The Latest Grand Jury Report on Sexual Abuse from PA-Evil In The Church

Words cannot suffice to express the disgust and disappointment I feel after reading the front page New York Times article (8/15/18) entitled, "Church Hid Abuse of 1,000 Children Grand Jury Finds." This is beyond disgusting, deplorable, negligent, evil.
So the article goes, "Bishops and other leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania covered up child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years, persuading victims not to report the abuse and law enforcement not to investigate it, according to a searing report issued by a grand jury on Tuesday." Some of the individual reports and accounts are so disgusting it makes me want to vomit. The Times called it-"A Catalog of Horrors"
A front page article in the Times which we subscribe to,  means I have to discuss it with my husband because he will see it and once again tell me this is one of the reasons he doesn't go to Church on a regular basis.  But lately it's worse because he wants to stop the donations we give to my local parish. Of course I defend my local parish and its good priests but this on going embarrassing, deplorable sexual abuse crisis is doing damage beyond what anyone, at this present time, can imagine.
God weeps, God has been weeping because to use such a beautiful religion and the beauty of the teachings of Jesus Christ and tarnish it to such an evil degree and to ignore not only the teachings of Christ but the law, is criminal.
For all the faithful, like me, who continue to go to Church and support it and believe in its power to do good and transform society, I just hope we can get past these latest sickening reports.
NJA

A Broken and Suffering Church

In light of the horrific allegations against former Cardinal McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, one has to be worried about the future of the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, it is a divine institution with Christ as the divine head and of course, "the gates of hell will not prevail against it," but the post modern world, with its technological advances is a strange place. Young people are simply not going to take this nonsense, they will walk away from organized religion, as they have been doing for years. Even though Pope Francis acted swiftly and other Bishops have been condemning the "moral failures of judgment," within the Church, the faithful are fed up with the sexual abuse crisis and all the secrecy surrounding it, large pay-offs and poor judgment calls. Real change, pragmatic change is needed and sadly will be slow in coming.
Any corporation or large secular institution would not continue to hold onto out-dated, falling policies or by- laws or laws which were hurting the institution and causing it harm. But that's what's happening here.
Mandatory celibacy for Roman Catholic priests has failed in many ways. And yet the Church continues to hold onto this man-made law even though it has hurt the Church tremendously in spiritual ways, financial ways and worst of all, caused great harm, in some cases.
Well my generation was upset, we are upset and frustrated with the blatant failures and the sexual abuse crisis, but the younger generation, they'll just walk away. Many of them want no part of organized religion and this is one of the reasons they've lost trust in institutions.
NJA

Ordination Mass of Bishop Richard Henning-The Best of Catholicism

I attended the ordination Mass of auxiliary Bishop Richard Henning yesterday in St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Center, Long Island.  It was a glorious day! The sun was shining. With a filled cathedral and his family and friends overflowing with joy and gratitude, with a magnificent choir to set the tone, it was a faith-filled day to remember.
Bishop John Barres, the bishop of Rockville Centre officiated, with the auxiliary bishops of Rockville Centre, retired Bishop Murphy and many bishops and priests from the Diocese and beyond. Cardinal Dolan was also in attendance. As well as many Brothers and students from Chaminade High School. The Sisters of Life were there too, as well as other Religious.  The lay members of the Church, from many Long Island parishes, who traveled from all parts of the island, attended too.  I should not leave out, the affable Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Most Reverend Christopher Pierre, who loved sharing that when he called Bishop Henning to tell him the good news, Bishop Henning was driving on the Southern State Parkway and had the good sense to pull over.........
I attended with two friends and afterward at the Reception,  met many employees and volunteers from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, where Bishop Henning was the rector before being appointed bishop.
At the end of the Mass, Bishop Henning, a native of Long Island and a graduate of Chaminade High School  spoke and his talk was outstanding. Using metaphors such as surfing, the ocean, waiting for the perfect wave with patience, it was thought-provoking, deeply moving and very down to earth too. On the way home we discussed it in the car and we had each gained from it.
He remarked that he had been on retreat before the installation Mass, and the retreat leader  had given the retreatants advice and suggestions and something to take away, which we can all do and learn from. Bishop Henning said he had been repeating those short prayers throughout the day, which gave him courage.
Firstly, in the morning begin by saying, "Jesus I consecrate myself to you." During the day, repeat, "Jesus I trust in you." (That famous short prayer was given to St. Faustina by Jesus, it's powerful and to the point!) And lastly before going to sleep, say, "Jesus have mercy on me."
We agreed on the way home that we could all add that to our spiritual disciplines....easy enough.
It was a beautiful day, the best of Catholicism. There is so much beauty in the Church. One friend noted correctly, that time passed by so quickly though the Mass was about two and a half hours. During the ritual, the sacred Mass, which gives glory to God, time was caught up in the eternal.
God continue to bless Bishop Henning as he grows into his new and important role in the Church.
NJA

Ordination of Bishop Richard Henning on Long Island

I'm very excited to attend the episcopal Ordination of Bishop -Elect Richard Henning tomorrow at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY. Bishop Henning is very deserving of this great honor. I know his good works from volunteering at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY for many years as part of a fundraising volunteer group, "The Friends of the Seminary." I was both the Vice President and President of that good organization. I am still an active member. Bishop Henning as the previous rector of the Seminary (before being appointed an Auxiliary Bishop by Bishop Barres) worked to make sure the Seminary remained vital and he contributed much to making sure it was a place of retreat, learning, growth and financial stability. The Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist reside there and give holy retreats there, year round, which has helped make the Seminary known throughout Long Island and beyond.  The grounds of the Seminary are beautiful, close to the Long Island Sound and a place where nature remains unspoiled.
So it's all good.
God's blessings upon Bishop Henning and his future good works for the Church of God.
NJA

St. Therese of Lisieux-Friend and Inspirer-Summertime Reading

For the final book that my parish Summer Book Club will read and discuss in September is the classic autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux-"The Story of a Soul." I will read it over the summer to lead the discussion. It will be my fourth reading of this spiritual classic. I even took a course about St. Therese from the Carmelite Institute many years ago. When you study the writings of St. Therese, or pray for her intercession, she befriends you in a mystical, mysterious way and I am certainly not the only person who has said that, many others confirm that as well.
St. Therese has been called "the greatest saint of modern times." She was canonized on May 17th, 1925 by Pope Pius XI and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II (now a saint himself) in 1997.
Therese wanted to be a saint, she was very focused on her love for Jesus and her little way of spiritual childhood. She knew that to be a saint she would need God's help. She couldn't do it on her own and so she asked God to lift her to heights, she couldn't possible reach on her own and be her  "divine elevator." One of the most remarkable things about Therese is that she attained every one of her goals though some were attained after her death.
I have two of her relics, small pieces of her brown Carmelite habit, which I have for many years and which were attained from Rome.
Therese has a great devotion to the Blessed Mother and her religious profession was on the day that the Church celebrates Mary's birth- September 8th. Therese took the day of her profession very seriously, she sent out wedding invitations! September 8th is an important day in my life too, as I was born on that day. So I feel connected to Therese and the Blessed Mother, in a special way, because of my birthday. It's a great grace to be born on a Marian feast day. I'm not boasting, it is what it is.
So I expect many graces to come from reading, "Story of a Soul," again. I'm not sure what they are but I'm positive that St. Therese will work from Heaven as she always does, to bring some added grace or graces into my life.
NJA

Suicide Rates Are Lower For People Who Practice Their Faith-Another Benefit of Belief in God and Prayer

I recently read something which I firmly believed in my heart to be true since I've read other studies about the positive effects that faith, worship and belief have for human beings. People of faith go through crisis better, handle misfortune better, and are usually healthier and live longer than people who don't. Why this is true is up for debate but the data supports what numerous studies have found and I've written about many times. And I've experienced firsthand the inner strength, courage and hope that belief in God gives, especially in times of loss.
And so I thought faith, religious practice and worship would also affect suicide rates and as it turns out, I read an article to support my belief. Such vindication!
This is what I read in an online article, "Against a grim backdrop of rising suicide rates among American women, new research has revealed a blinding shaft of light: One group of women-practicing Catholics appears to have bucked the national trend toward despair and self-harm. Compared with women who never participated in religious services, women who attended any religious service once a week or more were five times less likely to commit suicide between 1996 and 2010, says a study published by JAMA Psychiatry.
Faith and belief in God and of course, prayer, gives you courage, inner strength and the ability to realize that no matter how bad the disappointment , hurt, sorrow and/or rejection is today, tomorrow will be better. At least a little better. There is always hope because we trust the words of Sacred Scripture and the words of Christ. "God is my protector, my rock, my shield in whom I trust.""
For a few weeks in June and then again for a week in September I lead a Summer Book Club in my parish. Our first book this year was recommended by a Jesuit priest, the book is a highly recommended book titled, "In His Spirit-A Guide To Today's Spirituality." We are enjoying reading it and discussing it. Seems like the Church doesn't talk about the Holy Spirit enough...not sure why.  The Spirit is enlightener, sanctifier, one who guides and empowers and prompts us towards God and the will of God for our life.
"The goal of Christian spirituality is to recognize and respond to the continual interior movements of the Spirit, for the Spirit will always lead us toward greater union with Christ and greater love and service of God and others." ("In His Spirit.....")
Veni, Sanctus, Spiritus!
NJA

The Lord is waiting to show you favor and he rises to pity you. For the Lord is a God of justice, blessed are all who wait for him.  (Isaiah 30:18)

Copycat Suicides-Bourdain and Kate Spade-Hopelessness Ends Lives

It's hard to get one's head around the news this morning that Anthony Bourdain, a celebrity chef, author and host of Parts Unknown on CNN would take his own life. I watched his show often, he was gifted in many ways. I loved how he related so well to people of all religions and cultures throughout the world and how through food and cooking he could create good will. I always marveled at how he overcame drug addiction as he explained on one show, he was a heroin addict when he was young. So I thought to myself from heroin to becoming a celebrity chef and TV personality. Pretty good! But it was not all good because in the end, his demons got the best of him. You have to say, "Why?" What makes a successful person who came from so little and became rich and famous and related so well to all kinds of people die in such a horrific, hopeless way.
And then there was the other baffling news story of another successful, rich person, Kate Spade, whose name is everywhere taking her own life in a horrific way. Death by strangulation. That's pretty bad. It's pitiful. What's worse is who is left behind. Both Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade had teenage daughters. How will they ever be the same? I feel so bad for Bourdain's daughter Ariane, aged 11 and Kate Spade's daughter Frances age 13. Such a difficult time in life as it is for young girls growing up in this uncertain world and they have to deal with such grief and pain.
It just doesn't make sense to me. This is the reason I hold my deep faith very close to me and know of it's importance. Because even if one day seems hopeless or I am disappointed I know tomorrow I will wake up feeling better because Jesus walks with me in good times and bad. You can't minimize mental illness, I understand that, but I know how much hope my faith gives me. And because of that, it's priceless to me.
Rest in Peace Kate and Anthony
NJA