those with weak faith

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from 1 Corinthians 10:14-33. In this passage, Paul tells us how to treat people with weak faith. He says to limit the things that you do because you don't want to hurt their faith, or cause them to stumble. Even though eating certain foods may be completely permissible, if it hurts the faith of your brother, then refrain from eating it around him.

The Catholic church is going through a crisis these days. The sexual abuse scandal, and apparent "cover-up", has shaken the faith of many. I've read the comments of many people online who are considering leaving the church because of the scandal. That's PRECISELY what scandal does - and why scandal is so evil. It takes the sins of a few, and puts them in the face of people who then struggle to believe in light of those sins. It causes people to stumble in their faith, and for some, to leave the church to their own great detriment.

Many today are calling for the blood of the priests who were guilty of sexual abuse, and for the blood of those who didn't report them. In no way does anyone want to minimize the horrific nature of these sins. But we need to remember that we, too, are guilty of horrific sins. The priests who committed these acts are in great need of mercy and forgiveness, JUST LIKE you and I are. It is easy to forget the magnitude of our own sins when we see someone else's sins publicly displayed. Should there be consequences for their sins? Of course, just like there are consequences for your sins and mine. But we need to forgive them and pray for them, just as we accept forgiveness and accept the prayers of the saints on our behalf.

The reading in mass today was very appropriate for our current situation. It's about the man who owed someone a huge debt, and is called in and told he must pay. He begs his lender to give him more time, and in a huge demonstration of mercy, the lender not only gives him more time, he actually forgives the debt entirely. Then the man goes out, forgiven, and finds someone who owes HIM money. He strangles the man, and refuses to give him more time to pay his debt. The person who lent the first man money finds out about this, and turns him over to be tortured.

If that isn't clear enough, the Bible then goes on to say that we sinners will be forgiven EXACTLY in the same way that we forgive others. Let's not forget that admonition when it comes to our present crisis. Should these priests be taken care of responsibly, and removed from positions in which they could repeat their offenses? Of course. But crying out for their blood is not in the spirit of Jesus, who told us that we must forgive to be forgiven. Who said, "Neither do I condemn you," to the woman caught in adultery.

God, please help us remember to forgive, as we are forgiven. And help those with weak faith make it through this crisis.