The Baltimore Sun has focused on the failure to name those who received gifts from Bransfield in the version of the report sent to Rome. This coverage misses the significance of the preliminary investigation in two ways:
1. A clerical,
gangster
, culture of intimidation and
omertà
meant that canonical and civil policies and procedures meant to prevent abuses of power were ineffective and subverted—over a long period of time
.
What is supposed to be a “
constitutional
monarchy” was run as an “
absolute
monarchy.” These failures and abuses harmed the faithful and the clergy of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston—and they harmed Bransfield himself, who long since needed an intervention.
We will not be the Church we should and must be unless more of us learn how to pray for, support, counsel, and—in extreme cases—
confront
our shepherds who are harming themselves and others. We’ve got to stop blaming the hierarchy and find our voice.
2.
Our
Archbishop calmly and transparently shared the results of the investigation, including the misjudgment he made in editing the report sent to the Vatican. I admire and trust him.
More importantly, he is modeling the path forward: clergy and laity collaborating in the governance of the Church and in supporting one another in living out our baptismal vocations.
We must be accountable
to
one another. We must be accountable
for
one another.
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p. s. - I am additionally including 3 articles that I thought pertinent to this week's events.
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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity that we will celebrate this coming Sunday honors not an event, but a truth revealed by Jesus Christ – and according to the Catholic faith, it is the most important truth of all. Trinity Sunday, which falls on the Church calendar one week after
Pentecost
, celebrates the eternal life of God, who is one and yet is three divine persons.
Before he ascended to heavenly glory, Jesus told his disciples to go and “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (
Matthew 28:19
). Observing what the Lord commanded, the Church has from the beginning worshiped the one God as a loving communion of three divine persons in undivided unity.
n the second century, we find a special word for this profound mystery emerging –
Trias
in Greek, and
Trinitas
in Latin, both translated into English as Trinity. Many of the early prayers and liturgies of the ancient Church, include this trinitarian focus and in the most ancient professions of faith, we also find a belief in the Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
READ MORE
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This Sunday after the 10:30 Mass
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Marian House representative to share on Sunday, June 16
On Sunday, June 16 after the 10:30 Mass we will have the opportunity to hear from a representative from Marian House, an organization founded by the Sisters of Mercy and the School Sisters of Notre Dame that provides a safe, loving environment for homeless women and their children. Marian House provides transitional and permanent housing and robust supportive services such as educational tutoring and GED preparation, a job readiness program, rehabilitative counseling, substance abuse treatment, and referrals to medical care. Since their founding, they have served over
2,300 women and 700 children, helping them move from dependence to independence
. They are steadfast in their commitment to serve this vulnerable population and address the systemic barriers that hinder the healing, recovery, and success of the women they serve. We look forward to hearing about this wonderful organization! Donations to the Poor Box this weekend will go to the Marian House.
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This Sunday is Father's Day Too!
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What are the origins of Father's Day?
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The History of Father's Day
On July 19, 1910, the governor of the U.S. state of Washington proclaimed the nation's first "Father's Day." However, it was not until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day official, that the day became a nationwide holiday in the United States.
Mother's Day: Inspiration for Father's Day
The "Mother's Day" we celebrate today has its origins in the peace-and-reconciliation campaigns of the post-Civil War era. During the 1860s, at the urging of activist Ann Reeves Jarvis, one divided West Virginia town celebrated "Mother's Work Days" that brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers. In 1870, the activist Julia Ward Howe issued a "Mother's Day Proclamation" calling on a "general congress of women" to "promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, [and] the great and general interests of peace."
Read More
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Here's a Good Father's Day Reminder!
Building Communication Skills With Your Kids Is Always A Good Idea...No Matter What Their Age!
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Video: Having a full-fledged conversation with Daddy
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From the Archives - because some have asked to see it again!
A special look at a father and a son who take the same picture every year for nearly 3 decades.
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A beautiful series of photographs have shown the unbreakable bond between a father and son in China. Father Tian Jun, 56, and son Tian Li, 29, have posed for the same photograph every since Li was born in 1986.
The black and white portraits quickly spread online after Li posted them on Chinese social media in July.
The incredible pictures capture how the young film director has grown over the years from baby to adult.
2014 was the only year that they did not complete the family tradition because Li was in America.
There was a lovely surprise in the photograph taken this year, with the appearance of Li's own son, Timothy.
To see how Li, who is now a film director, has grown over the years from baby to adult,
click here
.
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Tuesday, June 11 - 6:30 PM
St. Ignatius Reading and Discussion Group
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Thursday, June 13 - 6:30 PM
Justice & Peace Committee Meeting
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Sunday, June 16 - 11:45 AM
Marian House Presentation
See box above for complete information.
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Tuesday, June 18 - 6:45 PM
Women of the New Testament
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Thursday, June 20 - 7 PM
Spiritual Exercises Information Session
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Saturday, June 22 - 7:30 PM
Interfaith Prayer Service For Peace in the Middle East
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Sunday, June 23 - 9:45 AM
Respect for Life
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Thursday, June 27 - 5:30 PM
Bishop Madden's Prayer Walk for Peace in the City
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Put it on your calendar......
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Worship with Offerings, Liturgy and Prayers for Others
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POOR BOX
This week's Poor Box support goes to support
The Marian House
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MASS MUSIC
Attached is the listing for the music selections at next Sunday's 10:30 Mass.
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PRAYERS OF PETITION
Attached are the Prayers of
Petition for this week.
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US Gun 'Idolatry' Demands More Prophetic Church Stand, Some Catholics Say
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A salesman clears the chamber of an AR-15 in 2016 at a gun store in Provo, Utah.
(CNS/Reuters/George Frey)
by Jesse Remedios
A total of 35,141 people die from gun violence in the United States each year, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which averaged deaths over a five-year period through 2018. That's 96 people each day.
According to the center:
- 124,760 people are shot every year;
- 17,207 children and teens are shot every year;
- Seven children and teens die from gun violence in the United States every day.
Between 2000 and 2017, 250 FBI-designated "active shooter" incidents occurred in the United States.
READ MORE
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Jamilah Salvador was walking in her first ever Pride parade this weekend in the Philippines when she came across something unexpected at the finish. Christians were holding signs apologizing for ways the religion had hurt the LGBTQ community.
The 19-year-old was marching with thousands of others in the annual parade in Marikina City, east of the country's capital, Manila. The parade came to a close at Marikina Stadium, where Salvador was pleasantly surprised by the Christian group.
"My heart really felt light upon seeing them," Salvador told CBS News. "I stopped when I saw them and read all of their messages and immediately felt goosebumps all over my body, then my tears started to build up.
READ MORE
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Sunny Hostin of “The View”
What is it about celebrating Pride that causes some Church leaders to react in strongly negative ways towards events which simply honor the dignity and value of LGBTQ people? Recent controversies this year have again shown the need for more education and dialogue or, at the very least, silence on social media.
Most immediately, LGBTQ advocates continue to criticize a tweet sent by Providence’s Bishop Thomas Tobin that
warned Catholics
from attending Pride, which, the bishop wrote, could be “especially harmful for children.” Most prominently, co-host of The View, Sunny Hostin, a Catholic, directly challenged Tobin on the show, saying, per the
Washington Blade
:
“‘My faith always taught me, ‘What would Jesus do?’ And I know Jesus would be attending that Pride Parade. . .And I also know that God is love and Jesus is love and love is love. And for a Catholic Bishop to come out and say something like that given the history of pedophilia in the Catholic Church. Given what the Catholic Church has hidden about the abuse of children… some would say that being at a Pride parade would be much safer for a child than it has been to be in a Catholic Church for many years.'”
READ MORE
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READER NOTIFICATION:
"Parish: the thought" is a publication of St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Baltimore. Each edition contains articles and news feeds that are included for awareness of current topics in our world today. The positions expressed by outside authors and news feeds are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of St. Ignatius Catholic Community or its staff.
- This e-zine was compiled by John C. Odean
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