As I post for the final time a picture of our second bishop’s residence, praying that our next bishop will “Just Say NO❣️” to living in it, and as I reach the “Conclusion” of my reflections about “The Synodal Church in the World“, can it be said that I’ve done “#enough” to inspire the Diocese of Amarillo to address:
- A memorial erected by a convicted pedophile priest in honor of a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting that priest “a second chance,” a decision that ultimately led to the destruction of the innocence of youth;
- A letter on the diocesan website letter rebuking “a few” who reported abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral, casting them aside instead of pursuing justice, healing and reconciliation;
- The abortion of daily Masses at St. Mary’s Cathedral, justified as fostering “an incredible sense of Reverence for the…Priests and especially for the Bishops“, effectively weaponizing the Eucharist as a tool of power and exclusion;
- The construction of a second bishop’s residence, symbolically reinforcing hierarchical dominance and seemingly designed to “put our next bishop in his place” before his arrival❓
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
How to be a missionary synodal Church
Instrumentum laboris
Conclusion – The Synodal Church in the World
112.
Bishop Zurek, for his part, referred to Matthiesen’s actions as a ‘serious mistake“, yet approved the erection of the memorial and continues to allow it to remain.
“The prophet Isaiah ends his oracle with a hymn of praise to be taken up in chorus: “this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us“; therefore, how much longer must I wait for God to save us from the presence of a memorial erected by a convicted pedophile priest in honor of a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting him “a second chance“—a decision that ultimately led to the destruction of innocence; furthermore, have I wrestled “enough” with this burden, asking, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him‘”❓
Since “This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Is. 25:9). can it be said that I waited “enough” for salvation from a Reflection on Christian Life that implies that “a few” who reported clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral were not “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires“; conversely, is it God’s will that the letter suggested that I am not among those of whom it can be said, “The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom“❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “As the People of God let us join in this praise, as pilgrims of hope let us continue to advance along the synodal path towards those who still await the proclamation of the Good News of salvation!“; yet, could it be “enough” for me to believe that when St. Mary’s Cathedral aborts the daily Eucharist for the priests’ health and spirituality, it serves the purpose of placing me among those of whom Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia.
Finally, even though I have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty caused by “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,”—is it not now time to say, “Enough!” and ask the Diocese of Amarillo to reflect on what I’ve written…
“…to see if there is enough for its completion❓
We have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty.
From paragraph 229 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME