Catholic Church Reform Should Start With "I'm Sorry"

The Vatican has given the world's Catholic bishops one year to set policies for handling allegations of child abuse, including reporting to police where required by local law. And on Wednesday (May 18), the U.S. bishops released a 300-page report on the "causes and context" of the abuse scandal here at home.

Critics cite weak wording and anemic incentives in the Vatican's directive, and in many respects, those complaints are valid. So, too, are criticisms that the U.S. bishops continue to pass the buck for allowing the scandal to fester.   Read more...

The Church's One Simple Phrase For Healing

It is now 2011, and the Vatican has been flooded with new information, new warnings and more horrific stories of sexual abuse from around the globe. Still, I have yet to read the one simple phrase, "I'm sorry," from the Pope or his entourage directed to any of the hundreds of thousands of victims.

Instead, the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have submitted vapid pamphlets preaching 'no tolerance' to their agents and parishioners, promoting a band-aid fix...   Read more...

The Keeper of the Red Dot: Protecting the Elderly

Gladys, my mother-in-law, known to family and friends as "GladyO'," is having a near perfect day visit away from the nursing home. And although the dementia from which she suffers seems to visit more frequently as of late, it hasn't reared its ugly head today. Instead, I find myself dealing with another important medical issue: GladyO's persistent question about end of life.

"What's the red dot for?" GladyO' asks shyly, then leans back in her chair and rubs the arm rests, waiting to see if I'll confirm what she already knows.   Read more...

Thoughts On Crafting the Unbreakable Writer

The path to publication can be a gauntlet beset with trials that test a writer's endurance. Many writers give up. Jan O'Hara, of the popular, award-winning site for writers Writer Unboxed, said:

"These days, getting and staying published requires a larger skill set than understanding point of view, plot and character. Rather, most would say it requires grit, determination and tolerance for life in the public eye. When I look for models of writers who possess those traits, I think of Kim Michele Richardson..."   Read more...

Will Other Catholic Bishops Risk Eternal Damnation?

I applaud the fearlessness it must have taken for the Irish bishop who recently turned over a 1997 letter from the Vatican to the Irish Broadcasters RTF, thinking he'd face eternal damnation and excommunication for his act.

This letter was signed by the late Archbishop, Luciano Storero, Pope John Paul II's diplomat to Ireland, and addressed to Ireland's Catholic bishops, telling them not to report all suspected child abuse cases to the police. Finally a Catholic bishop bravely stepped forward to report what has been known all too long...   Read more...

The Should've-Would've-Could've Template For A Better New Year

Before planting final goodbye kisses on Christmas, many find themselves revisiting yesteryear to see how they'd do things differently, using the Should've-Would've-Could've rule to make amends, whether that means to improve our surroundings, kick bad habits or build stronger relationships.

Not too unlike those millions of Americans, I too, used Dec. 31 as a day of reflection for spiritual and emotional growth and betterment by learning more about myself using a man named Richard as my moral compass.    Read more...

The Sugar Plum Fairy Divide - The Haves Versus The Have Nots

Today I looked at my local arts calendar and settled on taking my family to see the Nutcracker ballet. That is, I intended to, until I saw that the wicked Rat King had once again left but a few crumbs in my working class wallet.

I scoured the Internet searching for another art event conducive to my family's budget and artistic whimsy and that's when I came across my fellow writer and friend, Bryn Greenwood's enkindling blog letter.    Read more...

Healing Requires Revealing: How The Church Is Failing Abuse Survivors

While the current headlines reflect advanced thinking by the Roman Catholic Church on topics such as condoms and the 'new princes' elections, I read little on the Vatican's response to the issue of sexually abusive clergy during Pope Benedict XVI's historic meeting of worldwide bishops and cardinals last week.

The Pontiff surely realizes that the Church cannot advance while dragging these crimes and the mayhem of conspiracies behind it. Nor can it redirect our attention by disavowing what it has done.    Read more...

This Is What They Taught My Daughter In School

On Oct. 19, my 16-year-old daughter's school was surrounded by EMTs, police and fire fighters. A helicopter hovered above the campus grounds. The coroner came first, then came the hearse. There was a car crash on campus involving drunk drivers. Four 16-year-old girls had been drinking: one dead at the scene, two critically injured and one non-injured - the drunk driver.

They rushed the critically injured away in ambulances. The non-injured drunk driver was handcuffed and arrested at the scene. The last girl...    Read more...

NUN ABUSE: A Survivor's Message For The Vatican

I remembered back to this past spring. I'd just hung up the phone. It was late and the conversation with yet another clergy abuse survivor had zapped my strength and spirit as they'd recounted to me the horrors of their youth. I looked to the clock and knew I should be heading to bed because tomorrow was Easter.

Easter. The celebratory feast day that millions of Catholics would spend rejoicing and celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. I also knew that the survivor I'd just spoken with would not be attending Church tomorrow...    Read more...