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Advice from Bishop Gumbleton:
Forgiveness and Justice are
a Must
VOTF Mid-Michigan sponsored a healing service at which Bishop Gumbleton offered
compelling thoughts on the abuse crisis. The following was submitted by VOTF
member Harry Grether. Many of the prayers and acknowledgements used during
the service were adapted from VOTF Prayerful Voice Liturgies. For more information
on the Mid-Michigan affiliate contact hgmmvotf@charter.net.
Nearly one hundred and fifty people gathered for a service
at Blessed Sacrament Church in Midland on Sunday, April
2nd to seek healing and prayerfully address the sex abuse
crisis in the Catholic Church. The Healing Prayer Service
included a reflection by retired Auxiliary Bishop Thomas
Gumbleton of Detroit. In January 2006, Bishop Gumbleton
spoke in support of legislation that would create a “window” of
opportunity for survivors of sexual abuse to have their “day
in court.”
In his reflection, Bishop Gumbleton referred to the World
Day of Peace statement for January 1, 2002 written by Pope
John Paul II after the events of September 11, 2001. In
the statement, Pope John Paul II spoke of “a shattered
moral order” and explained that the way to restore
it is through “a response that combines justice with
forgiveness.” Bishop Gumbleton applied the Pope’s
words to the abuse scandal in the church and further explained, “From
our own hearts, we must learn to reach out to forgive rather
than to hold a spirit of vengeance, resentment, or even
hatred. That does not mean that we fail to work for justice.
In fact, true reconciliation, ‘true peace is the
work of justice’… And so to reach out in forgiveness
does not exclude, in fact it must be accompanied by, holding
people accountable and struggling to make that happen.”
Bishop Gumbleton’s reflection was followed by an “acknowledgement
of wrongs” in which the Bishop, a priest from the
Diocese of Saginaw, a nun representing all religious, and
a member of the laity each acknowledged the sinful acts
and criminal offenses that have been committed and asked
forgiveness. People in attendance were also invited to
come forward for personal prayers.
For many members of the Diocese of Saginaw, the Healing
Prayer Service was the first opportunity they had to come
together as Church to express their pain and sorrow over
the crisis.
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