Document Archive

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Toward the Creation of Clean Hearts and Steadfast Spirits:
A Holy Week Reflection on Strength Amid Scandal
The Voice of Your Shepherd, vol 8, no 9
March 2002

"Have mercy on us, God, in your goodness." Psalm 51:3

As we enter this most solemn week of the Lenten Season, we are drawn into the prayer of Jesus and the life of the Church's liturgy in beautiful, compelling ways. The Sunday procession with palms, the Chrism Mass of the Lord's Supper, the powerful Good Friday readings of Isaiah's suffering servant and the starkness of the venerated Cross, the intense joy of the Easter Vigil as we light the fire for the Paschal Candle, hear again the stories of our salvation in God's word, sing hymns of gladness, welcome new members into the Church, and celebrate Easter Sunday with abundant Alleluias- all these moments draw us as individuals and as a community from death to life. Psalm 51 shows us the true purpose of this week:"My mouth will proclaim your praise." PSALM 51: 17

Lent and Holy Week 2002 find us as a Catholic community in much turmoil. Recent acknowledgments of past sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in several parts of the country, including our Archdiocese, have been the focus of much media attention. Questions have arisen about the extent of clergy involved in such heinous acts as well as measures in place to prevent this detestable violation of body and spirit of our youth now and in the future.

Nine years ago, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops established five principles for dealing with accusations of sexual abuse by clergy: prompt response to allegations; removal of the alleged offender from ministerial duties for medical referral; compliance with civil law reporting and investigative procedures; outreach to victims and their families for their spiritual and emotional well-being; and dealing with the matter in a forthright way with members of the community. These principles have been the policy of our Archdiocese since 1993. I reiterate my promise as your Shepherd: we will not tolerate any such behavior by priests, religious, or lay colleagues who serve in the Archdiocese.

Nonetheless, I am aware that policies, procedures, and promises of themselves may not fully address the hurt, pain, and doubt this scandal has caused you, the faithful members of the Body of Christ. The survivors of this sexual abuse and their family members bear a great cross; and, I again extend to you my assurance of prayer, solicitude, and support. But I would also like to speak of this terrible ordeal in the context of our Lenten faith and Easter hope. The death and resurrection of Jesus are both the paradigm and the promise for understanding life's challenges and the ways we respond as disciples of the Lord. Since the psalms were the very prayers that Jesus prayed, and are part of the liturgy of the Word, I have chosen Psalm 51 as a guide for this reflection, as it speaks of sin, contrition, and the need for God's saving power to be reconciled with oneself and the larger community.

"Our sin is always before you." Psalm 51:5

The Church is both a divine and a human institution, one whose leaders and members must depend upon the Lord Jesus for grace and the Holy Spirit for guidance. As a community, the Church has often gathered to seek the Holy Spirit's help. Yet, history has sadly shown that there were times when members of the Church did not listen to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit or seek the will of Jesus in their decisions and actions. Our history as individuals and as a community of faith has mirrored what we pray at the Eucharist: "We have sinned in what we have done, and what we have failed to do." As one theologian expressed so well: "In the Church, we live in communion with all who are in Christ - past, present, and future. We are implicated in the weakness of sinners, as happily, we are implicated in the holiness of the saints." (Neuhaus, First Things, April 1998)

For this reason, we, as a Church, have examined our past and asked pardon for those offenses that have caused pain and suffering. A central feature of the recent Jubilee Year 2000 was the unprecedented `request for pardon' by Pope John Paul II. On March 12, 2000, he asked pardon for the sins of Church members over the ages. To cross the threshold of the new millennium with integrity, the Pope expressed to God and humanity the need for repentance and purification for the wrongs of its members. The Holy Father said: "For the part that each of us has had in these evils that have disfigured the face of the Church, we humbly ask forgiveness." Pardon was sought for sins against "Christian unity, hostility toward the Jewish people, other ethnic, religious, and indigenous groups, the use of violence in serving the truth, slavery, racism, and for marginalizing women". (America, March 25, 2000)

Indeed, the Holy Father has made reconciliation and forgiveness a priority of his Papacy. A recent book entitled When a Pope Asks Forgiveness lists almost one hundred statements of Pope John Paul II expressing sorrow or repentance for the sins of members of the Church throughout its history. (Dulles,First Things, December, 1998) These actions of our Holy Father should surprise no one, as he took to heart the words of the prophet Joel which we hear on Ash Wednesday: "Return to the Lord with all your heart. Rend your hearts, not your garments!" (Joel 2:12) Lent reminds us of our brokenness, as individuals and as a community, which we bring before God for healing. This year's turmoil is no exception.

"Behold, You are pleased with sincerity of heart" Psalm 51:8

Why forgive and ask forgiveness? That is the age-old challenge to every Catholic community. The documents of Vatican II say it best: "The Church is both holy and always in need of being purified and incessantly pursues the path of penance and renewal". (Dulles, op. cit, 1998) The psalmist knew that our failures and weaknesses can be occasions for growth in faith. Psalm 51 is the prayer of the great King David after Nathan the prophet confronted him with the scandal of his sin. Like David, it is only by being honest and humble with God as individuals and a community that we can gain true 'sincerity of heart' to ask for pardon and live in service to Christ and each other.

Lent gives us the occasion to reflect on our lives so that we may grow in conversion to God and communion with each other. It is a season of contrition, hope, and healing. Holy Week shows us that Jesus endured the worst of human abuses: betrayal by a trusted friend, desertion by disciples, public humiliation, severe beatings, condemnation without counsel, and an agonizing, criminal crucifixion. Yet, Jesus did not despair. He knew that in accepting the way of the cross, he would live forever in the power of the Resurrection.

That is the gift of this holy season: the realization that nothing is outside Jesus' human experience and, in his suffering, death and resurrection, we are redeemed. In this Holy Week, I ask you, my beloved faithful of our Archdiocese, to bring your pain and concern over this scandal to the Lord in prayer and ask that healing and hope will come to those who have suffered from clergy sexual abuse in Philadelphia and throughout the country. I also ask you to join me in prayer that God will bring all the faithful of our Archdiocese together so we may be a more vibrant Catholic community of faith, love, and service.

"A willing spirit sustain in us, O God" Psalm 51:12

Becoming a more vibrant Catholic community requires good stewards of God's holy mysteries. I am privileged to have at my side a body of clergy whose compassion, faith, and personal holiness have been a constant inspiration to me in my years as your Shepherd. When I arrived in Philadelphia in 1988, I was taken to St. Charles Seminary to meet both priests and seminarians of our Archdiocese. As I walked down the corridor of Vianney Hall, I looked at pictures of the various classes of men ordained, amazed at the large numbers. As I walked down another corridor, I saw portraits of bishops of various dioceses across the United States, all of whom were priest alumni of Saint Charles Seminary. It was quite impressive, to say the least, and helped me understand from the outset why our clergy in Philadelphia have such tremendous loyalty to and pride in our Archdiocese.

However, from my years in Philadelphia, I know our clergy to be much more than portraits or prelates. I have seen men steadfast in their assignments, devoted to parish ministry, and zealous in any work of the Church that benefits the faithful. Whether the need involved the complexities of Cluster Pastoral Planning, service as a teacher, chaplain, parish priest, providing counsel and comfort for the bereft, postponing rest and retirement to serve as a `senior priest' or increasingly accepting difficult pastorates of large parishes, our clergy quietly and selflessly serve you, the faithful. They, along with the many religious priests, brothers, and sisters, show us the face of Christ. I am not surprised, and neither should you be. They are, after all, your sons, brothers, uncles, and neighbors. It is your faith, example, and prayer that calls them forth and sustains them in their priestly ministry.

"Let us hear the sounds of rejoicing and gladness" Psalm 51:10

This June, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the canonization of Saint John Nepomucene Neumann. As our Bishop, he distinguished himself as a builder of churches and founder of parochial schools. He served at a time of great tension in our Church with faith and resolve. Despite all his accomplishments, he had one recurring three-word wish: "Give me holiness!" That is the message of Holy Week, of Easter and of the Christian life. We are the Body of Christ, and like our saintly patron, together we must live lives of holiness and charity that will radiate God's love. As another famous Philadelphian, Saint Katharine Drexel told us: "Faith is a work of love that can be accomplished by love alone."