Since it is all going to “pass #away” anyway, why should I continue to speak out about the “places” in the Diocese of Amarillo—which, for me, embody the “Local Church in the one and unique Catholic Church”—that deeply concern me because:
From Luke 21: 29-33
- A memorial remains standing, erected by a convicted pedophile priest for a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting that convict a second chance—leading to the destruction of the innocence of youth.
- A letter persists on the diocesan website, rebuking “a few” who reported abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral—casting them aside instead of pursuing justice, healing and reconciliation.
- Daily Masses at St. Mary’s Cathedral, have been aborted, justified under the guise of fostering “an incredible sense of Reverence for the…Priests and especially for the Bishops“, thereby weaponizing the Eucharist as a tool of power and control.
- Another bishop’s residence has been constructed, symbolically reinforcing hierarchical dominance and putting our next bishop “in his place” before his arrival.
XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
How to be a missionary synodal Church
Instrumentum laboris
Part III – Places
Local Churches in the one and unique Catholic Church
94.
Bishop Zurek, for his part, called what Matthiesen did a ‘serious mistake,’ yet the memorial still remains.”
“Some Episcopal Conferences have shared experiences of reform and have identified good practices already in place.‘” However, is a memorial, erected by a convicted pedophile priest for a bishop who made a “serious mistake” in a rural parish over a decade ago, something that could be identified as good practice; conversely, should my conscience allow me to get away with being silent knowing that in in the end it will be said, “All the dead were judged according to their deeds.“❓
These (good practices) include creating networks of pastoral Councils at the level of small and base Christian communities, Parishes and deaneries, right up to the Diocesan pastoral Council. Accordingly, couldn’t a robust network of pastoral councils prevented “a few” who reported clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral from being told they were not “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires.”; subsequently, couldn’t such a structure have ensured they were not cast away from ministry and blocked from social media platforms for asking, “Is it ‘Here God lives among his people‘”❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “As a model of consultation and listening, it is proposed that Church assemblies be held at all levels, trying to widen consultation to include the contribution of other Churches and ecclesial Communities, of other religions present in the local context and of society, with which the Christian community journeys.” Furthermore, wouldn’t listening to and consulting with me before a Church assembly about my questions regarding the decision to abort the daily Eucharist at St. Mary’s Cathedral—for the sake of the priest’s health and spirituality—have contributed to the Christian community’s journey; therefore, could this not far and away have lead to the ultimate destination of being able to “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia
Finally, shouldn’t I engage in a way of loving—moving gradually away from “sins against synodality, the very sins that now place our new bishop in a position where he must “Just Say NO❣️” to being “put in his place.”); moreover, shouldn’t this shift lead me toward what God’s world truly needs in the “places” that, for me, constitute the “Local Church in the one and unique Catholic Church”—even if…
“‘Heaven and earth will pass away‘”❓
It (asceticism) is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I want to what God’s world needs.
From paragraph 9 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME