by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)
CORRUPTION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
I met Father Walter Burghardt in 1984 during my Sabbatical at the University of Notre Dame, State of Illinois, USA. I had heard about him and, after that, I attended one of his workshops on Social Justice. Preaching and Social Justice were his main field. He is the author of many books and articles. During this workshop I asked him about his «Uncommonly Honest Confession». He confessed this was one of his most famous texts. Today I want to share his «Uncommonly Honest Confession» and I want also to confess that I identity myself, one hundred percent, with Father Walter Burghardt.
UNCOMMONLY HONEST CONFESSION
Let me make an uncommonly honest confession.
In the course of a half century, I have seen more Catholic corruption than you have read of. I have tasted it. I have been reasonably corrupt myself, and yet, I joy in this church – this living, pulsing sinning people of God, love it with a crucifying passion. Why? For all the Catholic hate, I experience here a community of love. For all the institutional idiocy, I find here a tradition of reason. For all the individual repressions, I breathe here an air of freedom. For all the fear of sex, I discover here the redemption of my body. In an age so inhuman, I touch here tears of compassion. In a world so grim and humourless, I share here rich joy and earthy laughter. In the midst of death, I hear here an incomparable stress on life. For all the apparent absence of God, I sense here the real presence of Christ. (Fr. Walter Burghart).
Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Every year, from January 18 to 25, the Christian Churches get together to pray for Christian Unity, to fulfill the dream of Jesus in the Gospel of John 17:21 «That they may be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me».
For the last 2 Sundays, Bishop Tom Burns from the Parish of Menevia, Wales, joined us for Mass here at the Chapel. Last Sunday he told us a story about the ecumenical church. I asked him to write it down to share in our newsletter:
AN ECUMENICAL STICKING-POINT
When planning a new town north of London, the authorities are reported to have included a site for a SHARED CHURCH and asked the various faiths and denominations how they would like to use it. Father F, the designated Catholic Parish Priest, consulted his Anglican counterpart and other Church leaders. In an ecumenical spirit of true sharing, they quickly agreed on having ONE altar, ONE lectern, ONE set of candles, ONE presidential chair, and ONE tabernacle for reserving the Blessed Sacrament. Father F and his Anglican colleague then sent their proposals up to their respective Church authorities for approval – and waited expectantly. Back came ONE letter with joint signatures, approving ONE of everything as proposed. However, there were special instructions given about the tabernacle.
It was to have 2 doors and 2 different keys. Inside there were to be two compartments, separated by a fixed screen. Father F accepted this condition, but insisted that the screen should be made of glass. And so it was.
Finally, it is said that he attached a sticker to each side of the screen.
It read: In case of unity, break glass!
It is also said that that same sticker is still there today.
Rt Rev Tom M Burns , SM BA BD,
Bishop Emeritus of Menevia