Let's Talk About the McCarrick Report
If you follow In Spirit and Truth on Facebook, you know I've been spending the last two days reading the McCarrick Report and coordinating Awake Milwaukee's response to these newest revelations. It's been quite a lot!
My Thoughts on the Report
I've heard from several folks that you've been waiting for my take on the whole thing, and I'm sorry I have not been able to post something here sooner. As more of my time and focus shifts to the work of Awake, my writing energy went first to our post over on the Awake blog. If you want to hear my initial thoughts (written before I finished all 461 pages of the report), please head over to the Awake blog to check that out here: The Vatican Releases the McCarrick Report, and Survivors Respond.
You may want to pay special attention to the end of the post, when I offer three main things I think we can learn from the report:
The Catholic Church needs to give serious attention to sexual abuse of adults by clergy.
The Catholic Church needs to move from a culture of complacency to a culture of proactive personal responsibility.
The Catholic Church needs to be conscious of which voices are heeded and which are dismissed.
An Invitation to Conversation
I have noticed that there are many folks that need an opportunity to discuss and process these newest revelations in a supportive atmosphere, so I will be hosting a few online discussion groups through Awake in the next few days.
I invite you to come learn a little something about the contents of the McCarrick Report, share your own feelings and reactions, and talk about how we as Catholics can respond with compassion and courage.
The conversations are scheduled on Zoom, in central time, for:
Thursday, November 12, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Friday, November 13, 1:00pm – 2:30pm (specifically for lay ministers)
Sunday, November 15, 2:30pm – 4:00pm
We will be taking a faith-based approach (beginning in prayer, for example), but also leaving plenty of space for honest conversation. You can learn more and sign up to participate at awakemilwaukee.org/lets-talk.
For regular readers of In Spirit and Truth, this is also a great opportunity for us to meet (at least virtually) and get to know each other a little better! I would love to see you there.
I have spoken to many survivors who are really struggling at this time. Please join me in praying today for all who are hurting, that God will grant them strength and healing.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.