I'm sure most of you have heard by now about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania. If you haven't, you can read about it here. Upon hearing this news myself, a lot of things went through my head. First, I was disgusted by the acts committed by these priest. I was disgusted at how it was covered up by their bishops. I was also heartbroken. My heart breaks for those victims who weren't truly listened to, and who never got the justice they deserved.
Upon hearing all of this, I said a quiet prayer.
I pray for peace and healing for those who were personally affected by the acts of these priests.
I pray for the officials who uncovered this and now have to clean up the mess.
I pray for healing and mercy for the priests who did these things.
I pray for the communities where these priests served.
I pray for all priests everywhere, that this doesn't discourage them,
I pray for the Catholic Church as a whole.
As a Catholic, it's easy to get defensive when things like this happen, but now is not the time for that. Don't try to minimize the evil committed by these men. That's not fair to the victims, and it won't make anything better. Instead, just pray for healing for everyone involved.
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused and needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE. If there is an immediate threat, call 911.
