CTF Pastoral Message-1
Transcript of CTF Pastoral Message-1
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CATHOLIC TEACHER FORMATION
A Pastoral Message to all Catholic ITE
Students
Father John Bollan
6
th
March 2013
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Dear Students,
Holy Week Come Early
Over the past few days I have been looking a lot at the image on the cover of this
Message. Its a Peter Howson painting of The Agony in the Garden and it is a
characteristically gritty - yet beautiful - depiction of one of the Gospels most
dramatic pages.
You can see the (usually comforting) sight of torches in the distance, drawing
nearer. This time, however, there is little consolation to be had. We see the figure
of Christ as the centre, pleading with the Light (is it simply the moon, or is it His
Father?) for this moment of bitterness and trial to pass. All around him, the
apostles sleep; they are oblivious to his distress. In his telling of the episode,
Matthew tells us that Jesus referred to the words of the prophet Ezekiel: You will
all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered (Matthew 26:31). It is notable that the
apostles, almost one by one, say words to the effect of Perish the thought! We
know, of course, what happens next.
This image of the suffering of Jesus, surrounded by the slumbering foundation
stones of the Church is also particularly suggestive at this time of trial for the
Church here in Scotland. There is a starkness in that image: a tree which looks not
quite alive; and is that light consoling or is it more of a search-light, bringing a
harsh scrutiny on the scene below? These past days have felt very much like Holy
Week and the glare of the worlds attention has been focused on the Church of
which we are a part. What it has revealed has not been flattering. We have seen
lapses in the kind of pastoral care and concern we rightly expect from those who
are ordained to serve and lead us; there has been much crowing about hypocrisyand collapse of the Church in Scotland. I know that many of you, who are in the
front line as Catholic teachers in formation, will have been subjected to abuse and
derision because of your identification with the Church. I am quite sure that many
of you have been hurt and confused by what has taken revealed. Indeed, earlier
today I met with BEd1 and we had a reflective and honest conversation about some
of the issues which have been pushed to the forefront at this time. They expressed
shock, shame and yet a desire to grow through this experience, however painful it
is just now.
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I would like to offer you a few thoughts by way of a reflection on these events. I do
so in my capacity as someone entrusted with helping your spiritual and pastoral
formation, but also with the comments and questions which have been articulated
by your fellow students in mind. I do this because I am aware that the majority of
you are on placement just now and I do not have the opportunity to meet with you
as I would prefer, face to face. I am also concerned that with a stricken shepherd,
the flock might, if not scatter, then certainly feel more exposed and vulnerable
than I would wish you to be.
Facing Up to Facts
Archbishop Tartaglia has admitted that the credibility and moral authority of the
Catholic Church has been dealt a serious blow. I think we must, as he has said,accept this as a fact and deal with it. A cause of disappointment and frustration
among students has been the poor way in which these events appear to have been
managed or the lack of transparency in explaining what is happening. We live at a
time in which the leadership of the local Church is under great strain: really only
three of our eight dioceses are being led by bishops who are not nearing retirement
(or already vacant). I think it is important to pray for our bishops and work with
them at this time.
Perhaps the strongest and most vocal views have been expressed about the charges
of hypocrisy and the kind of language which has been a feature of the debate
around same sex marriage in Scotland and the UK. It is certainly important for
the Church to be able to voice passionate opposition to ideas without leaving itself
open to being portrayed as attacking the people who espouse those ideas or
sincerely hold those views.
It is clearly wrong, however, to suggest that the Church has no right to speak outon issues such as, for example, same sex marriage just because some in the
Church may have struggled or be struggling with their own sexuality. It is not
hypocrisy for someone who has had direct experience of a behaviour and its
consequences to speak about (and against) that same behaviour. What is important,
of course, is that that speech is compassionate and motivated by charity: as St. Paul
says, speaking the truth in love is a sign of Christian maturity (Ephesians 4:15).
Truth spoken without love is often as bad as a lie.
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A recurring feature of recent comments has been that the Catholic Church has a
problem with sex. I would respectfully suggest that the problem is not ours, but
societys. Only last week we saw headlines about children as young as seven
exchanging sexual images by mobile1: we live in a pan-sexualised society, where
having sex is regarded as a fundamental human right. It is not uptight to say that
this has unhealthy consequences. The liberalisation of sexual mores in the 60s and
70s also licensed many of the attitudes which we now rightly deplore as a result of
high-profile revelations of abuse in wider society. That the Church, especially its
priests and bishops, are also exposed to those influences is unfortunate, but
unsurprising; the fact remains, however, that the Church should be held to a higher
standard and that the abuse ofpower(which is really at the heart of all abuse) is the
most grievous self-inflicted wound of all. Saying that celibacy lies at the root ofthese issues really misses the point and distracts from many of the deeper questions
which require attention.
Facing Up to Challenges
There is no doubt that there are serious challenges ahead for us. All the wisest
heads in the Church have been remarking that we need to ensure that a sense of
honesty, humility and an acceptance of responsibility are apparent in what we do
and say. This has been a humiliating experience for Catholics, but if we can salvage
greater humility from it, then it will not have been fruitless. This is certainly a time
for those in positions of authority and trust to be genuinely humble: the man who
thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall (1 Corinthians 10:12) was St.
Pauls warning at Mass last Sunday.
In a more technical sense, I think there needs to be a revival of the lost art of
apologetics (defending and explaining the faith): the more the teachings of the
Church are questioned, the more important it is to understand what those
teachings are and see their origin and development, rather than doctrinal
impositions from above. We should be ready to defend the Church but not, of
course, to defend the indefensible.
In amongst those voices who are rightly critiquing the Church and exposing its
inconsistencies, there are also the voices of those who quite openly would wish
to destroy or silence the Church. A great deal of the commentary in the media of
1 http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/children-as-young-as-eight-exchanging-sexual-images.20380803
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late has tried to conflate aspects of poor witness, sinfulness and secrecy on the part
of the Church into a kind of open season on the Catholic faith and the Catholic
faithful in general. On the Today programme on Monday, John Humphries
introduced a segment on the impending Conclave saying that the words priest
and paedophile had become almost synonymous. The other day I tweeted I
wonder if the Catholic Church will get the blame for Justin Biebers two hour no-show?: I
was pulled up for being oversensitive and it was suggested that we would be less of
a target if we acted more responsibly in our chosen professions. I do, of course,
get that and that is absolutely correct. But, as I pointed out, a lot of what is being
slung at the Church is way off target and has little to do with the challenges of the
present moment.
At all costs I think we need to avoid those currents who would seek to split the
laity from the clergy, arguing that the Bishops and Priests have been tainted by the
suspicion of impropriety, hypocrisy or wilful blindness. On the contrary, this is a
time to draw closer together (not closing ranks) in prayer and communion: we
need each others love and encouragement in these days. Those in Seminary who
are preparing to serve as our priests Im sure you know many of them - also
deserve our friendship and support.
By the same token, we should be cautious that talk of purifying the Church leads to
an idea of a Church of the Pure in which sinners have no place and no hope.
Writing in 1969, a fairly young Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) penned
these words:
Because of the Lords devotion, never more to be revoked, the Church is the
institution sanctified by him forever, an institution in which the holiness of the Lord
becomes present among men. But it is really the holiness of the Lord that becomes
present in her and that chooses again and again as the vessel of its presencewith a
paradoxical lovethe dirty hands of men One could actually say that precisely
in her paradoxical combination of holiness and unholiness the Church is in fact the
shape taken by grace in this world Is the Church not simply the continuation of
Gods deliberate plunge into human wretchedness; is she not simply the
continuation of Jesus habit of sitting at table with sinners, of his mingling with the
misery of sin to the point where he actually seems to sink under its weight? Is there
not revealed in the unholy holiness of the Church, as opposed to mans expectation
of purity, Gods true holiness, which is love, love that does not keep its distance in
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a sort of aristocratic, untouchable purity but mixes with the dirt of the world, in
order thus to overcome it? Can, therefore, the holiness of the Church be anything
else but the bearing with one another that comes, of course, from the fact that all of
us are borne up in Christ? [Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity]
I find that a beautiful summary of the mystery of sinfulness in the Church: Gods
holiness is at work even in the midst of the dirt and mess of life. Far from keeping
its distance, Gods Love is the Word which becomes flesh in the Son: he is the
Logos, the reason and purpose of the whole of creation and of the Church in
particular. We are nothing if we are not a people who understand, give and receive
mercy.
Concluding Thoughts
In these days we have also, providentially I think, been celebrating First Confession
in our parishes. Far from being about guilt foisted on children, these have been
joyful and hopeful celebrations of healing at work in the midst of failures to show
love. The search light of grace shines on us too: these days of Lent are a gift to
us, calling us to examine our own consciences, acknowledge our own sinfulness
and to seek reconciliation with the Lord. As we face up to painful revelations of
past sins, I would encourage you to pray hard for a number of intentions.
1. For Cardinal OBrien: he has served the Church in a variety of capacities forfifty years. It is important that the good he has done is not forgotten and that
this experience may be, in the end, a moment of grace.
2. For all those hurt by abuses of power in the Church: as priests, by priests orothers in positions of trust and responsibility - that there is healing, but also
change where needed.
3.For Pope Benedict XVI: that he may be blessed with peace and health inretirement. Unfairly vilified by so many, he has been a gift to the Church in
these past eight years.
4. For the Cardinals gathered to elect a successor to Peter: we need a lovingand wise Shepherd to guide the universal Church in the name of Christ. The
Petrine ministry, the office of Pope, is founded on forgiveness and love
(John 21:15-19); we ask the Holy Spirit to make such a man known to the
electors.
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5. For our Catholic community in Scotland and especially our schools: that allthat is beautiful and true in what has been passed on to us will shine still
brighter in the future.
6. For our teachers and for you, our teachers in formation: that faith in Jesusand the Church, which is his body, will be strengthened among those who
point our children and young people towards the door of faith.
I hope that you will forgive my writing to you at this time (and at such length): I
anticipate that some of what I written may not sit well with you or you have
other questions or views to express. Please know that I am here for you and, as
time permits, am committed to address any other concerns you have.
Know also that, despite my talk of humility, I have never been prouder to be aCatholic or a Priest than I am just now: there is no such thing as cheap grace.
This letter finds me strangely peaceful and joyful. I pray the same for you.
With every good wish,
Fr. John
Coordinator of Spiritual & Pastoral Formation