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Published: August 15, 2008
“She lacked a peddler's permit”
Nun ticketed for selling statuettes of Blessed Virgin outside San Jose parish wants her name cleared
A young nun who was ticketed by San Jose police on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe for selling little statues of the Blessed Virgin to raise money for a soup kitchen wants the charges against her expunged, the San Jose Mercury News reported yesterday.
 In a column by writer Scott Herhold, the Mercury News recounted the story of Notre Dame Sister Marie Linie Marot, 28, who wants Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr to issue a "finding of factual innocence" regarding charges lodged against her as a result of a Dec. 12, 2007 incident outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Jose.
Sister Marie, Herhold reported, “was accused of an unusual offense: selling statuettes of the Virgin Mary on the sidewalk. The cops said she lacked a peddler's permit and refused instructions to close up.”
According to a police report, “cops were directed by their sergeant about 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 to clear the street vendors from sidewalks near the church, which is at San Antonio Road and Preservation Drive,” Herhold wrote. “Neighbors had complained the day before about traffic. Using Spanish on a public address system, they told the vendors to disperse and followed it up with personal warnings. Sister Marie and another nun stayed. The cops say they were still there two hours later.”
When the case came to court in May, San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle dismissed the charges. “No jury or judge was going to convict a nun of a misdemeanor for selling statues of the Virgin, particularly not on the feast day of the Virgin de Guadalupe,” wrote Herhold.
 But Sister Marie is not satisfied with just having the charges dismissed – she wants the record of the charges completely erased, which requires a “finding of factual innocence.” Reported Herhold, “The attorney for the order, Todd Moreno, said the cops had not given her adequate warning -- she speaks French -- and that Sister Marie had stopped selling statuettes when she was cited. Moreno says the cops wouldn't let her call her mother superior for instructions.”
Sister Marie’s request for a factual finding of innocence is still wending its way through the legal system, said the Mercury News. If such a finding were issued by the DA, however, it could open the way for a lawsuit against the police department – something Moreno told the newspaper the nun has no intentions of doing.
Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 8:36 AM By Thomas
TEN YEARS TO LIFE WOULD BE REAL JUSTICE, WHAT A JOKE!! NO WONDER THE MURDER AND THE CRIME RATE IS UP IN THE CITY OF ST. JOSEPH, WHO KNOWS; MAYBE A NAME CHANGE IS IN ORDER FOR THE CITY OF SAN JOSE!
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 9:05 AM By Blackie
Bad cops -- no donuts! -- as the bumper sticker says. Anti-Catholic bigotry in action! We're overrun with drug peddlers. border crossers, pornography pushers, murderous gangs, anti-Catholic hate crime-commiters and sex criminals of all kinds, not to mention abortion chambers, euthanizers, embryonic stem cell ghouls and human-sacrifice doctors who cut organs out of living patients for transplant, but the cops arrest only this good Catholic sister. The local bishop, and all the Calif. bishops, need to defend Sister Marie Linie and all Catholics by denouncing the harassment and demanding a finding of innocence.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 10:09 AM By M.R.
I am so happy to hear that there is so little crime occurring in Santa Clara, that the police have time to arrest a bride of Christ selling statuettes of the Virgin Mary. Must be nice to live in such a peaceful town with such low crime!
Alors! C'est dommage, mon soer!
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 10:33 AM By Eileen
I sure hope that the officer who ticketed Sister Marie Herhold was not Hispanic! When this officer reaches the pearly gates and St. Peter introduces him to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Peter may just quote Cuban Ricky Ricardo and say, "Shame on you officer... you have some big splaining to do"!
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 10:48 AM By Grisha
My daughter once got arrested in front of SF City hall in one of Sister Bernie Galvan's protests against mayor b Brown's homeless policies. The poor cops (half in SF are Catholic) begged Sister to accept a citation and not insist on arrest and bookings. The cop who booked my daughter told her he was afraid his mother would find out he was arresting nuns and he'd be in big trouble. Maybe Mother Superior ought to just call the officers' moms.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 12:27 PM By Tom S
All of you have to realize that the good sister was not observing the law and remained two hours after the rest of the peddlers left. The peddlers who complied were not charged with anything. Her case was based upon not having a license, not because she was selling statues. She did not follow the law, so she had to face the consequences. If I were the judge I would have charged her with a misdemeanor. What prevents some pagan selling trinkets somewhere without a license and using the same arguement. His or her lawyer could argue that a precedent was set and his/her client should not be charged. Folks it works both ways!
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 4:05 PM By John L. Sillasen
Tom S is right ... they should have sent in SWAT, dragged her off in shackles and chains, submitted her to water boarding, the iron maiden, the rack, and years in a Turkish prison, and then bring her up for arraignment. That nun has obviously committed the crime of all history, paling anything committed by even the devil. Then she should be sentenced without a trial, and all the property of her order turned over to the mayor so as to improve his chances for becoming governor. Also, the archdiocese should be fined for all its worldly worth and again these proceeds should be handed to the mayor on a silver platter for his eventual use when running for president of the US. Furthermore, she should then be held in secret as hostage for ransom by the Pope, for you can betchur boots what for.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 4:44 PM By Victoria
This reminds me of the time back in 1958, when the police burst into our parish hall with guns drawn to raid our Thursday Night Prize Bingo.They were wrong and so are the authorities in Santa Clara. But if they insist on going by the, "Letter of the Law", well then, FLASH!!!!!!! They had better put their SWAT Teams on call to raid every church in the United States, because they are all selling something outside the churches after Sunday Services. Heck the best tamales I ever ate came out of a big pot of tamales being sold outside a Cathoic Church in East Los Angeles. And Eileen, it doesn't matter if the cop was Hispanic or not. I can only surmise that he was a Rookie. (WE KNOW HE'S A JACKASS). My Daddy was a Deputy Sheriff and he was THE MOST Kind, Humane Peace Officer I Ever Knew.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 5:51 PM By Tom S
John, we have put many of the clergy on a pedastal too long. I have always respected nuns and priests that live the example of Christ, but too many nuns and priests now says have lost that aura of respect. Nuns and priests are human and they are not perfect. Why should this nun be treated any different than you and I, even if she was a nun and selling the statues. My sister who lives in the midwest tells me of the problen they are having at their parish. The pastor refuses to live there (he has a condo 5 miles away), has cut down the amount of masses. has closed the school. and allows a 86 year old retired priest to live by himself at the rectory and do most of the other work. The archbishop refuses to do anything about the situation since the pastor and him are buddies. This only causes great scandal to the church and
gives and an excuse for Catholics to no longer care much about listening to the priests or nuns.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 6:01 PM By Cyrus Johnson
Please show me the permits for all who ask for money from the street-side of San Jose and San Francisco(!)
This dear nun is a religious exponent acting non-commerically who cannot be reasonably characterized as a "peddler" but rather as one distributing religious views and articles and seeking donations to benefit not even herself or any business enterprise but rather a religious entity aiding the poor. As she is no peddler and needs no permit, any attempt to require a permit for her public religious exercises would be a prior restraint on religious practice which is unconstitutional. I hope this argument is being made loudly by the good attorneys on the case.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 8:20 PM By John L. Sillasen
Tom S, I have not put any clergy on a pedastal. BTW, why do the people in your sister's parish pay the tab? But getting back to the nun in Santa Clara ... yeah, it's all her fault. The Russians just attacked a small country because this nun was selling statues; she should be sent to a re-education center at Gitmo for her unconscionable and heinous act, not to mention her dastardly deed. Young people today ... geesch! No respect for documentation at all; she needs to be forced ... once she completes her service on a chain gang in the middle of a Louisiana swamp ... to write on a million sheets of computer paper in small cursive letters, "I promise to be good". Then she absolutely would need the final step, namely researching all libraries in the world for all documents relating to violating local, regional, state or provencial, national and international rules, regulations, laws, treaties, maritime conventions (were we going to have her keel hauled also?), stipulations, licensure procedures and protocols published by all possible organizations including what Rasputin might have put into effect with the Rostovs (or whatever that family was named). Then, maybe, she would be allowed visitors. It just blows me away that anyone, especially a nun, would actually exchange a religious item for money; hasn't anybody heard of "You cannot serve both God and mammon"? What is this world coming to, when we cannot even trust someone to refrain from selling religious articles? The end is near, perhaps; let us prepare our souls for eternity. Thousands of us should march on Santa Clara with pitchforks and torches so as to correct this problem.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 8:36 PM By John L. Sillasen
Tom S, I agree. I'd lay odds, if I were a betting man, that Vatican Council II had something like this in mind ... to de-pedastalize the clergy. Not that clergy should not be raised up, but only authentically. The problem is that laity tends to allow itself to lapse into spiritual slavery, and then believes and does everything it's told ... I went through a brief phase in my pagan years of running a few absurd scenarios on people who took it all seriously as if it were so. Maybe some priests do this. I remember the feeling when I would pull it off ... but by the grace of God I let it go and moved up a few steps in faith; evidently not all people give up childish ways as they move through the years.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 9:09 PM By tedn
So she got off, while anyone else would have gotten a ticket. Hmmm... sounds to me like someone is looking for "special rights". Now where have I heard of some group accused of that, just recently...??
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 9:26 PM By Bert
I like the way nuns used to dress, before they got all manly.
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Posted Friday, August 15, 2008 11:34 PM By Eileen
Tom S.... Many Catholics do understand your frustration. Don't worry about this one. You can still have respect for this little French speaking nun who was interested in selling statuettes of Our Lady of Guadalupe. You see Tom, the ones who have gone off of the deep end, don't want to be nuns selling statuettes of Our Lady. They want to be priests and Bishops without permits. Did anyone ever find out if she was wearing a full habit? If she was, Praise God!...She is an endangered species who deserves our protection!
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:00 AM By Bert
Not that there's anything wrong with how she looks either. She looks very fine too.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:28 AM By Sonja
Bert, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????!!!!!! You are speaking of a costume, not the Mission of what these Great Ladies of Our Church (Nuns) are all about. A Consecrated Bride of Christ has given up much to serve Our Blessed Savior; and HIS people. You expect to see a Nun in a, "Cookie Cutter" outfit? I asked some Nuns if they missed all that starch and all those layers of cloth. Their answer???? HECK NO!!!!!! It's all about what they do, not what they wear. Go rent yourself, "The Bells of Saint Mary's".
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:33 AM By Eileen
Victoria, I get it. Are you the same Victoria that believes women should be priests? Just checking. The last Victoria never responded to that question. It is helpful to know which Victoria you are. I think it is wonderful that your father was the most kind and humane peace officer. I find it interesting that you wanted to bring in a bit of appreciated levity about the delicious tamale sales in front of the church, but that no one else can bring in levity. That's not peacemaking charity. Victoria, I know it does not matter what nationality the officer was. Since the statues were of Our Lady of Guadalupe, would you have preferred I say the officer was Polish? Had the statues been Polish Madonna's I would have, but then the levity would have lost it's meaning. I'm not bothered by your levity of "heck the best tamales I got were from a pot outside a Catholic Church". That's funny Victoria.'. Are you bothered with my levity because you are the same Victoria who believes that women make good priests? I have already told that Victoria that I have compassion for the suffering she has endured because of bad clergy. I have loved and supported the victims of the scandal that I have encountered. They do deserve our support because they were betrayed. That still does not excuse the disobedience of women who think they can be a Catholic priest. They are not priests. They are a different type of betrayer. If you are a new Victoria who accepts all of the Teachings of the Catholic Church, please let me know?
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 8:57 AM By Grisha
Bert: "Manly" or not ...when I was seven and they towered over me in the full CSJ habit I was scarred as ......
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 11:21 AM By betty
I once was a passenger in a truck; the other passenger was a nun who sat in the front seat beside the driver. She was having a heated argument with the driver becuse she wanted him to park in a place where there was a "No Parking " sign posted, He adamantly refused to park the truck there and she angrily told him he could park there because there was an Irish cop on duty who would never give a ticket to a nun. He finally won the argument because he steadfastly refused to park there. I lost my admiration for nuns when I heard her screaming at hm and calling him names such as "stubborn", :mule-headed" etc. Nuns should not be selling things without a permit, any more than anyone else should. Where do they get the idea that they are above the law?
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:05 PM By Bert
Yes, I'm talking about the costumes. Do you prefer nuns in pantsuits? Those who wear them say they like them. Some say it's "all about what they do and not what they wear," but do you suppose those who wear the habit and those who historically instructed them to wear the habit think that what they wear doesn't matter? Thank you.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 2:05 PM By Victoria
Eileen, I know there MUST be more than one Victoria in this world. You seem to go manic on the topic of women priests. But since it is so important to you, I will give you an answer. If this other Victoria thinks that women should be priests, she is entitled to her opinion. I personally feel that there should be a greater role for women in the church, other than doing laundry, housework, cooking and, in general, acting as "Handmaidens" and flatterers to men who are unworthy of Holy Orders. The, "Teachings of the church"? Yes. However, not all of the teachers are worthy. How many times on this blog have we read the words, "The Smoke of satan"? Do you know where that quote comes from, Eileen? They are the words of Saint Pius X, who recognized that evil had infiltrated our church. There are men (and I'm sorry to say, some women) in our church who are not what they seem to be. The devil is a conjurer and a sweet talker and the ultimate actor; someone who can quote scripture to his purposes. Just because someone wears vestments does not mean that they speak for Our Divine Savior. I know several good and holy men and women of the church who are worthy of our respect and support; two of them are bishops. And I know of three other bishops who are now live in out of the way places (one in a monastery down south) supposedly doing penance for their excesses and perversions. I hope I have answered your question.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 3:23 PM By Cecilia
Grisha,Sorry you had such a bad experience with the CSJ's. My sister and I were taught by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And while one of them was not what we would expect a Bride of Christ to be, in that she suffered with the sin of pride, on the whole, the other IHM's were true examples of what nuns should be.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 4:38 PM By JPeterman
Gee Betty, you really lost all faith in nuns because of a supposed argument you witnessed. Why do you even visit this website if your faith is so weak?
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 4:59 PM By Georgina
The first time I realized there was a pecking order among nuns was when I heard some, "Higher Class" nuns putting down the nuns we used to call, the Sisters of Victory. Their Mission was/is to go into the poor neighborhoods and teach the catechism to the children who's parents could not afford parochial school. I only experience kindness from these Dear Sisters of Victory. And I will never forget them.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 7:03 PM By Grisha
Cecilia - It wasn't a bad experience! They taught us self discipline and right from wrong! God bless them.
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Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 8:34 PM By Eileen
Victoria, You cannot be a faithful Catholic and say that dissenters are "entitled" to their own opinions about the church. That's Cafeteria Catholicism. The Catholic Church is not about opinions. Lucifer felt entitled to his own opinion when he rebelled against God. No one will argue with you about wolves in sheeps clothing or the smoke of Satan entering the sanctuary. We live in the Diocese of Orange California. We know that the smoke of Satan has entered the sanctuary. We know that everyone who wears a vestment is not worthy. This is nothing new in the History of the Church. The Church has had horrific scandals before. I know it is very difficult but you have to separate the people who have harmed you with the truth of the Catholic Faith. Jesus said, "The gates of hell will not prevail'. Jesus never said to Peter the first Pope..."When the wolves show up, I will send Susie and Gayle"! The Church is suffering the Passion and undergoing a much needed cleansing and purification. I will ask you to follow in the footsteps of your father who was always a kind peacemaker. Victoria, calling fellow Catholics manic is not charitable. You still never answered the question outright. Are two of your worthy women friends pretending to be Catholic Bishops? There are many beautiful roles for women in the Catholic Church. Following the example of the Blessed Mother in humility has brought forth some of the most influential women Saints. They did not rebel against Christ's Church by starting their own. Victoria, Please read the life of St. Rita of Cascia. St. Rita was also abused and saddened by her difficult tests and trials. Read the beautiful truth about the graces bestowed on St. Rita because of her obedience to Christ's True Church, even though men, women and circumstances betrayed her. God rewarded her for her faithfulness. St. Rita could have been entitled to her own opinion Victoria but she followed God's Opinion. "St. Rita" sounds better than Rita the rebel priestess.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 7:46 AM By Eileen
Georgina, You brought back such a sweet memory. Those Sisters of Victory were wonderful. My mother used to drive the Sisters of Victory to the houses of the families to teach Catechism. Sometimes my mom would cook breakfast for them at our house before she drove them. I can still remember the families setting up chairs in their open garages to get ready for catechism classes for the little children that were so poor in money but richer in spirit because of these dedicated little sisters. I don't think there was one sister over the height of 4 feet but there charity was towering. We certainly could use their zeal today! Thank you so much for the sweet return down memory lane.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 7:51 AM By Tom S
Eileen,
Why are you griping about Victoria's opinion? I felt that she gave a good response. People have a right to form opinions. Victoria does not strike me as a cafeteria Catholic. I agree with Betty, and that was my point, no one should be above the law because of who they are. We could change the law and perhaps allow priests, nuns, ministers, rabbis, and imans be allowed to peddle religious objects objects without a permit. Maybe you ought to campaign to change the law in Sam Jose. BUT PLEASE DON"T USE THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY CARD EVERY TIME!
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 5:56 PM By Victoria
Well, Eileen, I'm sorry my answer was not good enough for you. To answer your other question though, the Bishops I know are both men; and Good Men at that. However, may I, in the Spirit of Charity point something out to you? Your words to me were not of a person with the Love of Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit in their heart. Perhaps you meant to write with Love of the Spirit; as of one trying to reach out a soul they thought might be in distress. But, I'm sorry to say Eileen, that your words dripped with elitism, venom and sarcasm. Some people mean well but cannot express their true feelings. Perhaps this is your predicament. But when you wrote of the Victory Sisters, there was such warmth and love in your words. BTW, I too remember these dear Sisters. I never saw one of these wonderful ladies frown. They always had smiles on their faces. Why? Because the Love of Christ was in their hearts.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 6:02 PM By JLS
Opinions do not constitute the Catholic religion.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:05 PM By Eileen
Victoria, .... Ellitism? Venom and Sarcasm? Shouldn't those words be used to describe the deceitful people who harmed or betrayed you? Shouldn't those words be used for women who have promoted themselves to pretend they are priests and Bishops? Elitist is the red flag buzz word for liberals who really just have disdain for Catholics who accept "all" of the teachings of the Church. I'm surprised that you didn't throw in the word rigid. Maybe you've just given yourself away. Interesting that you and Georgina both refer to the Sisters of Victory as Dear and dear sisters. You are right though, they were dear.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:34 PM By Eileen
Tom S. writes.. "Eileen why are you griping about Victoria's opinion? I felt that she gave a good response. People have a right to form opinions". Using police officer lingo....This is crushing "evidence" of the lack of understanding! The minute you use the phrase "people have the right to form opinions" you are publicly convicting yourself of not understanding your religion. You either accept all of the teachings or you reject the teachings. Many people struggle but they still accept and follow the teachings because they have faith. Promoting women priests is not in the struggle category. It is in the seriously disobedient category. Rome has spoken! Trust Christ's True Church, not opinions. Tom S., you sound like a police officer! Are you? You mentioned earlier that the peddlers who "complied" were not ticketed. It sounds like you have first hand knowledge of police lingo. Officers frequently have to use the word comply. You wrote..."PLEASE DON'T USE THE RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY CARD", that sounds like Jack Webb in Dragnet. Tom S,....This sweet little nun was selling statuettes of Our Lady, not heroin or cocaine. I wrote earlier that I more than understood your frustration with some of the clergy. Perhaps the terrible pastor at your sister's midwest parish is worthy of your anger but your frustration should not be a 10 on the spiritual tension meter regarding this little French nun. I never thought I'd use him as a good example but If Bill Clinton can pardon a reputed drug dealer who has broken numerous laws, maybe you can find it in your heart to pardon a little French nun who does not speak English and was raising money for the poor. Please don't let that bad pastor or others turn your heart into a bloodless turnip. There are still very good priests and nuns throughout the world. No one is above the law but there is not one police officer who has not given someone a break or the benefit of the doubt. This little French nun surely deserves both.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 10:36 PM By JLS
Jesus cured ten lepers, and one came back to thank Him.
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Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008 11:19 PM By Victoria
Eileen, I don't pretend to be what I'm not. I consider myself a child of GOD and don't place myself in any particular category. You are bringing politics into it instead of good common sense and simple humanity. You sound bitter in your life and unsure of your beliefs. Stop reading and start praying. Eventually you will find your way. And the Sisters of Victory, Were, Are And Always Wiil Be, DEAR.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 11:41 AM By Eileen
Victoria, Have you forgotten what you previously wrote? You wrote that you are in the category of women who are unhappy about their roles in the church? You even used the words "Handmaiden" and "flatterers" to men in a bitter and sarcastic manner. A role that Our Blessed Mother accepted in humility is beneath you and other women. I hardly think that suggesting that you read the life of St. Rita, makes me a mean person Victoria. On the contrary, it is because I had compassion for you because you presented yourself as a victim of abuse. This is not about politics Victoria, this is about obedience. We are all children of God but some children throughout history just find humility and obedience very difficult. Some women have been abused and they are bitter about obeying church authority. They have lost confidence because they equate men who have hurt them with the teaching authority of the Church handed down through the apostles for over two thousand years. I do pray for the victims of abuse but two wrongs do not make a right. Victoria, you said that eventually I will find my way. That's the advice of a wandering pagan. I know that you must know better than that. I truly believe that Jesus Christ who founded the Catholic Church is the way. Jesus left the Church as a continuation of Himself. Separate the people who falsely represented the Church and harmed victims from the Glorious Truths of the Catholic Church. You know Victoria, not every woman who has chosen to rebel against the Catholic Church is a victim of abuse. They are victims of the sin of pride. They do not want to follow in the footsteps of Mary "the new Eve". They chose to imitate the "old Eve" who tempted Adam with your same logic. The old Eve was not happy with her role and she seduced Adam to disobey so they could feel their new roles as gods and not servants. Victoria.... The little Sisters of Victory would tell you to obey Christ by obeying His Church. Plain and simple.. That's what made them so Dear.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 12:30 PM By Victoria
Eileen, by telling me that I, "fall into a category of women who are unhappy about their roles in the church"; and then to say that I said that, is a falsehood. I said that I, "Am A Child of GOD". I don't fit into any particular type or role. 'Know what though, Eileen? I forgive you, because I think you are brainwashed and, therefore, lost. As for being a "Handmaiden", you seem to have chosen that role for yourself. Keep reading, Eileen. But, once in a while (just once in a while) PRAY. Go In Peace, Eileen.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 12:48 PM By Victoria
Eileen, since you like to read, may I suggest that you go to the blog, Abuse Tracker, sponsored by BishopAccountability.org. There is an excellent article written by Father Tom Doyle, "ON THE DISHONORING OF MY REGIMENT". Read the words of a Dominican Priest, and Canon Lawyer who saw the church's mishandling of the sexual abuse crisis from the inside out. In fact, I am amazed that CCD is not posting Father Doyle's article on this site.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 1:57 PM By Victoria
I've read Bishop Accountability.Org. and am mentioned in part of it. You go in peace and separate evil from the Truths of the Church. Dominican Priests and Canon Lawyers may write heartfelt opinions and facts about the evil mishandling of the scandals but you are still not listening. Separate the truths of the Church from those who have never accepted all of the Teachings to begin with. I would never presume that a person that I have never met does not pray. That is rash judgement Victoria. You have also pronounced rash judgement on the entire Truths of the Church because of the terrible sins of some men. While Bishop Accountability is necessary, your peace should lie in the fact that no one will get away with any evil deed because God will bring full accountability. His Church has always taught that fact, not Bishop Accountablity.org. Are you sure that you are not brain washed and lost because of a confusion of issues? I won't assume that you don't pray Victoria. Never assume that someone else hasn't walked in your same shoes either. I am surprised you are that naive. Trust the Truths of the Catholic Church, not prideful men or disatisfied women who seek to change them.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 2:23 PM By JLS
Victoria, you've got some legitimate points and experiences, but they fall victim to your homespun religion.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 3:00 PM By JLS
Victoria, I read your recommendation, by Fr Tom Doyle. It is an impassioned plea supported by a view based on Fr Doyle's impressions. The scale of the problem is not supported by facts ... that is a serious issue. What he claims could be true, or maybe only a gross exaggeration. How are we to know? Certainly what he lays out is the impression similar to what I've perceived over the years of looking at this scandal; however, Fr. Doyle couches his entire essay in terms that can be readily seen from monsterous to mouse-like. What are the facts? Facts are crucial. There evidently is a lack of action by many bishops, but this is how it might seem ... what are the facts? Are there other possible explanations that would make sense out of what the bishops collectively (or seeming to be collective) are doing? The undertone is ripe for Fr. Doyle to pounce on the idea that married priests and women "priests" would solve the problem, and that power and authority has to be transferred from the popes and bishops to someone else. Compare how authority was transferred from God to the Apostles ... without a vote, without a popular uprising among believers. Why would you or Fr. Doyle dream that this is not the right way to continue in the Church? The bishops are under attack; any opening they give to the aggressive powers behind the victims can spell doom: Christianity does not need outsiders or wolves feeding on the bishops. Do you see this problem? Who is leading the victims, is the essential question? Do you know who it is?
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 4:25 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
What many of you seem to be missing is that she was arrested for selling catholic religious articles outside of a Catholic Church.
I too feel that there have to be reasonable laws regulating commerce in public, but outside a Catholic Church!
Did the pastor call for her arrest? If he did, shame!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
www.crcoa.com
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 4:28 PM By Victoria
JLS, Bless Your Little Heart. The bishops are under attack because many of them have done wrong. They need to be investigated to weed out what all you people continually refer to as, The Bad Apples". Father Doyle was In The Vatican, On The Spot and Investigating The Clergy Sexual Abuse Scandal. He was and is not an outsider. He has seen the files that non of us will ever get to see. Our Lord promised to make his Apostles, "Fishers of Men", not rapers of children. Nor would Our Lord condone what has been done to the children of this world. As for leading the Victims? Are they being led? Most of us were wandering in the dark until, at last, we found each other. WE had to turn to each other because we were abandoned by the church we once loved. Alone we were helpless. Together we have a voice. I was 53 years old when I found out that I was not the only victim of the pervert priest that tore my life, my body and my Spirit to pieces. Before that, I had always been told I was his only victim. Turns out I was but one of over 200 sexually butchered little girls. Please Stop trying to suck up to the bishops and start addressing what will please Our Lord. Try The Truth.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 4:38 PM By Victoria
I think you meant to type your own name and instead, you typed mine. Eileen, I don't think you would know the truth if you fell over it. Like a parrot, or a robot, you only repeat what you have been programmed to think and say. You may never recover from this intense indoctrination. May Our Lord lead you away from the darkness in which you now wander.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 4:57 PM By Sylvia
John L. Sillasen, I have a question I hope you can answer. There is a story on this Abuse Tracker, "Some Men Take Vow They Can't Keep" (or words to that effect.) Here's my question.....If a man is already gay when he takes that celibacy vow at his ordination, is this not a sacrilege? Does it make his ordination a fraud and therefore, invalid? Everybody else, please stay out of this. I only want to hear from John. Thanks.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 5:35 PM By JLS
Victoria, they're under attack by various forces. One, the devil. Two, their defenses were and are somewhat faulty. They are the only bishops we have ... if we turn them over to the victims, then what? Some of the victims would resolve; other victims would draw no quarter. I'm not saying to back off; I'm trying to show you that there is more than one battle front. I'm not sucking up to the bishops, even though my various posts may suggest that. The guilty bishops should be tossed to the wolves. But it won't resolve any problem by confusing the issue by advocating women priests or married priests. BTW, where was the laity while the sins were going on? No one has attempted to give an answer to this question. As a convert, the answer is simply seen: A. The laity was busy wallowing in sin, B. part of which was idolizing priests. Read the Old Testament: The worst thing a people can do is place idols before God. When they do, then that's when the mud hits the fan. And hit it it did; and we're still having to duck the muck. Those who hear the call to get holy need to do that now; the others need to leave or be kicked out. This will happen, but I don't know when.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 5:56 PM By .
Its amazing how many of these comments have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with relating to the topic at hand. Catholics - get it together!
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 6:21 PM By Anne T.
I have a question, Victoria. As one woman said who went to Catholic school and was never molested, "Why were those girls (if there were really as many as two hundred) allowed to be alone with anyone for very long other than their parents? That ladies's parents and my grandparents who raised me warned us against the behavior of certain people, especially men. My grandmother told me to never sit on a man's lap. (And I knew that she did not mean my husband when I got older and married.) Where were these parents? Why weren't children warned? Where were the other people at the schools and churches, besides the bishops, who allowed this to go on? I know you and others were molested, but some of the accusations I cannot help but have some suspiscion about. Especially ones that are made long after the men are dead and cannot defend themselves. It is good, though, that it is all out now. All I can say is that any priest who allows himself to be alone with a child now is very foolish, and any priest who washes the feet of women on Holy Thursday, as some women are insisting on, is also being very foolish. I am sorry to have to say that, but it is true.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 6:49 PM By Grisha
Kenneth - What in Heaven's name makes you think that there is any likelyhood that the pastor called the police. I swear, sometimes the people on this forum sound like the anti-Catholic bigots of my youth in Fresno in the 1950's!
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 7:04 PM By Anne T.
Victoria, I do know that such things do happen. My grandparents allowed me and a little neighbor boy to go to the show together when we were eleven. It was not a date--just two children going to the show, and the shows were very decent back then. While we were there the man next to me put his hands on me where they did not belong. Because I knew it was wrong, and the neighbor child whom I was with knew too, we got away from the man. It was the eleven-year-old boy who told me exactly what to do so we could get away from this man because I was scared to death and did not know what to do. The parents I was familiar with back then brought up their young boys and male teenagers to protect girls and women, so that is why I wonder about some of the things that happened to other girls.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 8:30 PM By Eileen
Victoria, Look how you respond to people who care? You tell JLS to not suck up to Bishops and you tell me I'm a robot. Why are you interested in California Catholic Daily then? Do you consider it California robot daily? You are here because you do recognize love. If you are convinced that we are in the dark then what does that say about you for continuing to dialogue with the people who are in the dark? We are not in the dark Victoria. We see clearly the damage and mismanagent of the sex abuse scandals. Victoria, you said that I would not recognize truth if I fell over it. I recently received an e-mail from one of the spokespersons of the sex abuse scandals, This person thanked me for the love and support that I have shown. I have taken the time to meet with this person on several occasions. This person told me that if they were ever to return to the sacraments it would be because of the honesty I have expressed in admitting the terrible things that have happened. This person knows how much I believe in the teachings of the church. This person although terribly wounded, is angry at the way the scandals were treated, but they are not angry with the Church's teachings. This person accepts the teachings they don't accept those who abused and those who covered up abuse. This person recognizes love and truth, Victoria. This person has also experienced horrid and profound betrayal. I have not said anything different to this person than I have said to you. This person was selected by victims to speak out on behalf of victims. Victims such as yourself selected this person to represent them. What is the difference? I want healing also for you Victoria. You said that I would not recognize the truth if I fell over it. You are wrong, I do recognize your pain. Why are you here? How can we help you? We can only help you with the truth. You do not seem to be fulfilled by those who disagree with the Church's Teaching. How can we help?
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 10:40 PM By Victoria
Sorry, Eileen, but we don't, "Elect" fellow victims/survivors to speak for one another. I have spoken at sentencing hearings on behalf of other victims who were not able to look at the pervert who ruined their lives. However, I don't know of any victim's group that selects or elects other victim's to represent them. And yes, I have even heard of some victims returning to the church. One has even entered into a late vocation. I am happy for him. You ask what you can do to help? Invite victims to speak at your parishes. Then you will know what needs to be done.
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 11:22 PM By Victoria
Anne T.,You don't actually think my mother took me to the parish rectory, undressed me and then put me in the perpetrator priest's bed, do you? NO! He came and took me out of class. Told the nun he needed my help in the office and I was forced to go with him and to do as he said. I'm glad you got away from that man in the movie house. You had someone with you, I did not. And the man who tried to molest you did not have GOD on his lips during his attempted seduction. During the 1950's, you simply did not disobey a priest. And I was reminded that he could, as well as forgive sins, also dam. But now that the cases have been made public and the files are being opened, (AND I HAVE SEEN HIS FILE) I now know that this routine, in most instances, was his M.O. And not one nun ever questioned why he was taking the children (all little girls) out of class.Why Not? Because one simply did not question a priest. And don't drag out that old chestnut, "Where were the parents"? My parents did without to send us to parochial school, because they thought we would be safe and would receive a good education. We were surrounded by holy and religious people (they thought) so, why worry? The REAL Question IS, Why did the bishops of these dioceses allow known child molesters around children. When the perpetrator priest was sent to our parish, he had just been released from the priest pedophile treatment center in New Mexico. You've heard of that, I suppose? Run by the Servants of the Paraclete? They let this pervert out and sent him to our parish where he got me. Nobody warned my parents that our parish priest was a child molester. Why?? I leave that with you. Go ahead, Anne. What's Your Answer?
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Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 11:38 PM By JLS
Sylvia, depends. Your question seems to isolate the individual seeking ordination. If he has not been forthright, by intention, then he is being deceptive. That might invalidate his ordination ... you'd have to check with a canon lawyer. A sacrilege would involve intent to attack God. The situation you describe does not seem like such an intent, but it could be. So, you see, I'm not playing bishop here. I'm evaluating your scenario with the information posted. If it is a hypothetical question, then perhaps you'll continue with more specifics. But if it is a question concerning a real situation, then you should be consulting a Church authority you feel you can trust. Also, it is false that a man cannot keep chaste or celibate ... relying on a vow, however, is not going to cut it. One has to ultimately rely on God, with Whom all things are possible.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:00 AM By JLS
Victoria cares, but she is wounded. Any wounded creature works off instinct. That's what's happening in her life and in similar lives. The breach of trust is obviously severe. There are no specific answers for her other than to seek God, seek God in people, and this means trust. Theories like this are fine, but Victoria does not want theories; she wants redemption. It is not an easy road, but it works. It requires humility especially when interacting with someone who is trustworthy; remember that they also are going to be cautious. If they are trustworthy, then they know how they got that way, and they know the tricks that lie in wait for them. The first step is making oneself trustworthy regardless of the cost. But women are more vulnerable in this regard, and it is more difficult for them. Those dealing with them need to find ways to provide the type of love that Jesus or Blessed Mary Ever Virgin supply ... nothing less is going to have any effect, you will receive a few claw marks but those heal. The rewards provide a taste of the life of Jesus and the saints. He healed ten lepers and only one returned; did He then cancel the healing of the other nine? Did any of them return his favor? Well, He also teaches about the two brothers and sums it up with, one man said no and did good anyway, while the other promised yes and did nothing. It hinges on doing something; the reason it is possible to do nothing is because of the risk of doing something. Job risked praising God, and look the loss it cost him for a good while, before he found eternal happiness.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:18 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Grisha,
Do you know what a question mark means? What I stated was in the form of a question and it was proceeded by just such a question mark.
You are doing exactly what you are always stating we should not do, you are judging me, and within the proper context, judging is not always wrong, but in this case it is wrong. Actually I was hoping someone would come back and clarify that it was not the pastor who called the authorities, so you have judged me wrongly.
I also used "if" which implies uncertainty!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher, Founder & Chairman Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc. www.crcoa.com
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:43 PM By Grisha
Kenneth: With all due respect, I thought that just raising the question was bizarre. Whaever reason was there to speculate?
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:47 PM By Sylvia
Thanks, JLS, I knew I could count on you for a logical answer.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:35 PM By Victoria
Dear, JLS, I appreciate your understanding. However, I, and most of my fellow victims/survivors believe there is no such thing as healing. We refer to it as, "scabbing", because the wound is so deep it cannot heal. Periodically, an unexpected sight, sound, or smell, will break the wound open. With me, it is the smell of incense or nicotine. You are so right though, WE Must Keep Praying. So many of my friends cannot do that (Pray) because their perpetrators used some Sacrament, or revered religious object; even the Blessed Sacrament was used as a, "sex toy". How can anyone recover from such horrors? Well, we haven't (Yet) and some of us never will.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:38 PM By Anne T.
I am sorry to have to discuss this issue that does not pertain to the article above, but I believe it is necessary and important. Victoria, it does seem to be the bishop's fault in your case and some of the other cases. I think many of them fell for the "new" psychology where they thought abusers could change. I suppose some can, but it is wrong to take such chances with children and shoud not be done. Also, I still wonder why the nun's did not get suspicious, and also some of the parents if they heard about the priest only taking girls out alone. That in and of itself is suspicious no matter who does it. There has been a recent case where an older nun confessed to having molested little boys when she was younger, but it seems such cases were rare. The little boy who helped me get away from the molester at the show was Catholic, and evidently was brought up very well and told how to protect girls. My grandparents were not Catholic, and I was never alone with any adult in the church they and I attended. I believe in the rule that has been used in a public school near me that no adult be allowed to be alone with a child in a room without the door being open so anyone can come in at any time and only for a few minutes. I think ALL schools, churches and Sunday Schools should have that policy. The rule is not only good for the protection of the children, but also for the reputation of the teachers and other workers. The same should apply for those babysitting unless they are parents. There have been some cases of false accusations on the part of children. I remember reading about one young girl accusing at least seven men different men of molesting her, but in that case everyone knew she was lying. One false accusation can ruin an adult's life, just as one rape of a child can ruin theirs.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:43 PM By JLS
Sylvia, I also am a specialist in illogical answers. Just try me and I will not disappoint you. *** Victoria, "healing" properly is full restoration ... which happens under conditions called "miraculous". I have gone through some of what you are dealing with, although not the same category and not as severe (no physical abuse). The patterns are similar. What I have done to overcome the breaking open of the wound is use several strategies. First, the "no pain, no gain": I emerse myself in the catalyst. Eg, to reckon with breathing allergies, I run around in canyons and gullies overflowing with all manner of pollen. But I have also played it where I avoid the catalyst or reminder with extreme measures of avoidance; I used to tape the door jam to prevent cigarette smoke from entering the room ... now I have no problem with it. When nothing works, then I "cut my losses", and hobble on as best I can. I adapt because I have a goal of following the will of God. Presently a neighbor is in a crisis situation. He was physically roughed up on an extreme level by his first grade nun teacher, routinely beaten for refusing to read (he was dyslexic and nobody knew about such stuff then). He has been reported as a missing person, and left a suicide note. There is some indication that he was only contemplating it, but my gut feeling tells me I won't see him again. He has appeared in deep despair for a long time and never mentioned "the end" ... isn't that the scenario for the real thing? If I were a bishop, I would clean the clock; if that got me transferred to some remote area, then I'd clean house there also. I'd bring in exorcists, book keepers whose only job was to record the extensive excommunications among clergy and laity. I'd have a long long knee crawling path, surfaced with sharp gravel for welcoming visitors. Holy Communion would not be so easy to receive. Mercy would be whittled back to where only abject humility proven by visible actions would do.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:56 PM By JLS
Victoria, more needs to be opened up about the trials and tribulations of the victims of clerical abuse. The Truth will set us free. The darkness of faithlessness only serves to enslave those who make use of it. Obviously that darkness is being used to keep souls in dungeons where bad things are done. There is a Scripture in, I think it's Daniel, that reveals the sinister dark quarters laden with pornography and all manner of idolatries and impurities, used by some of the temple leaders and other elites. But the prophet revealed it, brought in the light of God. Your "scabbing" is likely a "word" of God used to communicate that the wounds are in need of light, in the same way as the evil is in need of the true light. That evil is continuing to be hidden by the oppressors, those who perpetrate darkness; they want slaves for Satan, and not souls for God. The late St Padre Pio had continuous "wounds of Christ" ... the situation is so bad that I have no doubt that God is beginning to intervene directly.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:03 PM By JLS
One additional comment for Sylvia and her investigation of logic. Logic serves faith. Logic was taught by faith. Neither defies love. The revelation of God was handed down so that logic could develop among people. Without divine revelation, logic ends in confusion, and is full of strife. Jesus said, perhaps it was through the Psalmist or prophet, "Come, let us reason together". Thus, as you can see, reasoning develops only with the love of God.
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Posted Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:18 PM By Victoria
I must report that, just now, I received a phone call from a TRUE Daughter of the Church. This woman does not preach; but rather, knows how to speak to victims, in simplicity and with the Love of Christ. This is someone who is filled with kindness and represents the, "TRUE CHURCH". "THE REAL LIVING BODY OF CHRIST". OH!!! If only,we all had that Gift. What miracles we could perform!!!!
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:09 AM By Victoria
At this very moment I am watching the film, "OUR FATHERS". This is the film that, for the first time, addressed the Boston Scandal. Along with this film, may I suggest you view, "DELIVER US FROM EVIL" , "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER" and "HAND OF GOD". Watch these films. Learn from them. If you won't listen to the words of the victims, at least listen to their stories.
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:35 AM By Victoria
JLS, are you saying that because we were touched by evil, we victims ARE evil? Please tell me I am wrong. I've felt the touch evil since that first time I was violated. I cannot,and will never forgive, the evil that was done to me. Bad enough the sexual violation. Even more horrible was the revictimization by the hierarchy that covered up these terrible crimes and thereby allowed more children to be abused.
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 2:38 PM By JLS
Victoria, how can you interpret what I've posted as saying that you are evil? Jesus teaches that "it is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out". Then, obviously, the evil that one experiences does not defile him or her. Forgiving someone for an evil does not give them a pass from the hangman's noose. Jesus has forgiven the world, yet the fires of Hell are popping and spitting with new residents. Foregiveness is not some simple "roll over" to the sinner. You should research it up and explore your options ... forgiveness is for the benefit of the victim, so that the heart will not be hardened up towards God. Remember that God did not violate you, but evil people did it. You can talk with God; God wants to hear everything you have to say. Ask yourself, did Jesus go around punishing victims of sin? No. Did Blessed Mary Ever Virgin go around punishing victims of sin? No. What, then, do they do? Why, the help the victims. In some rare cases, they even completely have restored the victims, and sometimes even beyond the damage. Some victims never have the ability to complain, because they are killed. Like I tried to point out, I would liken your wounds to the wounds of Christ. Also, Blessed Mary felt the pain of the spear that cut into the Heart of Jesus as He was hanging from the Cross. Unite your pain with the pain of Jesus and Mary ... not to forget also St Joseph who certainly endured the pain of self restraint (unless he was divinely protected from temptation).
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:53 PM By Edward
Government is all about politics, business relationships and money. Arresting a Nun who is essentially harmless is bad politics and bad business. This should be a no brainer for the D. A. (they are intelligent, after all it's spelled DA not DUH). They'll get this right.
Oh, and I can honestly say that I have never once in my life felt intimidated or afraid of a priest or a nun, regardless of his or her clothing. Every single priest and every single nun I have ever known, from the time I can first remember, has been kind, patient and caring. I have never experienced the "mean" nun or the "aberrant" priest. It has been my good fortune to always feel safe (when I was a child), secure (as I grew up) and grateful, as well as admiringly respectful (as an adult) in their presence. I have great affection for our Brothers and Sisters who serve God and us so faithfully; I love and respect them dearly. I know God has truly blessed me in this way.
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 3:54 PM By Victoria
JLS, Believe me, I'm trying. But so many of us feel evil because we were chosen for evil purposes. I used to have to confess to the pervert priest everything that he had done to me, as though it were my sin and not his. Please Be Patient With Me. I'm Trying.
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 7:00 PM By betty
Hi, J Peterman - I didn't say I had lost all faith in nuns. What I meant to say was that before that incident I used to think that all nuns were nice sweet people who went around saying God bless you to everybody. It was a shock to hear a nun screaming at a truckdriver and calling him names because he refused to park in a place that was marked "No Parking". She told him that it was okay to park there because there was a nice Irish cop who wouldn't dream of giving a ticket to a nun. That really bothered me and still does. I had thought better of nuns before that happened.
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Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:01 PM By JLS
Victoria, there are good people who practice professions devoted to helping such as yourself. Find one. It can be excruciatingly difficult to simply find such a person who has the talent and capability to help. They exist. What you are telling me is clear as a bell ... the perv priest in the confessional had you describing the ordeals because it was part of his perversion and his wickedness to relive it. I don't know if you believe that God waves a magic wand and you're good as new ... it's not like that. I was trapped in wild stuff back when ... I tried several times to make a break ... over the course of several years. Friends would find out that I was planning to leave and seek God, and presto, right back into the mess I would go. My drive to escape that sin bent social web (hundreds of people in a college community) led me ... with divine intervention ... to begin to open my ears and eyes to the voice and presence of God among His faithful. St John of the Cross tells about secretly going into the night ... that is how I made my break, ie secretly; I realized I could not trust anyone. I hit the road with a backpack, $40, a poncho and my dog. Three days later I found what I was looking for ... in the persons of what history calls the Jesus Freaks. If you want to experience the power of God, it is available. I had to judge various options, until I found one which I could not find a way to dispute. I've seen evidence of healing of physical problems as well as less visible issues ... although nothing "big" to report. One of the events that jolted me some months prior to my "escape", happened while walking by a Catholic Church. I was with two friends, one a libertine Catholic and the other a Hindu. The Catholic asked if I wanted to go inside and visit God ... It was as if I could suddenly see through the Church walls and closed doors ... and I rapidly said, "no". I could not hide from God, but it was my stunned awareness of this impending freedom!
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Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:04 AM By JLS
Victoria, another view of your situation occurred to me. That evil priest was setting you up to be a cult moll. I sure hope you don't allow that to happen, or if it did, then I hope you get yourself out of it asap, if you haven't already. Woman is created to be part of a marriage; when you get your bearings disoriented as evidently happened to you, then you absolutely need to find a trustworthy friend. That should be your first order of business. It is essential. Now there have been occasional saints who have had no friends to console them but Jesus and the Heavenly Host ... read the Book of Job, he stuck to his faith in God even though all turned against him, and even his wife begged him to give up and curse God for his misery. Now if I had been Job, I would have had my dog sit between me and my wife to keep her at bay, but Job didn't have that luxury, and so he had to tough it out. His wife would tell him ... and everyone knows the wiles they come up with ... to surrender to his misery; but he rejected that out of hand, and stuck with God. No matter what happens, bless the Lord. Command your soul to "bless the Lord" at all times. This is one of the ways the Lord will hear you and grant you some peace. You may feel alone in your pain, but you are not alone ... God is with you; open your heart to God. Like St Francis de Sales said, or maybe it was St Louis de Montfort, "To Jesus through Mary, and to Mary through Jesus": Just keep at it, Victoria, and you will win. Never give up; do not rest until you gain the victory which is waiting for you in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. There is nothing God won't do for you, if you allow Him. Remember, He even died for you ... He did it all. These words may trigger bad feelings, but find a way to get beyond the words ... there are various ways to pray. Just tell God that everything you do, you committ to being a prayer. Become a prayer to the Holy Spirit. Give your efforts to Blessed Mary Ever Virgin.
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Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:22 AM By RWH
There is nothing magical or mystical about the priesthood that justifies any special treatment in the face of committed crimes. If we look at the gospels we find nothing that even remotely justifies setting priests on a pedestal or granting them “above-the-law” status. On the contrary there is abundant evidence that Jesus showed plenty of anger towards the church men of his time because they had lost their way and abused the people whom they were supposed to serve. There is ample scriptural evidence to justify a priesthood that would devote itself to the care of the marginalized, forgotten, abused and rejected. In our era the marginalized have been made so by the very clergy who have been ordained to protect them. Why then does it seem that the hierarchy and so many of the priests are so adamant in defending a priesthood that looks and acts more like a latter-day aristocracy in an anachronistic monarchy?
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Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:36 AM By RWH
The concept of God, the nature of the Church and the identity of the priest mesh together to form a devastating source of trauma for abuse victims. They believe in a theistic God, that is, a God that is a "super person" with human emotions and reactions. This God actually does things in the lives of people. The Church is God's special enclave on earth and its clergy are his personal representatives complete with some of his powers. He shows himself through the priests and bishops. If a cleric is kind it is often seen as God's kindness manifested through him. If a priest is angry or somehow destructive to a person this is seen as a divine act, possibly to punish something the person did wrong. Far too many clergy abuse victims see their abuse as retribution or far worse, as a sexual assault by God. Barbara Blaine, founder and president of the oldest and largest victim support organization, SNAP said in a 2002 interview, "Many of us feel as if we had been raped by God."
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Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 4:28 PM By JLS
Victoria: There is only one way to escape from the web of vanity, and that is humility. Here is an example: When I hit the road to find God, I was approached in succession by two different appeals. The first appeal was disingenuous, and I turned it down; the second was perfect, and I accepted it. Had I instead accepted the first appeal, I would have ended up in worse condition that that which I had left behind. The key is humility. Find out what humility actually is. It is this: God is sowing the seed of faith; take it, plant it, nurture it with your tears, let it grow. There are innumerable catchy little formulas which sometimes seem to make no sense, but tune us into humility. One that is stuck in my mind: "Let go, let God".
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Posted Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:38 PM By Edward
Dear Victoria, I don't know how to say this so I will fumble through it as thought it were a prayer for you. I was and am very blessed in this way, having never had any experience that even hints at that which you have experienced. God knows that you are not evil. How could you be? You are his chosen daughter. He loves you. Please remember that God has blessed you and holds you in the palm of his hand, from the foundation of the world, and the sacred heart of Christ burns in you. You took a bullet for us in this world. You will take this sin and darkness out of this world; you absorbed it for us, something many of us never knew existed when we were young. Do you see that we are blessed by you? I am ashamed to say that I have received your blessing in this way but I am resolved to say that your blessing is my debt to make things right in this world when I see an injustice. So then, if we are not here for you, what are we? Of course we are here for you. Leave this thing at Jesus' cross; it exists at the cross of time, presence, and eternity; leave it on the alter with your faith. Let it Go. The event(s) was beneath you; leave it behind you; realize in your heart and your spirit that it is not part of you but something that happened to you. Rest assured, God knows what to do with it. It is not your cross to bear anymore. And may the Holy Spirit fill you with God's love and release you from this which was put upon you and which has nothing to do with the purity of you in the blood of Christ. I am honored and grateful to know you in these brief words.
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