Reconciliation vs Priest Abuse question

[jeanne71350]

Hey everyone,

Well some people I know are refusing to go to confession since all of the sexual abuse from the priests. I tell them that the priest is acting through God, but then they respond that any man of God would not abuse someone like that. Can someone please help me with a response to this?

Thanks,
Jeanne

 

[NHInsider]

Well, there are two questions here. One has to do with Confession and the other with priests who abuse their positions of authority and take advantage of vulnerable people.

The fact that some priests have abused their authority does not negate the authority that Jesus gave to the apostles. (John 20:23) And we must not consider all priests tainted by the sins of the few (and even though there have been a shocking number of cases, they still represent a tiny fraction of priests).

The sin of abusing priests is greater (more serious) because the responsibility they had was greater than if the same acts had been carried out by non-ordained men. (Luke 12:48, Luke 17:2). Part of the harm that they cause is that they cause others to distrust priests or denigrate the priesthood.

Being ordained does not somehow take away a man’s free will nor negate his tendancies to sin–he still has to resist temptation and pray for strength daily.

But - the state of grace (or lack thereof) of the celebrant does not negate the effectiveness of the sacrament.

Does any of that help?

 

[LilyM]

Ask them, if they lay bleeding to death from a gunshot wound, if they’d object to a doctor treating them because some doctors abuse children (and they do - at probably the same rate as priests or any other profession).

Mortal sins bleed the life out of the soul, the priest is the doctor who can apply the remedy. His personal goodness or the personal goodness of his priestly colleagues doesn’t affect that capacity one little bit.

 

[Orchanian]

Sometimes people use excuses for avoiding confession that aren’t really the ones that keep them away. I would guess that these folks weren’t going to confession before the scandals came to light. This just gives them a reason to avoid it.

I would also stress to folks that confession is not a chore, but a gift to us. If we see it as a duty rather than a gift, we will avoid it. Confession grants us grace, which helps us to sin less. It also has amazing healing powers for people.

So I would ask: When did you last go to confession? Was it before or after the scandals came to light?
Then I would share my personal experience with the grace that comes from Confession.

You might also call it Reconciliation, because that’s what it’s about - getting reconciled to God. Just like we need to do with a friend or spouse when we’ve hurt them.

Another thing to talk about is the importance of humility. Nothing is more humbling that actually saying your own sins. Humility makes us holy - and we all need help with that.

 

[Cluny]

But - the state of grace (or lack thereof) of the celebrant does not negate the effectiveness of the sacrament.

The idea that the efficacy of the Sacraments depends on the spiritual state of the Priest is the heresy of Donatism, which was condemned by the Church centuries ago.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hey everyone,

Well some people I know are refusing to go to confession since all of the sexual abuse from the priests. I tell them that the priest is acting through God, but then they respond that any man of God would not abuse someone like that. Can someone please help me with a response to this?

Thanks,
Jeanne

Priests who are found guilty of sexual abuse are not permitted to exercise their ministry in any public capacity. You would not find a priest who was found guilty of sexual abuse in a confessional.

 

[mchale]

Hey everyone,

Well some people I know are refusing to go to confession since all of the sexual abuse from the priests. I tell them that the priest is acting through God, but then they respond that any man of God would not abuse someone like that. Can someone please help me with a response to this?

Thanks,
Jeanne

Rhetorically, I would ask them which sins in the Bible are men of God allowed to commit and still be men of God? If the answer is none, then I would say that I guess there is no hope for us, since all men sin and therefore there can be no men of God. If they try to claim that this sin is more significant, I think I would ask them to prove it. Granted the effects of Child abuse of any sort is horrific. But then again all sins have horrific consequences (though in many cases we don’t see the consequences as clearly).

Also, I suppose in these cases, you are referring to people who are otherwise practicing Catholics? If so, how can they still receive any of the sacraments, since all of the sacraments should be equally tainted by the reasoning you presented above.

–
Bill

 

[ComputerGeek25]

I think the question is foolish and the is used to knock the church and to find a poor excuse for not going to confession or taking part in the other sacraments.

I would answer it in three parts:

Part 1 - Question the persons motive for making a false accusation. I bet the person is not well grounded in their faith or reality (which leads to parts 2 and 3)

Part 2 - There are people in any profession that can be found to abuse their power. There are cops, politians, doctors, clergy in other christian denominations/religions and many others who have sexually abused people. There always have been and always will be, sad as it may be. However, it generally is the exception, not the norm.

Part 3 - As the person to provide statiscal proof (since they made the accuastion the burden of proof is on them) that sexual abuse or other serious crime runs rampant in the clergy of the Catholic Church. Be sure to only include cases where the clergy was actually convicted in a court of law, beyond a resonable doubt. There have been many false claims over the years. Compare these numbers with the total amount of clergy.

 

[jeanne71350]

Rhetorically, I would ask them which sins in the Bible are men of God allowed to commit and still be men of God? If the answer is none, then I would say that I guess there is no hope for us, since all men sin and therefore there can be no men of God. If they try to claim that this sin is more significant, I think I would ask them to prove it. Granted the effects of Child abuse of any sort is horrific. But then again all sins have horrific consequences (though in many cases we don’t see the consequences as clearly).

Also, I suppose in these cases, you are referring to people who are otherwise practicing Catholics? If so, how can they still receive any of the sacraments, since all of the sacraments should be equally tainted by the reasoning you presented above.

–
Bill

Hey Bill,
They go up to Communion and all. I’ve told them that the Church teaches that you shouldn’t recieve Communion while you are in a state of mortal sin, and they say that they think that’s just between them and God. I mean, I go to Confession at least once a month because it makes me feel better. I would be happy if they would go once a year during Lent, like the Church asks us to do instead of hiding from it.

-Jeanne

 

[AshleyBelle]

I could be mistaken, but isn’t is possible to arrange an appointment with the priest for reconcilliation, and for him to hear your confession “out in the open” in the pews of the sanctuary? If they are truly uncomfortable, they could have a friend or relative come with them and sit quietly to pray in another pew while they speak with the priest.

 

[mchale]

Hey Bill,
They go up to Communion and all. I’ve told them that the Church teaches that you shouldn’t recieve Communion while you are in a state of mortal sin, and they say that they think that’s just between them and God. I mean, I go to Confession at least once a month because it makes me feel better. I would be happy if they would go once a year during Lent, like the Church asks us to do instead of hiding from it.

-Jeanne

Well, like I said before, I don’t understand how one sacrament can be tainted and the others not? After all, with the exception of Marriage (where the priest is a witness) and baptism (which can be performed by a deacon or in an emergency any Christian) all depend on being administered by the same “Men of God”.

If anything, it makes sense to have sinners be the conduits of God’s forgiveness more than the other sacraments. After all, it shows that God can produce perfection from imperfection.

–
Bill