As those of you who have been in this parish more than 12 years know, I was assigned here in April 2011 – on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion – as parochial administrator after your pastor at that time, Msgr. John Close had been placed on administrative leave while an allegation that he had sexually abused a minor some decades ago was being processed through a report to law enforcement and eventual canonical investigation. I didn’t know Msgr. Close at all – I only had one dinner meeting with him after I was assigned here to get from him some information about our parish – and was not involved in any of the investigative processes or privy to their details, nor any of the other sordid facts that were reported in the news last week.
We all experienced a sense of relief when Msgr. Close was cleared back in 2012 after all appropriate external and internal investigations were completed. And, we set about trying to bring healing to this parish and return it to its former vibrancy. We’ve worked very hard to do so these past 12 years and, with the strong dedication of so many of you, I think you will agree that we are strong and vibrant, once again, despite both the clergy sex abuse scandal that touched us so closely right here and the pandemic that recently swept throughout the whole world.
Recently, I received communication from the archdiocese and learned that it was preparing to settle a civil lawsuit that would likely become a matter of public knowledge. That legal action involved another allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by Msgr. Close. Both that allegation and the subsequent legal action were brought forward only after Monsignor Close’s death. Last week, as I was eating breakfast while I was away on vacation – it was a wonderful vacation until I learned about this – I read the article in the Inquirer detailing not only the settlement but all of the other concerns and allegations involving Msgr. Close over the many years of his priesthood. My first reaction was anger that I didn’t know about all of the other concerns and allegations. I was deeply worried for you, my beloved parishioners, and concerned that you might think I had been withholding information you should know. As I prayed and reflected on this situation, however, I began to feel relieved that I hadn’t been burdened with knowledge of all of these terrible facts so that I could expend all of my energy on serving you.
Over these past few days, I have asked the archdiocese to provide some clarification on your behalf. Based on what was shared, it is my understanding that any and all allegations of criminal behavior by Msgr. Close were reported to law enforcement and then were subject to a separate archdiocesan investigation. Law enforcement could not substantiate any of the earlier charges against Msgr. Close nor could the investigations undertaken by the archdiocese. This information is not entirely satisfying, I’m sure, but it is my hope that this knowledge provides you with some degree of understanding and peace with this very disturbing situation.
And so, here we are, gathered around our Lord’s Table worshiping a God who loves us all and calls us to love as he has loved: unconditionally. So, we turn to the Scriptures given to us today to help us make some sense of this mess. Yes, we’re once again in the middle of this mess.
Today’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel speaks of Jesus’ activity shortly after he had completed his Sermon on the Mount. We’re all familiar with this long sermon which begins with his famous teaching on the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. …Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” These Beatitudes teach us that we, who recognize our sinfulness and need for God’s mercy, are assured of being included in God’s kingdom and that we should seek always to be in a right relationship with God. But, the sermon continues with a very important admonition. “Stop judging, that you may not be judged,” we hear Jesus declare. “For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” I think we can all agree that some in Church leadership worldwide – and that includes our archdiocese – have made serious mistakes in addressing the grievous offenses of some of our clergy in regard to sexual abuse. They continue to struggle with ensuring that the victims are heard and healed and that perpetrators are quickly identified, removed from ministry and punished for their offenses.
I hope you have read – or, if you haven’t, that you will read – the archdiocese’s press release in response to this most recent settlement. It clearly outlines the steps that are taken as soon as a case is presented. This approach has been in place for a number of years and has continually evolved. From my perspective, it is now very clearly in favor of the victim; that was not always the case, I’m afraid. But, if we’re honest with ourselves, we can see ourselves in a similar light as we continue our struggles to correct our errant ways throughout our lives. So, it’s best to let the judging to God; we’re all in need of his mercy and forgiveness.
I would suggest that our response should be according to our Lord’s very clear teaching to love everyone as God loves everyone and to stop judging that we may not be judged. Too often, we find ourselves like Peter in today’s gospel account wanting to put our complete trust in our Lord in the midst of the storms that swirl around us but getting lost in our emotions and judgments and sinking, losing our sight of Jesus. Let us reach out our hands and grasp him who has taken upon himself all of our sins and overcome their evil aim.
Let us also continue to pray for all victims of sexual abuse: for their healing and return to wholeness. And, when we find ourselves struggling with these tragedies, let us, like Elijah in today’s first reading, come and stand before God where we will find him, not in the strong and heavy winds, the earthquakes or fires that surround us but in his tiny whispering voice offering us his peace. I was greatly relieved that I could do this over this past week and I hope you can, too.