Category: Life

I won’t spill more electrons on this tragedy except to reiterate that we live in a world at war. Nation against nation, man against nature, man against his own family, man against himself. Behind it all is the the fundamental war of evil against whatever is good. I’ve written before of my firm belief that there is one who wishes harm to God’s children and His creation. A true, spiritual force inimical to God’s loving plan.

What we must remember at times like this—and especially in this Easter season—is that the ultimate battle is won.  Though the whole world die, Evil will not prevail in the end. We must meet its every manifestation with good. We must resist with all our might, the tendency to despair and the whisperings of the devil who says that God is responsible for the wickedness men do.

I grant you that on this side of eternity, it doesn’t make any sense, but we must hold fast to our faith. We must cling the eternal meaning of the psalm,

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.¹

This is not a guarantee of a life without suffering. It is an assurance that you will never undergo anything alone, or unaided with grace from above. It is the assurance that when this life is at an end, you will rise to life eternal with your loving Father.

¹Ps 91:9-13 NIV

The Roman Catholic Church has taken a good deal of heat over its handling of sexual abuse by priests and I believe rightly so. But what most people overlook in their analysis of the Church’s actions, is her duty to mix mercy with justice.

Before you start sending me nasty emails please listen: My position is that abusive priests—or anyone in positions of trust in our society—who have credible allegations made against them must be removed from their duties immediately, with no exceptions. If proven true, I further believe that they must never have the possibility of returning to such positions in the future, or any position where they might be tempted to the same sin. For the sake of those to whom they minister, and for their own sakes.

You see, there are three victims here: the abused, the Church, and the priest. The abused has been shattered in the most abject way. The Church is also weakened by injury to its members and a rupture in fellowship and justice. But so is the soul of the abuser. The Church therefore, as a good mother, must offer the hope of redemption to all these victims.

Do you suppose that the weight and horror of the their actions does not crush their spirit? I suppose there are some whose consciences are so seared that they cannot feel the enormity of their sin. However, I believe that, by and large, men become priests—and I am including all clergy here: Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant ministers and pastors—because they have an inherent love of God and His people. Unfortunately, because they are on the front lines in the battle against real evil in this world, they are the most targeted by the devil and his angels.

Do not cluck your tongue and look askance when you hear of some poor soul who has lost the battle with his flesh. What they have done is wrong, and they will account for it before God, but they are not to be deprived of His love and mercy either. Instead pray for them. Lift them up before God because they have an enormous responsibility for your soul. YOU! Don’t you dare gossip and whisper. PRAY!

The thief on the cross justly deserved his punishment and he knew it. But he also knew that the One crucified next to him, had the power to make him clean again. So it is with our priests, pastors, and teachers. Pray for them because they bring the living God to YOU!