Dear Parishioners,
This weekend we will observe the Feast of Saint Monica, which is, of course, on Monday, August 27th. We will do the prayers of Saint Monica, but since this weekend, the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, will end our discussion of John, Chapter 6, and Jesus’s teaching on the Eucharist, we will keep the readings of the weekend. Today we hear that faith is a gift, but it is also a choice. How do we know if faith is something that we choose? Perhaps it helps to ask these questions of our- selves. Do we make God the center of our lives, or are we distracted by the material things that have become “other gods”? Do we live in such a way that our daily decisions and choices bear witness to our relationship with the Lord? Do we live in mutual faithfulness and service to spouses and family? Do we accept and follow the wisdom of the Spirit who Jesus promised would serve as our guide on this earth? In other words, does faith permeate all that we do? Key questions that Jesus proposes and Saint Monica and her son, Saint Augustine, wrestled with … and we wrestle with them too!
Next weekend we will celebrate the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time. We will return to reading from Saint Mark’s Gospel for most of the rest of this Liturgical Year. We are challenged to balance God’s laws with our love of others. Sometimes, like the Pharisees, we place rules and conditions on how we share our love and who is worthy of receiving the gifts and love we have to offer. Jesus is both faithful to the law of Moses and to the immediate needs of the people before him. He is the perfect example of a hearer — and doer — of God’s word. Today we are called to be — and do — the same.
A reminder that the Mass on Labor Day, September 3, will be at 9:00 A.M.
We are all sickened by the report of the Grand Jury in Pennsylvania. What follows here is Archbishop Carlson’s statement issued on August 16th. Elsewhere in the bulletin is Pope Francis’s letter issued on August 20th. Please read them both and pray for the church!
The recent allegations of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy as revealed by a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania are extremely disturbing. Priests are called to be spiritual fathers to their people, and bishops are called to be shepherds of their flock, to protect the people in their care. We know that in many cases that has not happened. The trust of the faithful has been violated.
We must act on behalf of the victims of this abuse in order to bring to them the love, healing, and light of Christ.
Our own Archdiocese of St. Louis has not escaped the scourge of clergy sexual abuse over the past few decades. Since 2002, the archdiocese has renewed its efforts and made every attempt to protect those who cannot protect themselves and to ensure that the light of Christ is present every- where—especially where children or vulnerable people are present.
I pledge my continued commitment to the protection of children and young people. Our Archdiocesan policy regarding the protection of children is stringent, thorough, and includes multiple points of accountability. All clergy, seminarians, employees, and volunteers whose service in the Church brings them into contact with children must have a regular background check. Since 2002, over 100,000 adults who are employed by or volunteer in our parishes and check. Since 2002, over 100,000 adults who are employed by or volunteer in our parishes and institutions have participated in the professionally developed program, “Protecting God’s Children.” The program equips those who serve the Church to foster a safe environment for our children and vulnerable adults.
In the fall of 2017, a former member of the FBI conducted a complete review of our child protection and Review Board policies and procedures. Our program was judged to be thorough and compre- hensive Established in 2002, the Archdiocesan Review Board currently consists of a majority of lay members not employed by the archdiocese who review every allegation of clergy sexual abuse and rovide me with advice concerning allegations. I have always followed the advice of this board. The board includes lay members with backgrounds in law enforcement, medical ethics, psychology, psychiatry, and a medical doctor whose expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of juvenile sexual abuse.
Our seminary’s admission process involves a thorough psychological evaluation, which includes detailed knowledge of the man’s mental and psychological health. The seminary has two full-time lay psychologists to assist in human development, and each man meets regularly with an in-house spiritual director and formation advisor. In addition to all these points the faculty, administration, formation ad- visors, and psychologists gather three times a year to discuss the progress of each seminarian in every dimension of his formation, so that any potential problems can be identified and addressed.
Today no clergy against whom a substantiated claim of abuse of a minor has been made have permission to conduct priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I support and encourage anyone with an allegation to contact law enforcement.
The Church relies on the help of God’s grace to remain firm in Her resolve and effective in Her action to protect children and young people. I will be inviting the priests of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to join me in offering Masses for all victims of sexual abuse. I pray that we may always express the pure love of Christ particularly for children and the most vulnerable in our midst.
Archbishop Robert J Carlson
August 16, 2018