CRISIS OF CREDIBILITY

The Bishops are meeting in Rome this week to discuss a serious subject in need of greater truth and authentic love, the clerical sexual abuse crisis as well as the stories of cover-up and the failure of leadership.  This topic has been a source of anger and anguish among American Catholics for decades, a source rekindled and intensified over the past year.  Pope Francis calls it a “crisis of credibility” as he writes in his letter to the U.S. bishops:

“The Church's credibility has been seriously undercut and diminished by these sins and crimes, but even more by the efforts made to deny or conceal them. This has led to a growing sense of uncertainty, distrust and vulnerability among the faithful. As we know, the mentality that would cover things up, far from helping to resolve conflicts, enabled them to fester and cause even greater harm to the network of relationships that today we are called to heal and restore.”

I believe today’s feast and the scriptures gives us some insight into an appropriate response, not just for the Church’s bishops, but for all the faithful to begin the healing and restoration of credibility. 

Three versus’ jumped out at me as I contemplated todays readings.  In our entrance antiphon we hear: “The Lord says to Simon Peter: I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and, once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk 22:32) The Lord was well aware that, at the hour of the cross, lack of unity, division and dispersion would be the greatest temptations faced by his disciples, attitudes that would distort and hinder their mission.  We share in this human experience of temptation for doubt and fear where anger leads to distrust and often disengagement.  Yet, there is hope.  Jesus said, “once you have turned back”, he knew Peter’s heart, he knew Peter would reconcile and become stronger in faith and leadership to guide his brothers and sit in what we celebrate today, the Chair of Peter.

The next verse was the Gospel Acclamation, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) Our Church has experienced many many crisis’ over its 2000-year history.  Scandal, disharmony, division, yet here we are gathered around this sacred table seeking reconciliation, relationship and unity with our Lord and Savior by sharing in his sacred meal.

The final verse is, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19) Healing comes, not through policies alone, nor by a bishop or priest authoritatively laying down the law, nor by angry parishioner demands or running away from the Church, healing comes through a clear, decisive, and lived focus on our Gospel mission. Unity is key to this mission and it often begins with forgiveness.  If you are still worried about the credibility of the Church hear Pope Francis’ words, “Credibility will be the fruit of a united body that, while acknowledging our sinfulness and limitations, is at the same time capable of preaching the need for conversion.”