A welcome SMS message

I just wanted to share something that happened to me on the weekend. I was watching TV on Saturday night and heard my mobile phone (or cell phone as you call them) make a noise indicating I’d received an SMS message. Just before I went to bed I checked it out. It was from a student in his final year of high school – 17 or 18 years of age. His name is Matthew and I have known him since he was about 8 when I was the assistant priest at the parish where he was going to school. The high school were he attends often asks me to help with school retreats, Masses, and reconciliation (confession), so our paths have crossed many times. Well, his SMS message thanked me for helping him over the years and for the honour of knowing me. I became a little emotional. Very few people, young people included, say thanks to priests for being involved in their lives. We are expected to be there for people throughout all times and tragedies, but rarely do people say thanks. So when I received this SMS from Matthew it made me feel wanted and needed and successful, and so I cried a little. Matthew faced problem that we all face in our lives. I don’t mean his sexuality – I don’t know whether he’s straight or gay. But he was concerned about masturbation and struggled to believe that he could be considered a good person by God and loved by God when he was also masturbating. I can still see him coming to reconciliation one day rather hunched over – you could tell he was weighed down by something. It must have been so hard for him to start talking about it, and I’m sure it took much courage. But after we talked about it – and laughed a little – he left with a straight back, a smile on his face, and a huge weight removed from his shoulder.

So I feel enormously humbled by the people I come into contact with people like Matthew. I don’t always agree with the church’s opinions, statements or practices; but I challenge these in my own way and hope that I’m creating a better world for everyone.</FON

Nitrojane

October 5, 2003

*smile* good job.

confusdstargazer

mm… I have so many questions but I guess they’re not ones you could answer…

I’m not trying to justify your investigating office, but you need to realise that they have to tread a very fine line. If they spend too much effort supporting the priest, people accuse them of covering up and so on. In today’s highly charged atmosphere on these sorts of accusations, credibility is important. Justinian

What your diocese should do is to make sure the investigating office is completely independent, and to provide a separate mentor and support service for priests in your position. I went through this with Bishop Browning four years ago, and support for the priest is critically important, even if they’re guilty. Justinian

And no, I’m not saying you’re guilty – in fact your case is most unusual because it went through a public criminal trial years ago at which you were acquitted. There is no suggestion of coverup in your case, and any parishioner who wanted – or needed – to know about the accusations could have easily found out about them. Justinian

But it’s still true that the investigating office must stay at arms length from you, and complete its investigation (within reason) in its time, not yours. You need patience, and support from those who know what this is all about. Justinian

At the worst of his ordeal, Bishop Browning said the only thing he could do was to go to the Cross and take comfort there. I think I know what he meant, and ultimately he came out of it stronger and better than before. Justinian.

JediTom

January 13, 2004

You really have shown to me that the catholic church isn’t all evil. I used to be catholic, but the church i was forced to attend just didn’t feel right. it was conservative and preached against most of what i believed in. For a while this led me to think all catholics were like that, but i’ve gradually woken up to see that they aren’t all bad, mostly thanks to people like you. (con’t)

i dunno if this note has much of a point, but thank you for opening my eyes, and helping make me less…ignorant (i think thats the right word)