Jean Vanier's Star Has fallen

Befriending the stranger - indeed.

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;
'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.

From America:

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

Today's First Reading ...

Put not your trust in deceitful words ...

Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
Reform your ways and your deeds,
so that I may remain with you in this place.
Put not your trust in the deceitful words:
“This is the temple of the LORD!
The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!”
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds;
if each of you deals justly with his neighbor;
if you no longer oppress the resident alien,
the orphan, and the widow;
if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place,
or follow strange gods to your own harm,
will I remain with you in this place,
in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever.

But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss. - Jeremiah 7:1-11

As for me ...

I had rather lie abject at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked. - Ps. 84

"...it is precisely our malady that becomes the locus of contact."

- Pope Francis

I wonder if people really believe God when He says: "Put no trust in princes-in mortal men-in whom there is no salvation."

Such a strange bunch...

So weird - even without Trump.

It's like the cast of Green Acres up there.

Mr. Haney's part played by Ted Cruz.

Lisa's part played by Donald Trump.

(It's all about the hair and NY.)

Fiorina and Rubio.

What?

Evidently I was wrong about the Nienstedt resignation.

L'Age d'Or - Luis Bunuel

The priest at my parish let it be known he was one of the priests who called for Nienstedt to step down.  He also approached him personally.  He also asked him personally about some of the allegations which are being discussed in the news this week - the archbishop wasn't able to answer him.  My pastor said we may be hearing more embarrassing news in the days ahead.

Man.  I'm a Pollyanna, aren't I.  That's not a question.

Link: Nienstedt tried to limit the investigation.

Ed. note:  The AP report is so damning.  If I had read it before, I doubt I would have been so gullible.  I'm familiar with the type of person described in the testimony regarding Nienstedt.  That's all.

Refocusing for Lent.

Only God does not deceive - He can neither deceive nor be deceived.
.
"That our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for GOD's sake, which we commonly do for our own.
.
That it was lamentable to see how many people mistook the means for the end, addicting themselves to certain works, which they performed very imperfectly, by reason of their human or selfish regards.
.
That the most excellent method he had found of going to GOD, was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men, [Gal. i. 10; Eph. vi. 5, 6.] and (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of GOD. 
.
That it was a great delusion to think that the times of prayer ought to differ from other times.
.
That we are as strictly obliged to adhere to GOD by action in the time of action, as by prayer in its season. 
.
That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD, his soul being at that time insensible to everything but Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no difference, because he still continued with GOD, praising and blessing Him with all his might, so that he passed his life in continual joy; yet hoped that GOD would give him somewhat to suffer, when he should grow stronger. 
.
That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us. - Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Practice of the Presence of God
.

+

Put not your trust in princes,

in man, in whom there is no salvation. - Ps. 146