I just finished reading a powerful post written by Fr. Gordon MacRae called Giving Up Resentment for Lent: Calisthenics for your Soul and couldn't help but think that not only is it my own Church (even sadder...his too) that treats Fr. MacRae in such a dehumanizing manner ...it's my own diocese.
Why can't they at least listen to what he has to say? How will it hurt them to simply hear him? Especially with all the new evidence that has come to light in this particular case. Isn't "visit the imprisoned" one of the Corporal Works of Mercy?
On a brighter note, Fr. MacRae's blog is a finalist for Best Catholic Blog at About.com. If you'd like to vote for These Stone Walls please click here. You can vote once every 24 hours.
Thanks!
This world has selective hearing. They only want to hear what "they want to hear."
ReplyDeleteMary, I want to thank you for all your encouraging words. Even though I may not have responded right away to them, I appreciate you very very much. Hugs my friend.
So glad that we can at least support Fr. MacRae by voting for his blog (and prayer). I feel that he is going through the "white" martyrdom. I feel like that's happening to a lot of good people. Bless you for this post!
ReplyDeleteAmen to Monica's words: bless you for this post.
ReplyDeleteI also want you to know that I've nominated you for a "Liebster" blog award (from the Breadbox Letters). I thought I'd seen "evidence" of one before on your sidebar, but it doesn't seem to be there now. Anyway, you can check that out at http://thebreadboxletters.blogspot.com/2013/02/id-like-to-thank-academy.html.
Hi Grace,
ReplyDeleteSo true about selective hearing!
Thank you for your kind words - I appreciate you too :)
Hi Monica,
ReplyDeleteI agree that he's going through a "white" martyrdom. In his most recent post he speaks about the antipathy he is up against and much of it comes from fellow priests. Very few have reached out a hand to him (there are exceptions I have noticed) and this failure goes against everything Christ taught us. Thanks for supporting him!
Hi Nancy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the award :) I've received it already but very much appreciate you thinking about me. I'll pop over to your site right now.
((((Mary))))
ReplyDeleteSending you a big hug too, Grace!
ReplyDeleteMary, I'm so glad you wrote this. It would take an extraordinary man - even one who is a bishop - to stand up to his own staff who he counts on every day, and most especially when the bishop is new to a diocese. This is the situation right now in the Diocese of Manchester. He has been very reticent to converse at all with Father Gordon. I know that the official position is still that Father Gordon "refuses visits and other contact with priests of the diocese," but I have first hand knowledge that this is not true and has never been true. They do not want to be in a position of hearing any defense from him because they have settled all claims and don't want to have to admit that they settled claims that were not credible. I also know that they settled these claims even after Father Gordon demanded that they not settle because the abuses never took place. It's a little like the justice system not wanting to admit that they have executed a man who was not guilty and so any attempt to revisit the evidence is suppressed.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, Bonnie again :-) I'm saddened too that it is his and our own diocese that treats Fr. MacRae so terribly. I have written our Bishop, he has responded and I will be writing him again. I'll be requesting a contact in our prison ministry (assuming we have one). I have also sent a letter to the Cheshire County Attorney Chris McLaughlin who is handling the case for the state. There's a hearing for a request for a new trial. Mr. McLaughlin is a Catholic. Let's pray the Holy Spirit speaks to him. Thanks for expressing support so well on this site. God Bless You.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary. Thank you for your courage. Yes, I find the silence of Father's Diocese (and yours as well) deafening and very odd. Thank you for bringing this up. God bless you, Liz
ReplyDeleteThis is so much like the Pharisees in Jesus' time. Have we gone this far in the Church to actually have returned to the times where we need Jesus to come again? The Holy Spirit is in charge and hopefully we will see a man elected to Pope that will guide this Church back to what and who is important, Him and Him alone!
ReplyDeletePrayers are said at Mass for Father every day! He is a voice crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord.
We love you Father and know you are innocent. It is time for the hierarchy to face up to what They have done with their foolish payoffs, condemned innocent men.Their blood is on the heads of those in the hierarchy who do not heed this. god have mercy on them!
I think Father Gordon is treated that way by his fellow priests because their pride will not allow them to acknowledge their own sinful behavior and cowardice towards Father Gordon. I will pray for the priests and bishops in your diocese that God will open the eyes of their hearts that they might see the face of our Lord Jesus in him. It would be wonderful to see your parish offering Masses and raising funds for his defense
ReplyDeleteWhat amazes me is that any diocesan priest could read TSW, check out the evidence, and see that Father Gordon is not guilty. The bishop should visit him in prison and ask all the priests of the diocese to pray for him. He should not be pardoned, he should be issued a "not guilty" from the governor and an apology from the justice system. Maybe the laity should petition the bishop to do the right thing here. Yes, I'm a trouble maker for sure!
ReplyDeleteJust a guess: When Father Gordon is exonerated of crime, what do you bet some diocesan priests will suddenly become friendly.
Hi Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I hope it will give readers of this blog a better idea of what Fr. MacRae is up against.
Hi Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the bishop has looked into the case more deeply or not? I was hoping Bishop Libasci would be more open to Fr MacRae's cause than our former bishop but it doesn't sound as if this is the case.
You sure know how to get things
done. It's good to hear from you again!
These Stone Walls is doing well at About.com - I just looked at the standings and his site has garnered 34 percent of the vote so far.
Hi Liz,
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very strange. If I'm being honest, I can't quite fathom the antipathy aimed at Fr. MacRae - it's very ugly. It's mob mentality at its worst.
God bless you too!
Hi Jeannie,
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it does remind me of the pharisees in Jesus' time. I hope hearts will soften towards Fr. MacRae and that he will receive letters and visits from fellow priests (and a new trial). Thanks for commenting.
I'm praying for a holy pope too!
Hi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYes, please do pray because he could use some support in this state. I am praying too.
Hi Barb,
ReplyDeleteVery well said. I agree with your comment and think you are a good kind of trouble maker :)
Hi Mary and all those responding here. It's Bonnie. Bishop Libasci has said "I wish to assure you that his pastoral support is a matter of concern to me." So perhaps as a fairly new bishop he is open to conversation, with us and with his staff. I had to learn about Fr. MacRae while visiting here in Yuma,AZ. Until I return to NH in May I will continue to write to the Bishop and to a couple of priests who are in parish's near my town of Temple and to Fr. Kerper in Nashua. I sometimes go there. I contribute to Father MacRae's defense fund. Upon returning to NH I want to sit down with these priests and talk about Father MacRae. I'm not sure what I can do as far as his legal case. I hesitate to get involved with the media as I feel they may only focus their attention on things that could hurt his case rather than help it. Lets all do something. Any suggestions for more that I can do I would appreciate hearing about.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless.
Hi Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteThe bishop's words sound promising. (It's a start anyway!) I use to live in Nashua and am aware that Fr. Kerper is the pastor at St. Patrick's. I was a parishioner there when Fr. Kelly was pastor and I cleaned the rectory and church for years.
I agree about using care with the media - they often bring more harm than good (and this was the case with Fr. MacRae).
Thanks for the ideas. I'll see what I can do also. God bless!