In thanksgiving:
My niece Donna came through her surgery for breast cancer well yesterday and is resting comfortably this morning. She will go home sometime today.
From David@Montreal
Before anything, I apologize my beloved Giants of prayer and practice for two prayer calls in one day...
But again this evening, another heads-up from a contact at CBC radio, and an interview with Father Paul Abbass of St. Mary's Church Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Father Paul is dioesan spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and was answering to the news that last week-end his Bishop, returning from a personal trip overseas was found to be in the posession of serious quantities of child pornography on his personal laptop. This discovered in a random search by Canadian border authorities.
This is the same diocese which only months ago made settlement of more than ten million dollars with the surviving victims of clergy abuse ranging over three decades. Antigonish is a relatively small, rural diocese, mainly fishing and agriculture.
What was most extraordinary about the interview with Father Abbas was the humanity and humility of this priest who not only runs a program for addicts, but who also has the charge of five parishes. No 'official talk' , no pontifications- the man was literally staggered by the news still several hours later. His pain for the people of the diocese, for the surviving family members of the victims of abuse who killed themselves and for the surviving victims, for the people of the diocese still recovering from more than two decades of scandal- it was one of the most powerful, most humane expressions I have ever heard out of the Roman Catholic Church- ever. Father Paul is a holy man in a very difficult spot.
So I'm asking your prayers- yes, for Father Paul Abbass, yes, for the people of the Diocese of Antigonish, and for all victims of religously-inpsired sexual abuse, sexual discrimination, misogyny and homophobia.
thank-you beloved Giants.
love always- always Love
David@Montreal
Here's the link to the story in the New York Times.
Prayers offered.
ReplyDeleteI heard that interview (I listen to the CBC at night sometimes)....David is right, it was a very humble man. No spinning. I guess the Men in Black from Head Office haven't got there yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragedy.
Tho' the American in me marvels at the idea of spot-checking someone's omputer files.
It's done at our borders also, IT.
ReplyDeletePrayers and more prayers filling the heavens.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were originally from Canada IT? That would make you doubly marvelous.
ReplyDeleteNo, LEonardo, I'm a Californian of many generations standing.
ReplyDeleteYes, Paul (A), so I've been told. NEver seen it or heard of it before now. How is that a legal search without probable cause?
So glad to hear that Donna is doing well.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, thanks. Donna is home and up and around a little, but she still wants to sleep a lot. Can't blame her for that.
ReplyDeletePrayers for all, and thatnks for the update on Donna, Mimi, I'm so glad she's doing well!
ReplyDelete