Imitate Jesus This Lent and Always

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington
(From the issue of 2/26/04)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde during the Feb. 22 Mass for the seventh Sunday in ordinary time at St. Mary Church in Fredericksburg.

Two dates this week will be very significant for us as Catholics in this country: Feb. 25th, when the season of Lent begins, and Feb. 27th, when the John Jay Study on the Nature and Scope of Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors will be released. Today’s scripture readings speak to both these events and help us understand and respond.

Lent is our annual retreat, 40 days of intense imitation of Christ. Through prayer, penance and almsgiving, we seek to become more like Him. After all, at Baptism, we were recreated in His image and the rest of our earthly life involves our allowing God to trace more permanently in us the image of Jesus His Son. In fact, is this not what we asked in today’s Opening Prayer? "Father, keep before us the wisdom and love you have revealed in your Son … Help us to be like him in word and deed." Moreover, in today’s second reading from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, we are also reminded that we are to become more like Christ. "Just we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one." Let us use Lent to become authentic imitators, disciples, of Jesus!

The John Jay Study on the Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic clergy in this country from 1950-2002 is an unprecedented study — the first ever of its kind by an organization or group. This study is part of the United States bishops’ response to the terrible scandal and unspeakable tragedy of child sexual abuse by some Catholic clergy in our country. Even as we apologize and remain pained that clergy within the Church abused young people, we also realize that the evil of child sexual abuse exists beyond the Church and is unfortunately present in other segments of our society, including the family. Bishop Wilton Gregory summarized this very well on Friday: "I would like to believe that the Catholic Church is taking a bold step not only because of the seriousness of this issue for us, but the seriousness of this issue for all of society. … We invite others who are in similar situations of being involved with the care of children … to join us in trying to provide real, accurate information for the sake of all children."

The report on Friday will undoubtedly be sobering. Media reports are expected to be along the lines of startling sound bites. Since no bishop will have the report until it is first given to Bishop Gregory on Ash Wednesday, I have no concrete information at this time. Our own diocesan statistics were released this past week. I encourage anyone with an allegation to come forward to the authorities and to our diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Jennifer Alvaro.

Today’s scriptures, especially the gospel, speak to the pain and distress which all of us are experiencing. Jesus, in His own words recorded in today’s gospel account, and later by His very example on the Cross, models for us forgiveness and compassion. "To you who hear, I say, love your enemies, do good to them who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you … love your enemies and do good to them … be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Let us be honest, these are hard sayings in any setting but especially in the midst of these painful times. At the root of child sexual abuse is the power of sin and the only way to respond to sin and its terribly evil consequences is to imitate Christ: to forgive, to be compassionate and to speak words of love.

To speak love is to speak truth, or, as Saint Paul puts it, to speak the truth in love. This is the truth:

— The truth that in 50 years, many priests abused many young people, while a hundred thousand priests abused no one.

— The truth that no comparable studies have been done of other churches, school systems, or society in general.

— The truth that many cases were not made public because the victims wanted privacy.

— The truth that offending priests sometimes were reassigned in past decades because mental health professionals pronounced them rehabilitated.

—The truth that victims were deeply harmed and deserve the Church’s help.

Speaking truth does not relieve our pain. But speaking the truth can free us from the bonds of sin — our sins and the sins of others. Speaking the truth can set us free to minister to victims, to attend to abusers, and to reform our practices.

Yes, in the days ahead, we must face the truth, speak the truth and do the truth, that is, we must imitate Christ in being compassionate and forgiving. To forgive is not to condone what is wrong and evil; but it is to go beyond feelings of revenge and rage, to give hope, healing and life to both victims and their abusers. In doing that, cursing can be turned into blessing, despair turned into hope, and hatred turned into love. So be it. Amen.

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