are saying I should just ask them since they hear all the gossip.
I don’t want to know! I’m not burying my head in the sand. I know the gossip is out there but I refuse to get drawn into the game. As my dad always used to say, “You can’t fly with the eagles when you are trudging about with the turkeys”. Besides, if the people who are talking really loved me, cared about being good Christians, or wanted their community to be its best they would talk to me directly.
But what REALLY makes me shake my head is people who feel the need to comment on things that don’t even affect them. For instance, if you don’t like some privately funded project then why get so worked up about it? Don’t contribute if you don’t like or agree with it! Don’t join if you disagree with how that particular group sees the world or operates!
I would love to live in a community where people accentuate the positive. If you don’t like it, leave it alone. This assumes, of course, that it is an issue which is morally neutral and doesn’t affect the community at large.
Wouldn’t it be fun to live in a community where people refrained from commenting on that about which they know nothing or have information that is incomplete? Wouldn’t it be great if we spent more time “gossiping” about the good things in our community? And when the negative does come up we would discuss it with an eye towards what we can do to make things better for those involved? Wouldn’t it be totally cool if we could be as interested in, and kind to the person with whom we disagree as we are to the person with whom we agree completely?
Join the revolution! Speak the truth in love. Do the good. Think the best of those you meet. Build positive relationships by getting to know those around you personally. Know and care as much about what is going on on the other side of town as you do about what is going on on the other side of the world. In other words: Love your neighbor, and walk humbly with God. Just a thought!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Basic Discipline of Prayer
Ever wondered how to build a really basic, but solid, prayer regimen? Check out this week's bulletin article. As always, comments are welcome.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Drama Continues...
Sadly, Sunday brings us another story in the La Crosse Tribune on the sad case of Fr. Patrick Umberger. It was a not a complete loss however. At least they did a good job of making the case, whether it was their intention or not, that the survival of a parish and the Church as a whole is not dependant on the virtues or even continued service of any one priest or other pastoral minister. My compliments to the people of St. Patrick's who understand this and gave witness to the true foundations of our faith. I especially want to thank Kim Seidel for her excellent editorial regarding how she talked to her two daughters about this. What a great example!
What I object to is the way the Tribune leaves us with the impression that the Diocese of La Crosse could have or should have done more at the time of the incident at the water park. One person talked about how we should know who knew what and when. While that might satisfy the purile curiosity of some people, what is the can of worms that would be opened morally, legally, and practically? Does a parish need to know that their pastor, or any employee, has been accused of something, especially when the police do not feel there is enough to file charges or make an arrest? What will this do to their trust in that person if it comes out later that the charge was without merit or even false? That is the real reason that the Church's policies in this regard insist upon secrecy.
I have had some experience already in my few years of two lay-teachers having their careers ruined because kids new that if they said the "magic word" that teacher's career would be over. And I KNOW for a fact that in both cases the tween or teen girls complaints were without merit. In one case the girls in question were chuckling about it a few years later - but, too late for the teacher whose life was ruined. Thankfully he just lost his job (and career) and not his freedom!
In any case, I have spoken with lawyers who, like us, only know the information that has been printed in the Tribune stories. They have all said that the diocese did what they could have done and what they should have done given the information available at the time. They also agreed that the Church is doing more than what other entities are doing. One does wonder, however, if the diocese is communicating as effectively or aggressively as it could be under the circumstances.
Actually, this problem was illustrated well in a recent CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) poll. In this poll it was revealed that only 34% of Catholics even know that there is a safe environment program in the Church, and only 17% of those polled know what the Church does when there is an allegation of sexual misconduct. If that is the case then it is obvious that we need to do a lot more educating regarding the Church's "Safe Environment Program".
I do wonder why the Tribune even bothers to quote Mr. Isely (of SNAP) anymore. He obviously knows more about what he wishes diocesan review boards would be doing as opposed to what they are supposed to be doing. But then, that shouldn't surprise since he is also more aware of what he wishes the Church was as opposed to what She, in fact, is.
Let us continue to pray for all involved in this sad situation. May the ever-virgin Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, continue to hold us in her loving arms.
Comments? Let me know what you think, especially regarding what else the Church could be doing to reassure people with regards to the safety of their children.
What I object to is the way the Tribune leaves us with the impression that the Diocese of La Crosse could have or should have done more at the time of the incident at the water park. One person talked about how we should know who knew what and when. While that might satisfy the purile curiosity of some people, what is the can of worms that would be opened morally, legally, and practically? Does a parish need to know that their pastor, or any employee, has been accused of something, especially when the police do not feel there is enough to file charges or make an arrest? What will this do to their trust in that person if it comes out later that the charge was without merit or even false? That is the real reason that the Church's policies in this regard insist upon secrecy.
I have had some experience already in my few years of two lay-teachers having their careers ruined because kids new that if they said the "magic word" that teacher's career would be over. And I KNOW for a fact that in both cases the tween or teen girls complaints were without merit. In one case the girls in question were chuckling about it a few years later - but, too late for the teacher whose life was ruined. Thankfully he just lost his job (and career) and not his freedom!
In any case, I have spoken with lawyers who, like us, only know the information that has been printed in the Tribune stories. They have all said that the diocese did what they could have done and what they should have done given the information available at the time. They also agreed that the Church is doing more than what other entities are doing. One does wonder, however, if the diocese is communicating as effectively or aggressively as it could be under the circumstances.
Actually, this problem was illustrated well in a recent CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) poll. In this poll it was revealed that only 34% of Catholics even know that there is a safe environment program in the Church, and only 17% of those polled know what the Church does when there is an allegation of sexual misconduct. If that is the case then it is obvious that we need to do a lot more educating regarding the Church's "Safe Environment Program".
I do wonder why the Tribune even bothers to quote Mr. Isely (of SNAP) anymore. He obviously knows more about what he wishes diocesan review boards would be doing as opposed to what they are supposed to be doing. But then, that shouldn't surprise since he is also more aware of what he wishes the Church was as opposed to what She, in fact, is.
Let us continue to pray for all involved in this sad situation. May the ever-virgin Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, continue to hold us in her loving arms.
Comments? Let me know what you think, especially regarding what else the Church could be doing to reassure people with regards to the safety of their children.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Vacation Time as Sacred Time
Last week's bulletin letter (I write one each week in our Sunday bulletin) was on the nature of the well spent vacation. It is my own reflection based on years of reading about JPII and B16's vacationing and the message they send regarding the taking of vacations. Whether you are preparing for vacation or have already taken yours, I hope this is a helpful reminder regarding the art of Christian vacationing. Enjoy!(?)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Reflections on a recent scandal
Well, I’ve been thinking and praying about this all weekend. The news regarding Fr. Patrick Umberger hit me like a ton of bricks this past Wednesday. My first reaction was: "Oh, no! Not this. Not now." My heart sank. A wave of shame washed over me. And then I prayed for my brother priest and the people who would be scandalized by this. My next thought was, "at least no one was actually abused here." Then, I reread the article and my thoughts went to the children who were exploited by those taking the pictures.
I have been surprised by my lack of anger regarding this situation. There is a terrible inevitability about this. We live in a sick and broken society. So it should not surprise us that even a man who has faithfully served God’s Church for 30 years is subject to temptation and may even succumb to it. Remember, Judas was with Jesus himself for three years and he succumbed to the temptations of Satan and went on to betray our Lord. Peter denied Him and all of the other apostles abandoned Him. Some of us betray Him big, others of us betray Him in smaller ways, but we all betray Him who loved us and stand in need of mercy and forgiveness from Him and from one another. I think I’ll be going to confession Monday.
Fr. Pat immediately preceded me at Holy Family Parish. I have to admit, I didn’t relish coming home from my five days of vacation and facing my parishioners. My first Mass on Saturday night was a trial. However, I inserted a special petition for those priests who have failed in some way and those hurt or scandalized by them. We got through the weekend ok, but with no one broaching the subject I am now wondering how best to address the issue, or even if I should. What would you want your pastor to do?
I have been greatly heartened by some of what I have seen on facebook and on the blog of a friend of mine. One young lady on facebook very rightly pointed out that this isn’t the time for finger pointing but the time for prayer for those men who have been sickened by this attraction to young teen boys. My friend, over at "Credo Catholic", wrote a beautiful, three paragraph posting on the appropriate response to scandal. There was also a very good, heartfelt editorial in the La Crosse Tribune which also gave me much hope.
It was inevitable that SNAP would have their say. Too bad they used this situation to try scoring rhetorical points which did nothing to advance understanding and healing, or to address the real situation. But then, that is what we’ve come to expect from them. You can’t destroy a man based on unsubstantiated fears, suspicions, or allegations. You can however test those suspicions which is exactly what the Onalaska Police Department and the Wisconsin Child Pornography Task-Force did. We should all be grateful for the difficult task they perform. Because of their work Fr. Pat and many like him are able to get the help they obviously need.
Msgr Gilles, our diocesan administrator, conveyed bishop-designate William Callahan’s sentiment that "During difficult times like this we are all brought to our knees". Bishop Callahan went on to state that "as we approach Jesus in Holy Communion today we can pray for God’s healing for one another, for Fr. Umberger and for all of us in the Diocese".
Msgr Gilles went on to announce that the diocesan curia would be celebrating Mass for healing and strength for Fr. Pat, the parishioners of St. Patricks - Onalaska, and the priests of the diocese. I would ask that all of us offer at least one Mass or communion for this same intention. And please, continue to pray for us, your priests. We have been given the grace of ordination, but we are still men subject to temptation and sin. We truly do need your prayers, especially in times like these.
I have been surprised by my lack of anger regarding this situation. There is a terrible inevitability about this. We live in a sick and broken society. So it should not surprise us that even a man who has faithfully served God’s Church for 30 years is subject to temptation and may even succumb to it. Remember, Judas was with Jesus himself for three years and he succumbed to the temptations of Satan and went on to betray our Lord. Peter denied Him and all of the other apostles abandoned Him. Some of us betray Him big, others of us betray Him in smaller ways, but we all betray Him who loved us and stand in need of mercy and forgiveness from Him and from one another. I think I’ll be going to confession Monday.
Fr. Pat immediately preceded me at Holy Family Parish. I have to admit, I didn’t relish coming home from my five days of vacation and facing my parishioners. My first Mass on Saturday night was a trial. However, I inserted a special petition for those priests who have failed in some way and those hurt or scandalized by them. We got through the weekend ok, but with no one broaching the subject I am now wondering how best to address the issue, or even if I should. What would you want your pastor to do?
I have been greatly heartened by some of what I have seen on facebook and on the blog of a friend of mine. One young lady on facebook very rightly pointed out that this isn’t the time for finger pointing but the time for prayer for those men who have been sickened by this attraction to young teen boys. My friend, over at "Credo Catholic", wrote a beautiful, three paragraph posting on the appropriate response to scandal. There was also a very good, heartfelt editorial in the La Crosse Tribune which also gave me much hope.
It was inevitable that SNAP would have their say. Too bad they used this situation to try scoring rhetorical points which did nothing to advance understanding and healing, or to address the real situation. But then, that is what we’ve come to expect from them. You can’t destroy a man based on unsubstantiated fears, suspicions, or allegations. You can however test those suspicions which is exactly what the Onalaska Police Department and the Wisconsin Child Pornography Task-Force did. We should all be grateful for the difficult task they perform. Because of their work Fr. Pat and many like him are able to get the help they obviously need.
Msgr Gilles, our diocesan administrator, conveyed bishop-designate William Callahan’s sentiment that "During difficult times like this we are all brought to our knees". Bishop Callahan went on to state that "as we approach Jesus in Holy Communion today we can pray for God’s healing for one another, for Fr. Umberger and for all of us in the Diocese".
Msgr Gilles went on to announce that the diocesan curia would be celebrating Mass for healing and strength for Fr. Pat, the parishioners of St. Patricks - Onalaska, and the priests of the diocese. I would ask that all of us offer at least one Mass or communion for this same intention. And please, continue to pray for us, your priests. We have been given the grace of ordination, but we are still men subject to temptation and sin. We truly do need your prayers, especially in times like these.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hello & Welcome!
Well, here it is then. I've been thinking about this for a long time. How to communicate more widely on the issues that come up in my everyday ministry and my own, more personal, pilgrimage of faith? I am very much looking forward to sharing with all of you and also hearing your reactions. Feel free also to ask your own questions of me. Who knows, it might become the subject of a blog entry that will be of great help to others!
I publish a weekly letter in my own bulletin (accessible on my parish web-site) and that will be readily accessible from this blog as I figure things out. I will also add links to other good, helpful, and trustworthy sites.
With my pastoral responsibilities I don't plan on posting everyday necessarily. I will commit however to posting at least weekly. Of course, when things heat up and I feel the need to comment (or vent!), or when I'm throwing things out there and looking for feedback the posts will come more frequently.
May the good and merciful Lord be with all of us as we take this opportunity to join one another to walk in faith, hope, and love.
I publish a weekly letter in my own bulletin (accessible on my parish web-site) and that will be readily accessible from this blog as I figure things out. I will also add links to other good, helpful, and trustworthy sites.
With my pastoral responsibilities I don't plan on posting everyday necessarily. I will commit however to posting at least weekly. Of course, when things heat up and I feel the need to comment (or vent!), or when I'm throwing things out there and looking for feedback the posts will come more frequently.
May the good and merciful Lord be with all of us as we take this opportunity to join one another to walk in faith, hope, and love.
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