Martyrdom of S. Thomas Becket
The Fifth Day of Christmas.
Another martyr for the Octave of Christmas. How fitting to consider such a holy bishop while our bishops are accused and maligned, perhaps in some cases rightly so. Nevertheless the murder of Becket ought to be a cautionary tale to those who trust laymen to exact justice upon the hierarchy, based upon interpretations of what someone reportedly said or did. Becket was killed because the king's knights believed that was what the king wanted. They assumed as much.
Today Church Militant is accusing Cardinal Dolan of cover up in the case of Fr. Timone of NY, formerly credibly accused of abuse. CM is pushing "Breaking News" claiming: Cardinal O'Malley reports Cardinal Dolan for allowing credibly accused priest to stay in active ministry, even as late as last week. Comments on the post are ridiculous smears. Church Militant must imagine themselves as knights of Henry II - taking their revenge on Cardinal Dolan for an earlier snub of Michael Voris.
Better to do penance instead.
well said!
ReplyDeleteA year ago I visited Canterbury. Beautiful Cathederal and medieval town. I stood at the spot of his martyrdom. Heard the story how he defied the king who appointed him to be his lackey. Saw the windows that commemorated his miracles. He stood up to corrupt power. Wondered if history ever really changes.
ReplyDeleteBear with me while I tread on dangerous ground...
ReplyDeleteIf a person sets out to serve the Lord, God will sift them in a way that most regular people can not comprehend. Among other things, they will at times feel deeply abandoned by God, and God will allow demons to tempt and twist them in treacherous ways. Some people deal with this well, while others crash but emerge purified, and still others crash and bitterly resent God in their hurt pride. I suspect most of the accused priests fall into the last category, and basically give up after looking into the abyss. But what of the priests who fall badly--in disgusting ways as pawns of Satan--and yet emerge to eventually become good priests thereafter? I wonder of this is the case with Fr. Timone? Perhaps Fr. Timone is a good priest because he's painfully aware of his weakness, his dependency on grace, and lives a sacrificial life in a commitment to reparation? I don't know Fr. Timone, I'm just using him as a jumping off point since Dolan praised him so highly.
I suspect the Fr. Timones have been kept in ministry because many bishops and monsignori have also fallen badly, and see this as a shared path of redemption. I suspect Fr. Benedict Groeschel recognized this path of redemption, and that is why he was far too lenient on abuser-priests.
I think there is a place for these Fr. Timones in the priesthood, offering their lives as a living sacrifice, but it has to be in monasteries and supervised hermitages. Their actions haunt their victims for decades, and they must disappear and live a life of prayer and penance.
It is such a complicated set of circumstances. In the long and twisted history of man these behaviors are present. I have read it is more about power then sex. Normalizing the priesthood is, I think, inevitable. Declining numbers and declining respect by the faithful leave it pretty impotent as a moral force in today's world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this fine post, Terry, and for reminding us of the potential for courage and nobility our bishops may have. St. Thomas Beckett's faithfulness preceded another British saint, the glorious example of St. Thomas More. Both are truly saints for our time, who defended the truth of the Faith when it would have been so much easier, politically correct, and materially profitable to please men rather than to please God. And personally, brother, I wish you the most blessed Christmas and New Year - it is so good to hear your voice! God bless and protect all here - Susan, OFS
ReplyDeleteI suspect there is a lot more to this Voris/Dolan feud then has come out so far. This is not the first example of a friend being favored by the Bishop and allowed to keep active in spite of very credible evidence even settlements. My hometown, Buffalo NY, has had similar. The beloved nephew of my Grade School Principal. Was given a pass and a letter of recommendation to be of all things a cruise ship chaplain! I hate to say it but Dolan is questionable in his oversight of both Milwaukee and NY. The Conclave that elected Francis had a couple news clips of his seminarian fan club in Rome cheerleading him on as a prime candidate for papal selection. I struck me as odd at the time and a bit disconcerting. Who knows? If there is anything to be found you can be sure Michael Voris, in his vengeful crusade, will ferret it out.
ReplyDelete"Better to penance". Better for Michael Voris to do penance or Timone and Dolan?
ReplyDeleteEach and every one of us.
DeleteIn recalling this visit it came to mind that more then one of the miracle stories involved a sexual sin. Maybe this does make him a saint for our time.
ReplyDelete