Homily notes for the Right of Place Remembrance Mass
Bishop Éamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin
St. Joseph’s Church, Wilton, Cork – Saturday, 11 October 2008
It is so important to learn from mistakes. There is no point in running away or hiding in fear and shame. All of us have to face the truth, acknowledge our mistakes, repair what is repairable and let the lessons shape a better future.
The very regrettable fact of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse inside and outside of Church-run institutions by priests, religious and their employees has and continues to be a shadow over the Church. Until it is dealt with fully that shadow will remain. It is much easier to face one’s demons when those who were unjustly hurt and damaged are focussed on getting to the truth of what happened and why; accept acknowledgement of wrongdoing and genuine apology; are willing to work together in deciding what is needed in justice and are focussed on restoring life to its intended peace and joy.
Right of Place has taken this approach and in doing so must take considerable credit for the progress that has been made by those of us who are trying to right wrongs done in the past. Your search for truth, justice and healing through direct face to face communication is the way forward. It is the way of mediation that seeks a life-giving resolution where survivors experience being believed, acknowledged, are apologised to and constructively compensated and continue on a path to as full a contented life as is possible. Right of Place has sought justice in truth, rather than revenge and humiliation which are essentially destructive forces for all parties.
I join with all right-minded people in publicly acknowledging the wrongs of the past especially in institutions. As one of the present day representatives of the Church at that time, I apologised with a commitment to work towards undoing what harm can be undone and through learning from past mistakes to earnestly making the safeguarding of children paramount.
I have experienced the understandable anger, contempt and total alienation from the Church from individuals who were sexually, physically, emotionally abused in institutions and outside. It is an understandable reaction based on wrongs that should never have happened. It is not a good place to stay put in. At the right time it is good to move on.
“To him or her to whom much has been given much will be expected in return; to him/her to whom much has been given in trust, even more will be expected.”
We will always remember the past, we strive no longer to live there, but constructively brings its learnt lessons to the present as we shape a better future.
We all move at different paces and in different ways. What is essential is moving in the right direction together. It has also been both humbling and a huge learning curve for me, in recent years, to have been trusted to hear directly from many who were sexually abused by priests as children.
It has been an experience from which I continue to learn from, and I am indebted to those who have shared their experience with me – these are difficult experiences of hurt, anger and longing for wholeness with peace. I owe it to them to build on this experience gained – through their trust – and contribute as best as I can in order to construct a better future for all.
It has been an experience from which I continue to learn from, and I am indebted to those who have shared their experience with me – these are difficult experiences of hurt, anger and longing for wholeness with peace. I owe it to them to build on this experience gained – through their trust – and contribute as best as I can in order to construct a better future for all.
I chose the reading of Joseph who, out of jealousy, was sold as a slave by his brothers and how later they meet up in Egypt. The roles were reversed, they were famine victims, he had control of the distribution of the food. He longed to meet his father again and did so. But after his father’s death we experience the apprehension of the brothers.
“What if Joseph intends to treat us as enemies and repay us in full for all the wrong that we did him?” (gen 51:15-16)
Joseph’s generosity was that of today’s Gospel. ‘A full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back’ (Lk 6:38)
In every form of reconciliation generosity is the key. There is a gentle reminder in the second reading:
‘Thin sowing means thin reaping – the more you sow the more you reap’ (2Cor 9:6)
‘Thin sowing means thin reaping – the more you sow the more you reap’ (2Cor 9:6)
As a Church we can face the facts; deepen our understanding of the damage caused; set about repairing and safeguarding young people in the present and future.
As survivors there is only one life-giving way forward. The moving on takes time. A wholesome response in full measure to what should not have happened in the past will free you to move forward. A hunger for full contented living will replace the lonely pit of dwelling in the past.
We are all a bit like the old man who was asked how was he faring. He replied: ‘It’s a struggle. Its like this – there are two wolves fighting inside me”. When asked which one will win?, he said: ‘The one that is fed’.
+Éamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop
