Today, news broke that Jean Vanier sexually abused women under his spiritual direction. His conduct mirrored that of his spiritual director, Fr. Thomas Phillippe, O.P.. Stunning news for me. But it's not about me, although almost everyone I have ever admired spiritually turns out to have a past. It's kind of a consolation actually. Confirming we are all sinners, in need of a Redeemer. Thanks be to God.
Knowing that, how much more generous ought we to be towards the faults and failings of others, and never, ever look down on anyone, no matter their moral state.
I said in my alarm;From America:
'no man can be trusted'
all have gone astray,
there is not a good man left -
there is no one who does good,
no, not even one.
Especially not me.
Internal report finds that L’Arche founder Jean Vanier engaged in decades of sexual misconduct.
In a report that will soon be released conducted by L’Arche, Mr. Vanier is accused of sexual misconduct with six adult, non-disabled women who sought spiritual direction from the late activist, author and philosopher. According to a press release from L’Arche USA, the investigation “reveals that Jean Vanier himself has been accused of manipulative sexual relationships and emotional abuse between 1970 and 2005, usually within a relational context where he exercised significant power and a psychological hold over the alleged victims.” - Finish reading here.
L'Arche: Internal investigation reveals abuses committed by Jean Vanier - VaticanNews
This has been a sad day for me and my friends who worked in USA l'Arche communities. Every time I see another post popping up, I tell God I don't understand. Probably the most painful part is that I am not surprised anymore when I hear news like this. Just a deep sadness. I remember how I felt when I learned of Merton's affair when he was a monk. No whitewashing that away either.
ReplyDeleteThis is really unsettling for me as well. I also never knew Fr. Thomas Philippe was guilty as well. It is also frightening - how much we need humility to know our great need of God's mercy.
DeleteOh my goodness, Terry- I didn't see your last few posts from this week - I only read today's- and saw you had just quoted Vanier at the end of your post on "Weird Saints" on the 19th. We don't know what we don't know, I guess. That's God's job. Thank you for that post.
DeleteI know - I have often quoted him. I don't know how to deal with it now. Do you think bookstores will continue to sell his books?
DeleteMB, I have always read that the "affair" you refer to by Merton, the relationship with his nurse while hospitalized in Louisville, was not sexual in nature but that Merton was tempted to leave the monastery to develop his attachment. At this time he was under close survalience within and outside the Abbey. He was allowed to travel to the East as the Abbot's concession in effort to hold onto him..
DeleteTerry, very hard to know what bookstores will do... this is yet another dilemma that has us in new moral territory. Considering that many people have talked openly about their sinful pasts which they have since repented and then moved forward, we don't negate their works. I know too that I cannot pick up a Vanier book and not be moved. It is true, the charisma of many leaders can result in cult like followers. It takes careful and frequent discernment to know if someone is truly acting of God or self interest or worse. I remember stories back in the day of the Catholic charismatic groups in South Bend and how distorted some of their communal households became, and have heard since of other similar intentional communities. I can only say from my own lived experience in l'Arche that it gave me an incredible grounding in the value of honoring and living with wounded (disabled) people, and that I too was among them. But I also recall getting practical advice from folks at the time to not get too starry eyed when some of the "superstars" of the day would visit. I did meet Pere Thomas after Mass at Trosly when I visited l'Arche in France back in the mid '70s. He was a kind of crazy, dreamy guy and the he was presented as being so mystical that he didn't quite have his feet on solid ground- that he could almost read people's souls when he met them. And I saw Vanier in person on that trip but it was in a group meeting so I never met him personally. The way he spoke- simply and beautifully, set him apart from other leading personalities in the movement to deinstitutionalize people with disabilities. What he did to spark an international movement is not to be dismissed, ever, IMO. In that respect, I think his books should not be purged because of this. We also know that so, so many leaders that we have admired, respected, and been influenced by to do truly good works often have had feet of clay and worse. It does little to stop the pain of those who have been wounded by them. I think, for those of us who are striving to live a faithful life, we are relieved to find examples of those who seem to be doing so. In the end, we can only keep our eyes on our own path that God has set our feet upon. Sorry for the ramble. It is so hard to not continue to ponder all of these things.
DeleteI too admired Jean Vanier. In the 1970's my wife and I opened and lived in a group home for developmentally disabled adults. It was housed in the former convent of a local parish and sponsored by the local ARC. A parishioner from the parish gave me Vaniers book to read. It is indeed sad. My recent reading on Cults has an interesting perspective that is a new thought for me. Cult behavior can and does exist within relationships, familys and groups in entertainment and education. Likewise the abuse inflicated on the individual by the charismatic leader often goes undisclosed or unchallenged for years.
ReplyDeleteWallace, sounds like we have been on similar paths! And yes, no longer starry-eyed about certain movements or groups.... As per your other reply to my Merton comment, I cannot remember which Merton bio I read that provided a lot more background about his so-called affair.... It left me wondering but less surprised than I had been just to initially learn that he had fallen in love when he was hospitalized. Merton is definitely in that category of charismatic. I find him to be one of the most puzzling and unknowable among those considered Catholic writers/influencers of the 20th century, but I am not an academic and can't make a claim to be comparing this theologian's or that mystic's writings to another. Merton's entire life seemed to be one of contradiction that he himself never reconciled.
DeleteYes Mary Beth we have travelled a similar road. It is a glorious one in so many ways. My years as a group home "house parent" taught me much. Patience and unconditional love among the primary ones. As for Merton, he wrote himself that he was full of contradictions. I discovered him at an important point in my life. I love him because he was honest before it was in vogue. He struggled so much. The relationship that grew with his nurse was painful for him. He could not leave his identity as a monk & need for self reflection, silence and solitude. Yet he yearned for that personal relationship he found with her. It completed him in a way as a human. I too read in one biography that I do not now recall the author that it may have been a sexual relationship. If it was, which others sources discounted, it certainly was not abusive or predatory. I could not begrudge him for it, but perhaps sadly I think it was maybe romantic but not sexual. He was under too close a scrunity by the Abbot who feared losing him. So, he was allowed to go to the other side of the world to get away. Ironically that unusual freedom is what lost him to this world. My admiration and deep respect for him continues. Especially in light of all the new revelations about our other spiritual guides.
DeleteYes...and helpful for me to remember to humanize those certain people who are, after all, still HUMAN. Thankful all the more for Terry's blunt honesty and openly sharing his own grief in this matter.
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ReplyDeleteIf only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
ReplyDelete@ David
DeleteA truth that has me seeking our Lords mercy always.
Thanks for the sober reminder.
Very true - these things reveal the mystery of our being. I keep thinking of my need for forgiveness. The disturbing thing about Vanier's story, along with that of his spiritual father, P. Thomas, as well as his brother, P. Dominique Philippe, is the 'method' of their abuse. The grooming involved, the presentation of a 'new' form of spiritual direction and mystical experience, involving, using sexual touching and so on, as a means to grow spiritually and heal. It is so deliberate as to create a theology of abuse. This removes the sexual abuse from simply a fall from grace, or a weakness which trips up someone trying to live chastely. This is why such actions are seen as criminal. It is not just human weakness or an act of desperation from a person 'addicted' to sex - it's intrinsically evil.
DeleteAll fits the well documented methodology of cult indoctrination & ongoing abuse & control. We have a local group based in Albany NY called NXIVM. The leader, Keith Reniere, operated corporate coaching company that ran seminars across the country. He had actresses & socialites. One from the Seagrams (whiskey) family. The level of hidden abuse is mind boggling. Included branding devotees with KR to denote that they belonged to him. I agree with you Terry this is evil even diabolical.
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