How to handle the sexual abuse issue when evangelizing?

[rfournier103]

As a parishoner in the Archdiocese of Boston, this scandal has been big news around here. Not just the scandal, but the cover-up, as well. Although I was never a victim myself, I always thought the Church never did enough to punish those responsible. Bernard Law, who was the Cardinal at the time, was never punished at all. By anyone. He had knowledge of the problem, but never handed over the offenders to the police. He was removed from Boston by the Vatican (under HEAVY public pressure) to a post in Rome and never served any time in prison. Maybe they hoped it would blow over? I even had one priest tell me that one particular pedophile in the news “made a mistake!!!”

Unacceptable.

We all know that Christ tells us to forgive, and turn the other cheek… but wouldn’t one think that a gross abuse of power such as this may warrant something a little more severe?

I think that if there were some instances we could point out to those we aim to evangelize of the Church punishing these men BEFORE an angry mob is gathered outside the Archdiocese, we may have more credibility.

I have known may good priests in my life, but the few bad apples don’t make it easy to evangelize.

 

[Chuck_Finley]

I recently saw a news story about a priest who has been accused of sexually abusing teenagers (many years ago). This ongoing issue seems to give many people an excuse to continue in their misconceptions, continue with their jokes, and not be open to learning about the Church.

I’m curious how others have worked through this issue in their evangelization efforts.

Thanks.

Why is the Church coming up in evangelism? Are you evangelizing for Christ or for the Church?

When we evangelize, unless somebody asks, we don’t even bring it up and we don’t ever stump for our church or denomination.

 

[novusCatholic]

Why is the Church coming up in evangelism? Are you evangelizing for Christ or for the Church?

When we evangelize, unless somebody asks, we don’t even bring it up and we don’t ever stump for our church or denomination.

Evangelizing could be sharing the teachings of the Catholic Church with other Christians so that they might experience the fullness of the faith.

I will always stump for THE Church.

 

[Chuck_Finley]

Evangelizing could be sharing the teachings of the Catholic Church with other Christians so that they might experience the fullness of the faith.

I will always stump for THE Church.

OK. Then we have two different understandings of what evangelism is. The Bible portrays evangelism as presenting the Gospel to the lost and calling them to repentence. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.

 

[Chuck_Finley]

Why is the Church coming up in evangelism? Are you evangelizing for Christ or for the Church?

When we evangelize, unless somebody asks, we don’t even bring it up and we don’t ever stump for our church or denomination.

Evangelizing could be sharing the teachings of the Catholic Church with other Christians so that they might experience the fullness of the faith.

 

[Dorothy]

I tell others about how the Lord Jesus Christ loves them; and then I want them to know about all the good things He told us.

 

[novusCatholic]

Why is the Church coming up in evangelism? Are you evangelizing for Christ or for the Church?

When we evangelize, unless somebody asks, we don’t even bring it up and we don’t ever stump for our church or denomination.

…Then what you’re doing is recruiting for your church, not evangelism. The Bible portrays evangelism as presenting the Gospel to the lost and calling them to repentence.

Of course evangelism is more often than not sharing the good news with those in the secular world who do not know Christ, but **why would you seperate Christ and his Church **when evangelizing to those people? There is a full story to share.

There are also Christians who may not be aware of the full story. Think about it. A good portion of the New Testament is made-up of letters that were written to those who were already converts. Wasn’t that a continuation of the work of the Apostles to make diciples of all nations? A continuing of their evangelizing?

I watched a video (here on Catholic Answers) of Dr. Scott Hahn talking about the New Evangelization. He commented about how in the early Church, evangelization was in stages. Evangelization did not cease when a person was converted because as one continues to learn, the good news gets better!

And to answer your comment about me recruiting for my church. No, I would be recruiting for Christ’s Catholic Church. I wouldn’t be pitching the selling points of a particular denomination, but sharing the truths of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

 

[SurlyMermaid]

Glad to run across this thread! I’ve been pondering lately how to address this myself.

Many of those who bring it up to me know my background and my profession (social work), so I know quite a bit about sexual abuse of children.

My answer is that I knew many, many married, heterosexual men in Protestant churches, who were revealed to be pedophiles. Many were youth leaders. Some made the news; some did not.

Last week a friend said, “How could trust a priest with your kids?”

I remarked, “There were no Catholics priests in my town growing up. But we did have uncles, youth leaders, stepfathers, stepgrandfathers and step-great-grandfathers, mother’s boyfriends, older cousins, charming male neighbors, high school English teachers, coaches…”

I think I made my point.

 

[mgoforth]

Why is the Church coming up in evangelism? Are you evangelizing for Christ or for the Church?

When we evangelize, unless somebody asks, we don’t even bring it up and we don’t ever stump for our church or denomination.

The Church is the Body of Christ, Chuck. There’s no separating them. Also, the Catholic Church is not a denomination. That term is used by Protestants to imply that all beliefs are equally valid…which is logically impossible.

Sorry to get off topic…

 

[mgoforth]

I recently saw a news story about a priest who has been accused of sexually abusing teenagers (many years ago). This ongoing issue seems to give many people an excuse to continue in their misconceptions, continue with their jokes, and not be open to learning about the Church.

I’m curious how others have worked through this issue in their evangelization efforts.

Thanks.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8: 3-11

Many people misunderstand this…they read it as if Jesus is saying to let everyone off the hook for their crimes.

Actually this is just one of several instances where Jesus avoids a trap set for Him. The Pharisees wanted Him to either say “stone her in accordance with the Law” or “forgive her and let her go”. If He had said the former, they would have accused Him of being a hypocrite, since He had previously taught love and forgiveness…but if He had said the latter, they would have accused Him of ignoring the Law.

Jesus’ response was brilliant. He didn’t deny the Law or say that the woman shouldn’t be stoned, He simply asked if anyone present was in a suitable position of purity to carry out the punishment.

The priests who committed these sins WILL receive temporal punishment, either in this life or in the next (Purgatory or Hell). We can count on that because God’s justice is perfect. It’s only an illusion that some people seem to escape the consequences. But the more important matter is whether the priests, and all of us who are also sinners, will seek forgiveness in this life and escape eternal punishment in the next.

 

[novusCatholic]

Last week a friend said, “How could trust a priest with your kids?”

I remarked, “There were no Catholics priests in my town growing up. But we did have uncles, youth leaders, stepfathers, stepgrandfathers and step-great-grandfathers, mother’s boyfriends, older cousins, charming male neighbors, high school English teachers, coaches…”

I think I made my point.

Well done.

 

[Cormacnl]

satan was attacking the formation of the Church while JESUS walked and taught and he will never stop until JESUS returns. It happened, it is/was horrible, it was covered up for years and the perpatrators are being caught and tried and huge settlements are being paid . . . . . but “…the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Paraphrase of JESUS words in Matthew 16 when HE appointed Peter as the first Pope and foundation of HIS Church.

You acknowledge it, and then you acknowledge that it is not stopping the Church, as JESUS promised, that the Church will be the entity that will break through hells gates and place the demons in submission.

Come into the Church, and share in that promise and protection from JESUS HIMSELF.

It is too easy to blame ‘Satan’ when leading officials in the Church hierarchy deliberately covered up for abusers to avoid damaging the perfect image of the Church. Even the Vatican has accepted this reality.

 

[Chuck_Finley]

The Church is the Body of Christ, Chuck. There’s no separating them. Also, the Catholic Church is not a denomination. That term is used by Protestants to imply that all beliefs are equally valid…which is logically impossible.

Sorry to get off topic…

Regardless, evangelism is not the recruiting of people into a church, a denomination, or a religious organization, but the presentation of the Gospel to the lost and a call to repent.

 

[mgoforth]

Regardless, evangelism is not the recruiting of people into a church, a denomination, or a religious organization, but the presentation of the Gospel to the lost and a call to repent.

Well of course it’s “recruiting”, Chuck. Once they hear the Gospel, they need to know where to go to learn more don’t they? What would you have us do - present the good news about Jesus to someone and then leave them hanging, with no guidance or structure after our conversation? That’s the whole point of the Church. People hear the message, they like it, they want more, and the Church guides them on to Heaven.

“Religious organization”…what’s that? I’m not talking about a social club , but rather THE Church. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by God Himself in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. Of course I’m going to invite people to join. We’re required to invite others to join, and besides that, once someone comes to see the fullness of the Truth that only the Catholic Church has…that person can’t help but want to “recruit”.

 

[novusCatholic]

Regardless, evangelism is not the recruiting of people into a church, a denomination, or a religious organization, but the presentation of the Gospel to the lost and a call to repent.

Right, the presentation of the Gospel. The WHOLE Gospel. You can’t seperate Christ and the Church. The Church is part of God’s plan for our salvation.

 

[Pitcharan]

I recently saw a news story about a priest who has been accused of sexually abusing teenagers (many years ago). This ongoing issue seems to give many people an excuse to continue in their misconceptions, continue with their jokes, and not be open to learning about the Church.

I’m curious how others have worked through this issue in their evangelization efforts.

Thanks.

Our Lord told Pilate once: “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (Jn 18:37f)

If we believe in Jesus, we will endure these scandals and continue faithfully to proclaim the Good News

 

[Pepband_Mom]

Just today a friend and I were chatting online and I was talking about Catholicism and what it’s doing in my life. She said she wouldn’t even give the Catholic Church a 2nd glance (said she ‘tried’ Catholicism once before, whatever that means) because of the abuse issues.
I told her that all churches are made up of sinful people. In every denomination there is always something that’s jaw dropping…ministers sleeping with congregation members, deacons stealing money, etc, etc. It’s just the Catholic Church always makes the limelight while the others churches and their issues don’t. No it doesn’t make it right at all. Just because some priests have issues they need to def. work on and get help with doesn’t make the church an abomination.
She said for her, she doesn’t ‘do’ church. She’d rather sit in a chair with her feet propped sipping coffee and having an open discussion about God she said and at the same time she said she’s ‘searching’…

If a primary teacher is pedophile & abuses boys, does that mean the alphabet, math, english, history, etc are all invalid? * of course not. *

Neither is Holy Mother Church because of < 2 % of priests who emotionally are a mess. the State of New York had over 250 complaints last year about teachers & not one case came about. Pedophilia is* much worse* in society than in RCC.

 

[Pepband_Mom]

Google the “Dallas Charter”. It is definitely working. We had 8 - 10 new cases or accusations in the USA in 2011 - the RCC is the safest group out there.

I thank the Bishops for their tireless work to eradicate this scourge on our Catholic young.

 

[Lady_Love]

I say, “It breaks my heart that these young children were abused by a few sick and obviously deranged individuals. We all hurt on account of it but please do not punish all of the innocent Catholics for what a few people did. Mother Church teaches the way to holiness but not all choose to listen to her.”

 

[IneedGod]

This was something my DH ask about as I am joining the RCC (start RCIA in a couple of weeks).
My answer to him…I know of several instances that occured in prodestant churches not to mention the police officer near us who was arrested for doing this to his own children.
It happens at schools as well.
Sadly this type of horror can occur anywhere and the offender can be anyone including a family member. It is not confined to the catholic or any other church or -]orgenization/-]
I will not walk away from God due to the sins of another.