Dear Pope Francis:
Of your many beautiful and challenging words, right now these ring out:
"Everyone is guilty for the good he could have done and did not do… If we do not oppose evil, we tacitly feed it. We need to intervene where evil is spreading; for evil spreads where daring Christians who oppose evil with good are lacking." (August 12, 2018)
"[N]o effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated.” (August 20, 2018)
Over the past few weeks I've heard from too many people expressing their profound anguish, how their lives (or those they love) have been devastated at the hands of those who are icons of Jesus Christ. These are real stories expressing profound brokenness... leading to alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual confusion, divorce, mental illness, depression, and even suicide. Allowed to occur behind a veil of silence.
Because of a veil of silence.
Accordingly, you have exhorted us: Silence in the face of evil is, itself, evil. You called for complete transparency. You called for an end to a "clerical culture." And so we have.
You were directly asked to verify simple, direct allegations made by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò- that you knowingly shielded, and even took counsel, with those who committed grave evil. As head of this Church we believe in and love, we need to hear your answer. Any organization, however secular, would regard the moral appropriateness of such inquiry, and the expectation of a direct response. How much more should we expect this from the church?
Yet, in spite of your call for transparency, an end to a clerical culture, and challenging the faithful not to remain silent in the face of evil… given the opportunity for all the same, you pledged silence, stating: “I will not say a single word.”
Dear Pope Francis, what you're refusing to say speaks so loudly it's difficult to believe what you are saying.
As a consequence, a multitude of non-believers now have their justification. As a consequence, believers on shaky ground are heading for the exit. As a consequence, right now entire movements are afoot bent on renouncing the Catholic Church (Chile).
Our silence would leave the impression that all this is justifiable. That such dissimulation is the nature of our Church. (CCC, #2468) We are moved to declare that it is not! Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6) The Spirit of the living God alive in us cries out with a sainted one who challenged popes: “We’ve had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues - I see the world is rotten because of silence." (St. Catherine of Siena)
Dear Pope Francis, with respect, you do not define the Papal Office; the Papal Office defines you. Our world needs to believe. Please speak truth. This is not a passing storm cloud. We can not allow it to be. We can not relent. So long as you allow this culture to define the church, you are holding hostage the capacity for universal healing, transformation, and salvation. For restoration of this heart of the Father, we are praying!
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Make us holy. May we live what we profess. Let your church arise. #Revival #LiveIT ILoveMyFamily.us
