Doing Hard Things: CLANG!

RCL/Benzinger, a Catholic publisher, publishes a “Question of the Week” – one for adults and one for children. The question links the Sunday Scriptures with real life and is often the jumping off point for our dialogue homily during Children’s Liturgy of the Word. The Fourth Sunday of Advent, the week we read about Mary going to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the question was, “Is there something hard you need to do this week? What might make it easier?” As you can imagine, the day before Christmas Eve, the 5-10 year olds had a lot of hard things they needed to do – clean the house before Grandma and Grandpa come, finish shopping and wrapping presents, not-fight with their brothers and sisters, be patient, go to sleep when it’s bedtime. We talked about how Mary’s journey to see Elizabeth had to be hard, riding on a donkey and all. And Elizabeth carrying a child in her womb when she was so old, that was hard, too.

God and God’s people are no stranger to hard work.

I’ve been thinking a lot about hard work as we continue to face the clerical sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. I’m grateful for the parishioners who have taken the leadership in our parish response. And I’m especially grateful for our Pastoral Associate for Justice & Life, Sue Robb, who is convening the group, leading us in prayer, taking the minutes, and keeping us on task. Sue calls the group, “CLANG” – CLerical Abuse Networking Group. That’s a pretty fitting acronym. There is a lot of work that needs to be done – and a big part of the work is just WAKING PEOPLE UP.

This is an incredibly complex problem. I keep talking with people and reading opinion pieces about “what needs to be done.” I think it’s pretty clear that it’s not just one thing that needs to be fixed. I know for my part, I feel called to challenge the clerical culture that sets priests and bishops apart. I feel called to champion the gifts for service and leadership in ministry of women and married men, gay and straight. I also feel called to educate people on the reality of child sexual abuse. It is tragically common. I’m not just talking about in the Catholic Church (children ARE safer in our Catholic parishes and schools now than they were 20 years ago), but in society at large. In our families, our schools and daycares, our sports teams, churches and synagogues and mosques. 1 out of every 4-5 females and 1 out of every 8-10 males will be molested by the time they are 18. It is my goal that every adult in our parish know the warning signs of a potential abuser and how to appropriately communicate a concern and report abuse.

What might make this hard work easier? Doing it together.

The next CLANG gathering is Sunday, January 27 at 9:00 am in the Romero Room. Join us.