The Proverbial Question
Why haven’t Catholics fully acknowledged the evil of clergy sexual abuse in the church or demanded its elimination? That’s the proverbial question we have been asked many times and have yet to find the proverbial answer. For decades the presence of this evil has been allowed to fester while victims are left wounded and scattered. Does it have to do with fear, pride, complacency, or plain ignorance?
A Dark Evil Exists
Unfortunately, I have had to stare this evil in the eye literally, so unlike the average Catholic, I know a lot about it. Clergy sexual abuse has indeed been so well covered up within the ranks of the Catholic Church that most of the laity are ignorant of the evil and its victims. The cover-up and fear of scandal have cast a thick protective shield around the corruption, making it difficult for the average catholic to accept. It is a systemic evil that has corrupted the church from within for decades. We are now faced with the reality that this dark evil exists, and many souls have been completely devastated, broken, and shunned by the very church that is supposed to be where God dwells. The enemy wants your children and your faith and will continue to decimate the body of Christ until Catholics take a stand.
Accepting The Reality
To accept this reality means that your faith in God will have to be strong enough to endure the truth. For decades the enemy has devoured the body of Christ through clergy sexual abuse. The church’s shepherds have left behind broken and battered souls scattered throughout the world, left behind to die on the spiritual battlefield. We can change this reality by putting on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil. It’s time to suit up and show up! 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood. Still, against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:12-13
Our Identity Is In Christ
It begs the question, who will be left to stand? What if it is your beloved priest who is involved in sexual abuse of a minor, raping a woman, child pornography, or even satanic worship on the altar at your church? What does that mean for you as a Catholic? Can your faith withstand it? Our faith must be rooted in our relationship with Our Lord, not with our identity as Catholics. God has made us in His image, not in the image of Catholicism. For those who acknowledge the truth of the corruption plaguing our church, it means you must do something. It requires an immense amount of faith, courage, and perseverance to join in a spiritual war against the darkness and wickedness of our present time.
We are suffering from the effects of decades of clergy sex abuse because those before us, did minimal if not nothing, to stop it.
Letitia M Peyton
Taking A Stand
Our families are never safe from the desires of evil and its destructive behaviors. We are suffering from the effects of decades of clergy sex abuse because those before us, for whatever reason, did minimal if not nothing to stop it. I take a stand now! The thought of my grandchildren having to take this stand is unconscionable. I will not pass this fight down to the next generations. It is time to take a stand and rebuild the dwelling place of the Lord.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-20
A Place Where The Spirit Dwells
It is now up to those of us in this present time to help heal victims who are still suffering from the trauma of the effects of clergy sex abuse. We must carry our wounded, neglected, suffering brothers and sisters in Christ to him so they can receive his healing love and mercy. Catholic churches need to be made safe for our children and vulnerable adults. We must make a holy place for His Spirit to dwell or continue to suffer the effects of allowing evil to dwell and decimate God’s own house.
