A priest writes: ‘Be angry. Be sad. Be disgusted. But do it rightly.’

Last updated on: August 30, 2018 at 10:30 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

A priest writes: ‘Be angry. Be sad. Be disgusted. But do it rightly.’ 2018-08-30T10:30:45-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Pixabay/Public Domain

The terrific Father Goyo Hidalgo from Simi Valley, California, posted this on his Facebook page. I think it deserves wider circulation:

To all those who keep on telling me, “You ALL priests knew about the scandals and did nothing.”

-NO, we didn’t. I didn’t. I have never known and I am not a naive person. In fact, I didn’t even know who McCarrick was until I heard of his horrible crimes.

-NO, I have never ever seen any of these things in seminary.

-The fact that you assume I knew and I did nothing, tells me that you don’t know me at all, because if you did, you would know I am very vocal and I say it like it is and I would have denounced anything had it happened when I was in seminary.

-NO, I don’t have any kind of power to make a bishop resign. Or to go to the Vatican and tell the Pope like it is. I am but a normal simple priest trying to be a saint. To help my parishioners as much as I can. To work for justice and mercy. To work through all of this with my people.

-and NO, just because I say this, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel pain for the victims of abuse, because I do. They are the real victims in all of this.

The vast majority of priests are NOT child molesters. I know many bishops who are amazing and WE TOO ARE ANGRY about these abuses. It is horrible and we feel outraged about it too.

So please, be angry. Be sad. Be disgusted. But do it rightly. Accusing of these crimes people who didn’t know and didn’t commit any of this, is not helping anyone even less the victims of abuse who deserve justice.

I, too, hate what’s happening. I hate that many were victims of clergy who abused them. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. I hate that some priests have committed these horrible crimes, but I also love my Church, because I know that this is not a representation of the Church I love, but a horrendous disgusting action by some of the members who should have known much much better, and they never ever should have abused ANYONE, or covered the abuse.

So please, whether you are religious or not, whether you hate the Catholic Church or not, seek justice for the victims, be angry at those who committed these crimes, but also show a fair “judgement” with all those members of the church who didn’t know anything, who didn’t do anything, who are also disgusted about these abuses and who also want justice for victims and their abusers.

I know this is going to be very unpopular, but it had to be said.

It did. Thank you for saying it, Father.

Priests

Previous Post

August 30, 2018

'Getcher hot news now!'

Next Post

August 30, 2018 Catholic judge speaks of 'sanctity of life'—and then imposes death penalty

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, what did the wise bring?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Extra oil Bread Wine New clothes

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »