Prayers for a new Archbishop
These are some of the prayers submitted to the Winchester, MA Area VOTF affiliate
web site on the eve of Bishop O’Malley’s installation as the new
Archbishop of the Boston, MA diocese. The full story of this endeavor is in “Affiliate
News – East Region.”
“ I am a parent of a victim. My prayer is that you do the right thing with
your one chance. May the Holy Spirit help you.”
“I am a parent of a victim. My prayer is that
you do the right thing with your one chance. May the
Holy Spirit help you.”
“I welcome you, Bishop Sean, to the Boston leg
of our shared journey. May God bless your efforts and
ours with compassion, inclusivity, mutual respect and
fruitful collaboration.”
“May the love of John and the breastplate of
St. Patrick always surround you as Archbishop of Boston
ad multos annos.”
“Dear Fr. Sean, We welcome you as our new shepherd
and ask God to grant you strength to reach out to all
who need your loving leadership and guidance. Tend
to the victims, minister to your priests, and listen
to the voices of the laity who long to help you.”
“I pray for your guidance to work with priests
and the laity to provide an unquestionable commitment,
with immediate action to ensure protection of our children
and all adults.”
“Dear Lord, please continue to make our new
servant leader Sean O’Malley a channel of your
peace; and may all your people in Boston join hands
and hearts in mutual support for your glory and the
good of all the Church. Amen.”
“Bishop Elect Sean, I pray that God will give
you courage to reach out to the survivor victims with
compassion and to acknowledge their pain and assist
them in their healing. I pray that you will be given
wisdom to bring openness and accountability to the
Body of Christ.”
“Our prayers and good wishes as you begin this
most important ministry. Let us be instruments of peace
and healing-together!”
“As a 3rd. Order member, I feel hopeful and
I pray you can renew our spirit. Protect our youth
and our children. Our holy houses need a thorough spring-cleaning.
God guide, bless you, and give you strength.”
“Dear Bishop Sean, We rejoice in your coming
to our wounded Church of Boston and pray that you will
bring the peace of St. Francis with you. We, the faithful
laity, stand ready to help in the formidable task you
face of restoring trust in the hearts of all.”
“Dear Bishop Sean, I rejoice for our Archdiocese
that you have been named our Archbishop. I pray especially
for you as you with Jesus and all of us try to rebuild
My Church. You have my prayers and my support. God
be with all of us!”
“I pray for the gift of wisdom for our new bishop.”
“Dear Fr. Sean - we hope confidently that your
election is the answer to the many prayers offered
by the people of the Boston Archdiocese. Your humility
and Franciscan tradition give us hope that you will
seek out the laity who long to work with you.”
“Dear Fr. O’Malley. May the grace, compassion
and peace of Christ’s love shine in and through
you as you walk together on this journey of faith with
the Boston faithful.”
VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL OUTLINES 6-POINT
RECONCILIATION & HEALING PLAN FOR BISHOP O’MALLEY’S
FIRST 100 DAYS
Truth-telling Is the First Step
VOTF’s 6-point plan includes the following:
Phase 1: “TELL THE TRUTH”
“ Reconciliation
always demands a firm purpose of amendment. It means
seeking new ways to avoid the grave mistakes of the
past …” – Bishop Sean O’Malley
Step 1: Acknowledge the findings in AG Reilly’s
Report. Let us all know that you are aware of, and
committed to transforming, the structural and cultural
flaws in the hierarchical leadership of the Archdiocese
of Boston.
Step 2: Disclose the local audit process
to be conducted by the Office of Child and Youth
Protection. Tell us when the OCYP auditors are coming
to Boston as soon as you yourself know. Announce
the completion of the audit, and announce when the
Archdiocese expects the results. Release the audit
findings.
Phase 2: “RESTORE TRUST”
“ I am anxious to hear first-hand from the bishops, priests, parish
councils and lay leaders…I know that the laity has a great role to play
in the process…”“ We want to do right by the victims and at
the same time, to carry on the essential elements of our mission…to serve
the poor, the sick and the marginalized.” – Bishop Sean O’Malley
Step 1: Unify the Archdiocese. End divisive and hurtful bans on VOTF meeting
on Church property. Meet with VOTF as collaborators. Build a 4-sided table
of survivors, laity, priests, and bishops.
Step 2: Restore financial health through accountability and transparency. Disclose
all RCAB financial statements across the board, not just some selectively.
Accept Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund donations.
Phase 3: “RECONCILE & HEAL”
“ I hope that in some way I might be an
instrument of peace and reconciliation in a Church
in need of healing…” “ People’s
lives are more important than money.” – Bishop
Sean O’Malley
Step 1: Achieve fair and just settlements
for survivors. Separate the attainment of justice
for survivors from the RCAB’s reimbursements
from its insurers.
Step 2: Create a new “Healing Commission” that initiates a 3-year “Truth
and Reconciliation Process” bringing together the 4-sided table of laity,
survivors, priests, and bishops. This Commission will provide an independent
examination of the systemic and structural factors that contributed to this
crisis. Ask for this Commission’s ideas, and use its wise counsel to
chart a course for the future.
At the press conference, a VOTF representative read the following statement
about a Healing Commission prepared for the event by Fr. Robert Bullock of
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Sharon, MA, who could not attend:
“ The Attorney General's report has put us all on notice. Priests, laity,
and leaders have to find their voices. For some time, many have urged the need
of serious efforts to understand the environment in which the crimes of clergy
sexual abuse have taken place. Were there systemic and structural factors in
the Church that contributed to these crimes’ being committed in such astonishing
numbers?
“A Commission, making use of the remarkable
resources in our church, and in the area, is necessary
for our understanding of what has happened and how.
It could be a major force in rebuilding trust and
confidence. I hope the recommendations of the Voice
of the Faithful to Archbishop-elect O'Malley will
have wide support.”
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