Readers Respond – November 10, 2018

Healing of another group is needed
New Orleans

I address this letter to the Clarion Herald, because although I feel compelled to state these words, I don’t know where to aim the message.

Our main focus for amends and healing should be the primary victims of the religious sexual abuse scandal, those who experienced horrific abuse and their families who must deal with the outcomes.  

Much has also been written about the secondary victims, all of us who have seen our beloved Church self-scandalized and  justifiably pilloried.

However, there are tertiary victims about whom little appears on the community radar screen: the faithful and righteous religious who live their lives of literal dedication to their brothers and sisters via their vocational commitments.

People who live through powerful earthquakes frequently experience unsettling cognitive dissonance when the one thing that should never move (the earth) does exactly that.  I can only imagine the horror, betrayal, humiliation and sadness that our nuns, brothers and priests have felt during this unfolding crisis.  And yet I expect that, for most, the overriding emotion is that of sorrow that their various missions are now that much more difficult, and as a result less can be accomplished.

So I offer a prayer especially for our religious, those with pure hearts and a clear vision of God’s plan for them, that they persevere in the face of ignominy, that they gain strength from the added burden, and that they know that we the laity are still on their side.

DAVID A. HUETE

We must believe: ‘God is in control’
Houston

Thanks for Peter Finney’s article, “God Is In Control” (‘Letting the light shine on past sins will begin healing,’ Oct. 20). I just read the morning news with the names of 16 defrocked clergy accused of sexual abuse  This is very painful!

Then, the Holy Spirit lead me to your article which gave comfort that “God is in control.”

We must continue to pray for God’s mercy, peace and justice to our church as well as wisdom and strength for Archbishop Aymond.

Thanks for always writing articles filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

MICHELLE RADCLIFF

Migrants should be treated humanely and with respect
St. Louis, Missouri

The School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Central Pacific Province join with other women religious in expressing our deep concern that the Trump administration is considering an executive order to turn away families fleeing violence in Central America and block access to asylum, as the “caravan” of people seeking protection continues on their long journey to the United States. This “caravan” of asylum seekers represents a humanitarian crisis, not a threat to our national security. They simply want a better life for themselves and their families. 

We urge the administration to:

• Allow migrants to approach our border, ask for protection in the United States and to be admitted for processing in a timely manner.
• Ensure that asylum seekers have access to legal counsel and receive a fair resolution of their claim.
• Guarantee that parents and children stay together.
• Develop more humane and cost-efficient alternatives to those awaiting adjudication of their asylum petitions instead of detention.
• Direct Homeland Security to cooperate with faith-based and humanitarian organizations who are prepared to assist asylum-seekers.

The United States has a long and proud history of welcoming immigrants and sheltering refugees. We and other women religious have been blessed to be able to accompany and serve migrant communities across this country for a very long time. We will continue to welcome them as our national history demands and our faith requires.

SR MARY ANNE OWENS, S.S.N.D.
Provincial Leader
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Central Pacific Province