To the editor:
St. Francis de Sales, speaking to the scandals of his day, said clerics commit spiritual murder because they kill the faith of the people but, their people would be committing spiritual suicide in leaving the church and her sacraments. As much as we may feel anger and betrayal we remember the victims and those faithful priests that this crisis has cast a shadow over. For “We are afflicted in every way‚Ķperplexed, but not driven to despair‚Ķstruck down, but not destroyed” ( 2 Corinithians 4:8-9).
We, who profess to be Catholic, if we are honest, recognize that we are the ones who are flawed, the church is holy. We aren’t saved from the cross, we are saved by the cross. So to abandon her would be spiritual suicide. An old Lutheran hymn goes: “For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend, to her my toils and cares be given till toils and cares shall end”.
Our priests have many responsibilities weighing on them. We should assist them in any way we are able, keep them in our prayers, and let them know that we trust and love them. So let us always pray; “Come, holy spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love”.
Gail Bryant
Dellwood Circle
Rochester
