Archbishop's  Column  by  Archbishop John G. Vlazny

As we work for healing and betterment, we entrust all to God
03/04/2005

“You’re lucky we’re still going to Mass on Sundays!” That was a response I received from one household to my request for financial support in this year’s Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. I must confess that at first I wasn’t quite sure how this made me lucky, but good fortune has indeed been my lot, even during these challenging times for our archdiocesan church.

The scandal of child sexual abuse by clergy across these United States, particularly here in western Oregon, has been a source of great concern, frustration and even anger for so many of you. It all began for us five years ago with 25 allegations of abuse against one of our priests, which finally were settled. Then three years ago, the news out of Boston about similar crimes intensified public scrutiny about this matter and stirred up old and hurtful memories of similar incidents during the childhood of far too many victims. As a church, we had developed policies
and procedures to deal appropriately with present and future allegations, but we had never successfully resolved the just demands of victims from the past.

The heart and soul of our Catholic community is our faith in Jesus Christ. Without faith we are nothing. With faith we
can surmount tremendous obstacles. A few years ago I had become concerned that the scandal of child sexual
abuse by clergy was causing people to lose their faith. If that were to happen to all of us, we would indeed be nothing.
In times of trouble people of faith turn to prayer. That is why I reinstated the Ember Days, 24 hours designated for
prayer and fasting, three times each year. These special days are in keeping with a long-standing tradition of our
church to unite in prayer and penance around a common cause at designated times each year.

Our diocesan Ember Days are usually observed on Wednesdays, during Advent and Lent and also each autumn. The
first and still prevailing intention I designated for these days was the healing of all victims, the protection of our
children and fidelity to our church’s evangelizing mission. Eventually new intentions will take precedence. But for the
present moment, in this local church this intention remains uppermost in our minds and hearts as we prepare for the
Lenten Ember Day of 2005, Wednesday, March 9.

All the concerns, frustration and anger to which I referred earlier have been exacerbated by the July 6 filing for
bankruptcy protection on the part of our archdiocese. We had reached the point where we were no longer able to meet
the demands of victims/creditors. We needed help. Ever since that day, we have been working with the bankruptcy
court, attorneys, insurance companies, parishioners and a special court-appointed creditors’ committee to develop a
plan of financial reorganization whereby the available assets of the archdiocese are determined once and for all,
creditors will be justly satisfied and the church will be able to carry on its normal operations.

During this period of time, a committee of parishioners has been established to make sure that parish properties and
assets are safeguarded. The 70 claims against the archdiocese that were put on hold at the time of the bankruptcy
need to be evaluated and depositions are presently under way. All others who believe that the archdiocese is their
debtor, either by reason of similar criminal allegations or non-payment of what is due them, have been invited to file
a claim before April 29. All of us received letters notifying us of this deadline. Finally, the bankruptcy court judge
has appointed five mediators who will begin the difficult task of evaluating and mediating claims beginning Aug. 8, 2005.

Sad to say, our archdiocese has not made many friends in our efforts to resolve these matters. The media and the
public at large have been mistrustful at best. A number of Catholics have taken this opportunity to express their
dissent about other matters that involve church life and ministry, inevitably with the corollary that the present
scandal is largely due to the incompetence and irrelevance of those of us in church leadership.

All of this paints a pretty bleak picture, to say the least. But I remain optimistic and hopeful largely because of you,
our Catholic people. Most of you seem to understand the importance of our faith-sharing and evangelizing ministries.
You continue to support church ministries and participate in church activities. The enthusiasm of great numbers of
 participants at this year’s six Rites of Election which marked the beginning of Lent was genuine and reassuring.

But our problems remain. Lent is a season for prayer and fasting. As we observe our Lenten Ember Day this year,
please do keep all these things in mind and at heart as together we seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance along these
uncertain pathways of justice and healing. Our prayers and fasting will never take away all the harm that has been
done. But they are our best strategy for entrusting all this pain and resentment to the God of mercy who alone can
heal the hurts and make the peace.

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