Beloved Philadelphia Archdiocese - What Happened?

My beloved Archdiocese of Philadelphia... what happened to you?

Have you really succumbed so gently to the false whispers of satan?  Have you become pliant through his fiery caress?  Have you become so blinded by the gilded treasures of worldliness, power and carnal gratification that the Beatific Vision is completely obscured from you?

God help us.  We are lost if not for Your Grace.

For those of you unaware, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - my home, my foundation, and my heart - has been reaping the fruits of a decades long abuse cover-up.  We most certainly have been in the wrong for the reshuffling of priests, the silence of cardinals / bishops, the treatment of victims, etc.  We have turned ourselves away from Truth and found an angry, unsettled and disordered home in the filth of sin. 

Oh, what agony now befits us!  Due to such negligence and willful perpetration of violence against the innocent among us, we suffer!  We suffer as well we should, but dear Lord - Mercy!

We are being stripped of our priests.  Sinners though they are, we haven't the vocations to fill the holes they leave behind.  Sinners that we, the laity, are - we are left with no one to shepherd us via Sacraments and pastoral care.

Oh Lord, this truly is a punishment we bring upon ourselves!  Catholicism in Philadelphia is on the cusp of abolition.  For years we've allowed this cancer to metastasize, invading all parts of our clergy and administration.  For years we've ignored the wounds of our victims - which, left untreated, became mortal and spread to others.  As a result, when the blinds were opened and the public saw these festering, horrifying injuries for what they were, trust was lost, faith wavered, and hope for healing became almost laughable.

The pain to those of us who love this Archdiocese!  The pain of feeling her members torn, battered and broken!  The pain of helplessness as we could do nothing but watch as priest after beloved priest was targeted and accused, convicted and removed... as we saw our friends and family defect, turning away from the Church and even condemning Her due to the impossibly grotesque offenses of Her representatives!  Oh the pain of listening to report after report of the ever-increasing details of the accusations... and seeing the devastating pain of our victims!

This ongoing chastisement is necessary, but dear Lord, again I cry "Mercy!"  I understand and trust this unparalleled "cleansing of the Temple" is something we brought about on our own, but please guide us to safer waters! 

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Ugh.  I am so beyond heartbroken by this entire mess, and it seems like a never-ending rabbit hole. 

Another one of our priests was removed today.  News came out yesterday afternoon that he was being investigated for an improper relationship and possible abuse of minors.  This priest was someone who mentored me, my siblings, and many of our friends. 

I have no idea if the allegations are true or not, but the fact that Archbishop Chaput reacted swiftly and harshly to his  case leads me to believe there is some validity to the claims against him. 

My prayers are with him, the possible victims, and the families of those he may have harmed or turned away from the Church.  May they all find peace, healing, love and forgiveness.

Le sigh... I truly have such a heavy, heavy heart right now.  However, even in this hailstorm of folly, I recognize the mercy we've been given in Chaput.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Archbishop Chaput.  No doubt You put him in place to steer this mostly capsized ship to harbor.  May You be his strength and wisdom.  May You be his beacon.  May You be the wind that straightens our mangled sails.

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