Print Issue: May 9, 2002

While Sin Mars The Church, Beauty Of Faith Is Undimmed

By Father Brian Higgins

"Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?" Thomas asked that question to our Lord nearly 2000 years ago, and though we think we know the answer, many of us are still asking the question, "How can we know the way?" Or better yet, "Who can show us the way?"

As I read the second reading from St. Peter earlier in the week, I came across these words that have meant so much to me during my priesthood and even during my seminary days. It is when Peter, our first pope, spoke of "a holy priesthood (created) to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

And upon reading these words again, in light of everything that is going on, I wanted to weep. I wanted to weep for the victims that have seemingly been forgotten or exploited by the media. I wanted to weep for the priests who have lost their way and have committed such a heinous crime against God and His most precious gift, our children. I wanted to weep for the many good and holy priests who, day after day, get up in the morning knowing they are being condemned for the sins of others.

But most of all I wanted to weep for all of you, all of you good and holy Catholics who come here week after week and ask us with the same trust as St. Thomas, "How can we know the way?" "How can we know the way to heaven and to Christ?" You ask us this question because you trust us enough to show you the way, but I weep for you now who question that trust in us and question your own faith.

St. Francis de Sales, over 300 years ago, spoke about priestly scandals, horrific ones, like the ones we are forced to read about over and over again in the papers today. He said, "Those who commit these types of scandals are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder!" That is, destroying the faith by their horrific actions and terrible examples. However, St. Francis de Sales went on further and warned his listeners, "I'm here among you to prevent something far worse . . . while those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal . . . those who allow scandal to destroy their faith . . . are guilty of spiritual suicide."

And that, my friends, is my greatest fear, that many of you will give in to the panic, give in to the darkness and give in to the scandal. The devil cannot destroy us from the outside, so he is trying to destroy us from within, and what better place to attack us than from the priesthood. Our Lord promised us that the "Gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church," but that doesn't mean we wouldn't feel hell's hot breath.

Many of you understand the reason we are scrutinized so much in the media today; it is because the world expects the best, the finest, the most noble behavior from Catholic priests and it is outraged when we let them down.

And you want to know something, so am I. I am outraged, disgusted and embarrassed that this has happened. Do you know what it is like to go out in public in a Roman collar today and have people stop and stare with looks of curiosity, looks of contempt, looks of disgust and looks of horror? Or do you know what it is like to have a parent pull their child close to them because they want to protect them from . . . me? Or to turn on the late night programs and know that people are delighting in your pain?

Of course you do, because you have had to walk with us every step of the way. But before we give in to the insults and hatred, let me remind you that holiness is not defined merely by what we do, but rather how we react when things are done to us.

If I see any silver lining in any of this, it is that I am honored that I have been found worthy to be judged and found guilty for the sins of another. For this is the same crime our Lord was crucified for, the sins of others. And if this is my part in sharing in the cross then I accept it willingly.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with the institution of the priesthood. Msgr. Richard Lopez, who many of your know teaches at St. Pius X High School, told me a story. He said when he is teaching and the students start to misbehave he begins to sing the "Ave Maria" to them. Now, some of you may think this is so nice, but to be honest with you he has the singing voice of an Irish fish peddler; it is awful. By the time he is finished singing, the students are begging him to stop and promising they will be good if he just won't sing. Then he asks them the question to help him make his point; he asks, "Is the problem the singer or the song?"

"The singer!" they all shout back. You see, of course the song, the "Ave Maria," is perfect, it is beautiful, but in this case the singer has sung horribly off-key.

My friends we must realize, the Catholic faith is the song! It is perfect, it is infallible, it is the truth and when you ask Her to show you the way, it does. Our life-giving sacraments, our Scriptures, our magisterium, and the glorious company of our saints, and our holy Mass . . . they are the songs, perfect, eternal. They are the letters of grace and truth written by Christ that we carry to the world that desperately needs grace and truth.

However the singers . . . God help us . . . how often they have sung off-key, and made it difficult for some to hear the song! My friends, there is nothing new under the sun. Look at the holy Apostles, the first bishops, the foundation stones of the Church.

Scripture tells us that when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, it is the only thing the apostles agreed to do together, their actions of unity . . . they all ran. Peter, our first pope, denied our Lord three times in His presence and once in His absence. But these men, these sinful men, are also the same ones who carried the song to all the ages. Yes, they ran, but unlike Judas they came back.

I've been wondering the last few weeks if the media, like CNN, was around back then who would they have followed, Peter or Judas? My guess is Judas. And I say this not because I dislike CNN, or I think most of their news is "yellow journalism," I say this because Judas' story would have been to them outrageous, scandalous. And as morally outraged as the anchors would have wanted to appear, they would relish the story because scandal equals numbers and ratings.

And speaking to Peter, who would have probably spoken of Christ, would have bored them to tears, and cause the masses to turn off the TV.

And so I say to them, to all those who look at us today . . . to all who judge us . . . to all who delight in the present feeding-frenzy of the news . . . Please do not judge our religion on the basis of those who do not keep it, but rather on the basis of those who do.

And now, I ask you all to do me a personal favor; do not listen to the voices of those who blame all this on the rule of celibacy, because that is ridiculous. My brothers and sisters, let me ask you, "Should we abandon an ideal, because the ideal has not been served?" Please remember before you judge, the divorce rate is nearly 55 percent; does that mean we should abandon the ideal of marriage also?

Do you know why a man would embrace celibacy as a priest and a woman as a Religious? We do so because there are still some crazy enough to believe that this gesture is a way of saying to the world, serving Christ and His people takes all of me, and in this gift by which we duplicate and serve Him, we receive something back that makes this current age, that has no heroes, no ideals and very few morals, very nervous.

There is an old expression that goes, "do not leave Peter because of Judas."

Some people are talking about leaving the Church because they believe the priesthood is full of sinners. Well, to them I say this, you are right. Every one of your priests, like St. Peter, is a sinner. And let me tell you something else . . . I love the priesthood and despite some of us who sing off-key, I guarantee we, the many who will remain faithful to Him and His Holy Church . . . we can and we will show you the way.

Father Higgins gave this homily on the Fifth Sunday of Easter at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. He also acknowledges the inspiration of Msgr. Lopez.