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VOICE OF THE FAITHFULPRIEST OF INTEGRITY AWARD REV. JAMES SCAHILL
Yet it is ironic that in His three years of public life, Jesus did little if anything that a traditional, clerical priest does. He did not conduct services. He did not chair committees. He was neither a fund raiser nor an administrator. He was not worried about his career progression nor was He concerned about the quality of the robes He wore. He did not have an office and He was hardly worried about whether His style of ministry with the people pleased or displeased the leadership of His church. Anger, whether expressed by Jesus or directed at him was always from or about a single issue: the abuse of power by the religious leaders of His day and their failure to respect the believers. Jesus did little that the priest, as clerical “organization man” does. However He imprinted on history, by His life and actions, the authentic model of priest as pastor. He took the incredible risk of looking beyond His own security in order to fulfill His mandate to make real the love of His Father for all, especially the disenfranchised, the marginalized and the powerless. He incurred the anger and even rage of the religious leadership of His time because He risked everything to call them to account. He completely confounded and perplexed them because He was in it, not for Himself, but totally for others, a concept totally alien to the religious establishment of the time. James Scahill is a model priest in the most historically authentic sense. He responded with incredible courage to a call to proclaim justice and truth. He has shown that it is possible to find the courage, the faith and the hope to challenge the institutional church when its structures become a barrier to seeing the Spirit of Justice in our midst. He has shown, as Jesus did, that mere words are inadequate in the face of corruption. Only action speaks with the eloquence and decisiveness that makes a true difference. I believe that Jim asked himself more than once, as he faced the ever-growing nightmare in our midst of clergy sexual abuse and spiritual betrayal, “What would Jesus do?” I believe that this was sometimes an expression of exasperation but at times was a prayer. That prayer was answered for Jim Scahill. He heard this answer and faced the fearful consequences that it entailed, and, “He did what Jesus would have done?” I am honored to stand here this morning beside this man who is a true Christian and a true priest. I am deeply grateful for the hope and strength he gives, not only to the countless victims of clerical and hierarchical abuse, but to those of us, including myself, who often wonder if the struggle is even worth it. Finally, I believe that as we have faced the nightmare of sexual abuse and betrayal of trust over the past years, we have done so as a community. One can point to many, clergy and lay, but all dedicated and faithful Catholics and Christians, who have risked so much to speak out, to lead and to forge a path to an honest and open Church. I want to take the risk of singling out only two such brave souls this morning because without their fearless support, Jim’s response to the question, “What would Jesus do?” may well have been muted. I refer of course, to Bill Zajac who also risked much to carry the message of justice through the press, and to Warren Mason, whose unflagging and fearless support, encouragement and guidance would has left so many of us floundering. Both of these fearless and dedicated men have, above all, stepped outside of their own comfort zones to build up the Body of Christ. And finally, to Jim Scahill, man of courage and Priest of Integrity, never doubt that your courageous ministry truly reflects what Jesus would do.
Presented by New England Voice of the Faithful Affiliates in cooperation with Voice of the Faithful, Inc. Voice of the Faithful, Inc. is a registered
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