What can I do to help a persecuted parishioner?

[debmarrinan]

A sister from our diocese led a discernment for pastoral council in our parish. She phoned a parishioner and told him not to attend because he needed to gain integrity in our parish. There were three women in our parish who had submitted letters of complaint against this parishioner. These three women are known to be troublemakers. Our priest would not defend this parishioner. I don’t know what to do. I do not feel good about attending church now. Can you help?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

While the circumstances you relate certainly sound troubling, I’m not convinced that this is something in which you should presume to involve yourself. At most, you might urge the parishioner to discuss the situation with the pastor, and, if the pastor is unreceptive, with the bishop. But it is the parishioner’s responsibility to defend himself. You can support him with prayer and friendship, but I don’t think you can involve yourself further, at least at this point and based upon what you have reported here.