I wonder how many ministers are outraged at his?
A series of recent allegations began when a lawsuit was filed claiming that Rev. Lawrence Murphy (who died in 1998) admitted to diocese officials in the 1990s that he molested over 200 boys while working at St. John's School for the Deaf in St. Francis, Wisc., for 25 years from 1950 to 1975. This was after other allegations of sexual abuse had arisen among the priesthood in Germany where 4 Priests and 2 Nuns are said to have been responsible for the physical and sexual abuse of over 300 former students who were children at the time. In fact the Pope admits to having slapped children on occasion but claimed that such practice was common place and not considered abuse by German standards.
Aside from the horrible crimes of physical and sexual sexual abuse perpetrated by these leaders, another crime was committed when, during the 1990's, after reviewing letters from two Wisconsin bishops rendering the priests former crimes, the administrating Bishop, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, asked for for a secret church trial and ultimately granted extreme leniency in dealing with the crimes of Murphy.
According to ABC News, the following note is said to have been the reason why then Cardinal Ratzinger granted this leniency to the criminal priest:
"I have just recently suffered another stroke which has left me in a weakened state. I have repented of any of my past transgressions, and have been living peaceably in northern Wisconsin for 24 years. I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood." ~ Former and the late rev. Lawrence Murphy to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
There was so much mercy extended that the crimes of this priest (which were revealed during a secret trial) were neither reported, handled, or addressed in any sufficient manner other than shuffling off the priest to another location and keeping quiet.
One Can't Escape The Judgement Of God
Covering crimes and serious negligence has led to the current scandal and seemingly blasphemous chorus from individuals calling for the Pope himself to step down because of his irresponsible and untrustworthy actions.
Numbers 32:23 ~ "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
Lesson: When the church plays the harlot, we are exposed and judged at the hands of men and will ultimately be judged at the hands of God! Financial costs are only the beginning. When a church looses its witness to the world it has become the salt that has lost its savor and is only good to be trampled under the foot of men.
All wrong will be reconciled and there will be no escape!
Matthew 5:13 ~ "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of men"
All wrong will be reconciled and there will be no escape!
Tears of sadness will be wiped away in that great judgement on on that great day. I don't believe those who have used the church as cover for their sins will escape (Matthew 25) as readily and easily as they think they will. There will be a price to pay for those who have misused the blood of Jesus and abused not only his sacrifice for the sins of the world but also the precious souls that have been placed in their account.
"Under The Foot Of Men"
One thing is sure, as stated, these crimes will not go unpunished because these are scoffers, walking after their own lusts. (2 Pet. 3:3) Because these men held the truth in unrighteousness, (Rom. 1:18) performed ungodly and damnable acts and assumed that the mercy and grace of God would simply be available to them because they asked. Criminals like these knowingly destroy countless lives, remain unapologetic and only sympathetic at the end of their pitiful and godless existence claiming to be "living in peace"??? What kind of peace accepts that lives have been destroyed because of personal and individual whims???
True repentance, remorse, and reconciliation occurs even when it's uncomfortable. True repentance spends a lifetime finding ways to correct wrong and injustice, especially the wrong and injustice that has been committed by he who who has done unjustly. I don't believe, based on scripture, that "true repentance" is anything close to what rev. Murphy displayed and don't believe that the sentiments he expressed were anything close to being acceptable to and with God in that great judgement. Neither should sentiments such as his be accepted by a church interested in righteousness, justice and the love of Christ for all men.
Certainly I expect that some will disagree, but if a man reaps what he sows, then he must reap an eternal punishment for the eternal pain and turmoil that he has unrepentantly caused in the name of the Lord.
Certainly I expect that some will disagree, but if a man reaps what he sows, then he must reap an eternal punishment for the eternal pain and turmoil that he has unrepentantly caused in the name of the Lord.
Atheist and literary critic (The Late) Christopher Hitchens said that the Pope himself should not be allowed to escape scrutiny in other parts of the world where sex crimes have been committed by priests under his watch and that there should be an "international warrant" for his arrest. He says this of Pope Benedict:
"He's supposed to be going to London and there is going to be a row about it," said Hitchens. "If another head of state was being pursued by people with questions about rape of children, would they meet them at the airport, shake their hands and meet the queen?" he asked. "Would they let them fly away again?" ~ Christopher Hitchens according to ABC News
If the church will not judge itself and come to accountability, then God will turn it over o the world and allow the world to trample it and trodden it under foot. Money cannot save it. Liturgy cannot save it. The size of the church will be insufficient to save it. Only true repentance will be acceptable to God but even then there must be an effort to restore what has been stolen and damaged.
We often see individuals acting out in their disdain for the church. In our streets our youth are establishing their own moral codes and sense of belonging. Have we stopped to consider what role the church has played in that? Have stopped to consider that maybe the moral imbalance that we can easily recognize, in part stems from the church's sins, negligence and failure in it's true mission? Have we considered that maybe we have failed to display the love of Christ in the earth because of unaccounted for sins?
What a mission we have been given and what a responsibility that we have. Will we rise to meet the true need? The need of the soul!
Blessed!
Also See: Have You Been A Victim Of CSM?
We often see individuals acting out in their disdain for the church. In our streets our youth are establishing their own moral codes and sense of belonging. Have we stopped to consider what role the church has played in that? Have stopped to consider that maybe the moral imbalance that we can easily recognize, in part stems from the church's sins, negligence and failure in it's true mission? Have we considered that maybe we have failed to display the love of Christ in the earth because of unaccounted for sins?
What a mission we have been given and what a responsibility that we have. Will we rise to meet the true need? The need of the soul!
Blessed!
Also See: Have You Been A Victim Of CSM?
This has and will continue to make big news. 3/30/2010 Larry King had most of these people on his show discussing teh Pope's involvement. Sinead O'Connor said she is approaching it with an open mind that teh Pope truely didn't know about those who had something to do with this, but still called for the Pope to make a sweeping declaration to ask all leaders to turn themselves in to authorities and for him to establish a better plan to address and support victims.
ReplyDeleteIt was a heated discussion as one of the guests said taht there was absolutley no evidence that the Pope had any involvement in the least and that the non-religious community was simply seizing an opportunity to smear, liable, and proceed in a greater agenda against religion in general.
While that may be true, in my opinion, it still does not excuse religious leaders from their responsibility to safeguard the people. We must do more than what we are doing at current.
Are you aware of the inclusion of a picture of Natalie Portman instead of Sinead O'Connor? Although this is pedantic, if you wish for your words to be taken seriously, it may be wise to carry out very basic and necessary research.....
ReplyDeleteThat was the RIGHT picture it was the same one carried on Rolling Stone magazine also. So obviously this person wasn't up on her changing looks.
ReplyDeleteI've updated the picture once again because may people are looking for information on Sinead's 18 day marriage that unfortunately ended in divorce.