The Secret of Being an Author
No Longer Home
I saw a photo of inside a Catholic Church and superimposed on the image were these words:
"I will always be Catholic,
Because no sin of man can change the truth.
The truth that the Church is Home.
Home of the Apostles.
Home of the Eucharist.
Home of the Sacraments.
My Home.
And here I will stay to help clean up this House for Christ."
Here is what bothers me about this picture. First of all, it is a beautiful sentiment. But how are the lay people supposed to clean up anything? We have no power in the Church.
Our "governing" body at the Vatican is quick to point out any and all behaviors that they deem immoral, and state that they are the moral authority. But when a bunch of priests, over years, sexually abuse countless children, they are oddly silent. Nothing is done.
It is called a "scandal" or the "scourge of sexual abuse." Those words are not strong enough. It's not a scourge. We're not being persecuted. No one came into our house and sexually abused our kids--our priests did it. The people who are supposed to bring us closer to God. So people need to start calling it what it is--demonic and evil.
I wish that my outrage had a channel. I wish could do something. Because thoughts and prayers are not enough. But what am I going to do? Write a letter? Start a petition? Join a group of equally outraged people?
The change needs to come from the Vatican. But it won't. I can't count on them to do anything. They've done nothing so far. It will have to come from the FBI. It will have to come from the law. Maybe that's where I need to start. And you know what, that's really sad.
So, yes, the Catholic Faith is beautiful. The Catholic Faith is home. But the Church isn't, not to me, not anymore. They blew that to hell when the Vatican learned that priests were sexually abusing CHILDREN and did nothing.
There are no words to describe my rage. Rage that it happened. Rage that those with the power to do something have done nothing else but an apology. Rage that those who want to do something--the laity--have no power at all. We're powerless. I'm powerless.
So why do I stay Catholic? Well, to be honest there is only one reason: because I believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. He is the only reason I stay. And if I didn't truly believe in that, believe in Him, with all my heart... I wouldn't. And no one can judge me for feeling that way.
The Vatican has let us all down. The Church has let us all down. It sure seems like they desperately want to sweep it under the rug. But I will not be silent about this. I'm not going to pretend it didn't happen, no matter how badly it hurts.
I don't know where I can make my voice heard... but I will somehow.
About the Author
More by Lisa Mayer
