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It is hard to believe that Ash Wednesday was a month ago. During Lent we recall with great joy the wonderful mercy of God, which overcomes all forms of intolerance. Christ death on the Cross reveals God’s love for all not just the men who presume to know God’s will, and punch all sinners cards.
The Rainbow Sash Movement recently released a press release dealing with the Pope’s visit to the United States. I believe this visit will give the Pope an opportunity to acknowledge in sorrow his failure, thereby acknowledging that evil is part of our lives. God’s mercy is given freely to all who open themselves to this wonderful gift, and this includes the Pope and his bishops.
I cannot believe the Pope would visit these shores and not meet with representatives of victims groups, of those abused by the Pope and his bishops. This is one of the reasons we are calling for dignified protest against his visit. Certainly the Lenten penance of Pope and his Bishops should help prevent them from lying to themselves about the matter about the disastrous condition of the Church. The Pope and his bishops have blamed everyone for the Church’s difficulties accept themselves. It is far easier to blame someone else, rather than take personal responsibility for the state of the Church, and its moral bankruptcy.
My prayer is that Pope will take this opportunity to open a respectful dialogue of hierarchal abuses in our church. The Pope and his bishops are very good at pointing out others shortcomings, but when it comes to themselves their faults and shortcoming become invisible. Or the truth is so bleached with Church speak, that it becomes a way to distort the realities of the present day Church.
My invitation is for the Pope and his bishops to wear ashes, and sack cloth to show their abject sorrow for what their leadership has done to our Church. Only by replacing the princely vestments with sackcloth and ashes will they be able to regain their moral standing and spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church.
We push Christ away, when we push people away from the Church. Only through the sign of ashes will the hierarchy be seen to walk with Christ.
