Pastor's Points: Continuing to Heal

Pastor's Points: Continuing to Heal

This month, I would like to provide you with an update on our efforts at St. Thomas More to continue to respond to the abuse crisis that consumed much of the news and our thoughts in the fall of last year. At STM, we recognized that our response could not just be a “one and done” sort of thing. This crisis will continue to be something that will affect the Church, both collectivity and Her individual members, for some time to come as people grapple with the effects of the scandal and news stories come out as various states and the federal government continue investigations. 

Below you will find an executive summary of the work of the Abuse Response Team: A Universal Call to Holiness. I am grateful for the parishioners who are serving on this team and their dedication to helping us to continue to heal as community of faith. 

In October of 2018, following the extensively publicized Pennsylvania report of widespread clerical abuse, the exposure of Cardinal McCarrick’s abuse of seminarians and minors, and the STM Listening Sessions, an Abuse Response Team was appointed by Father Scott to develop recommendations for our parish that respond to the ongoing crisis as we continue to see investigations concluded and reports released. 

This team was formed and charged with exploring three primary areas: education, awareness and support.  The group members are Cindy Neely (chair), Barbara Wasik, Kathy Roundtree, Joel Morgenlander, Marianne Mitchell, Deacon Stephen Yates, Adrienne Yates, Steve Caiola, Barbara Reynolds, Mary Ellen McGuire, Dick Hinson and Pat Grebe.

The Abuse Response Team has met twice and formed five subgroups as follows:

Support/Healing of victims: identify support and help for victims who are self-identifying as victims of abuse, including triaging services and financial support for ongoing counseling. The guiding principle here is that what is not healed is passed on. 

Support/Healing of the laity:  Grief, sadness, anger, fear expressed by the laity was shared through various groups who had gathered to talk about their personal response to the betrayal felt. This effort, led by Pat Grebe, will offer a five-week faith group that will provide the opportunity to address our personal grief in this darkness and search for the light in this darkness.

Education: This sub-group will focus on information regarding sexual abuse and its controlling nature, examining contributing factors for how this crisis came about in the church, and correction of misinformation of causes and effects. The recommendations would also focus on prevention and on better education for adults, teachers and children.

Social justice ministries that address abuse: This area is still under development

Clericalism and clergy visibility: This sub-group will explore the structural causes and processes that allowed for such a broad cover-up, seek transparency, and consider how to respond to Pope Francis’ admonition that “clericalism is an illness in the Church, an ailment that pretends 'the Church' means 'priests and bishops,'” that ignores or minimizes the God-given grace and talents of laypeople, and that emphasizes the authority of clerics over their obligation of service. 

We see it as important to this parish that we not become complacent. It is our prayer and our hope that each of the faithful in our parish will participate in this healing effort through prayer and education, and together as brothers and sisters in Christ we will build our church as a servant community that protects all the vulnerable.

We ask you pray the following with us each day.

Loving God, we come together in prayer and pleading for the wisdom and strength to know what You want us to do in this time of peril and trial in our Church.

We have been afraid; we are sorrowful; and feel lost. (Cf. Psalm 6:  1-8)

Gracious God, help us to confront the evil, let your people gather safely around you: put an end to wickedness. (Cf.  Psalm 7:  1-14)

Our Church is afflicted in many ways, like a mountain threatened by being plunged into the sea. (Cf.  Psalm 46:  2-4)

Merciful God, we turn to You for help and comfort, knowing You alone can give us comfort now and success in what we seek to do. (Cf.   Psalm 62) 

We search for wisdom -what to do- how to do it- where to turn for guidance and help? (Cf.  Job: 28; 1-22)

All knowing God. You are the source of wisdom; You have power over all things.  Please bring light into the darkness.  (Cf.  Job 28: 23-28)

Compassionate God, send us forth now with wisdom, conviction, strength and perseverance to see, to learn, and to work to do Your will in this time of crisis in our Church.

If you would like to know more about the ART or how you can become involved, please contact Cindy Neely, the team coordinator.