ATTACKS ON CATHOLIC PRIESTS by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 WONDERING GURU

                      (A Reflection on the persecution of the Church and the “Clergy Killers”)

           Ian Paisley is well known in Northern Ireland.  He promotes a form of Biblical literalism, which he describes as "Bible Protestantism". Paisley's website describes a number of doctrinal areas in which he believes that the "Roman Church" has deviated from the Bible and thus from true Christianity. It seems in 1988, when Pope John Paul II delivered a speech to the European Parliament, Paisley shouted "I denounce you as the Antichrist!" and held up a red poster reading "Pope John Paul II ANTICHRIST" in black letters. John Paul continued with his address after Paisley was ejected from the hemicycle by fellow MEPs.   Paisley continued to denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope after the incident. In a television interview for The Unquiet Man, a 2001 documentary on Paisley's life, he expressed his pride at being the only person to have the courage to denounce the Pope.

          If a person could attack a Pope the visible head of the Catholic Church, is it surprising when the bishop or priests are attacked. Jesus has clearly said “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you too” (John 15:20).  The Scribes and Pharisees said that He was healing with the power of Satan.  If Jesus himself, our God and Saviour, was abused is it startling that the Pope was called antichrist? For the past two thousand and twenty-two years the popes, bishops and priests have experienced attacks in different forms.  Some even have laid down their lives for the sake of faith and for the sake of the Church.  Persecutions in different forms have always been part of the Church.  One of the best things about persecution the Devil does not realize is that there is tremendous growth in the Church.  The primitive Church flourished in times of extreme persecutions.  Therefore, Church father, Tertullian recognizing this phenomenon had said in the 2nd century that “the blood of the martyrs was the seed of Christianity”. 

The shock and pain are too much when the persecution is from its own members, from its own children.  Today the threat to the Catholic Church is not from believers of other faiths but from its very own members.  When Christians, the disciples and brothers and sisters of Christ themselves are involved in persecuting the Church of Christ, it hurts.  It’s very strange that even good priests who do wonderful work are persecuted.  How do we explain this mystery?  May be fruit bearing trees invite more stones. Pope John Paul II now a saint in his lifetime he was called antichrist. Bishop Romero was shot dead in El Salvador while celebrating mass. Thomas Moore was condemned to death only because he opposed the illegal marriage of King Henry VIII.

G. Lloyd Rediger a psychologist, who has made a study on these attacks on pastors (clergy) by the faithful has published a book rightly entitled ‘Clergy Killers’. His work is the fruit of his counselling with the suffering clergy.  He observers that abuse of priests/pastors by congregations and the breakdown of priests/pastors due to inadequate support are now tragic realities.  When he uses the term ‘Clergy Killers’, he defines it.  “Clergy killers are people who intentionally target pastors for serious injury or destruction.  We must distinguish them from ‘normal’ persons who disagree with the pastor,…or oppose some pastoral project or issue”  Rediger describes ‘Clergy Killers’ and their characteristics.  He says generally speaking there are a few (perhaps two or three) in every parish or congregation but they are deadly and they have expandable influence that typically attracts people with common gripes, frustrations or misguided agenda.  Their characteristics can be summed up in six Ds.

•Destructive- They just don’t disagree or criticise; they insist on inflicting pain.  Their tactics include sabotaging, inciting others etc.

•Determined-Clergy Killers don’t stop.  They may pause, go underground or change tactics but they will intimidate.

•Deceitful- they manipulate, camouflage, misrepresent and accuse others of their own tactics.

•Demonic- They are evil and may be mentally disordered.  Spiritual leaders become symbols and scape goats for their internal pain and confusion.

•Denial- The Church as a whole doesn’t want to admit to the reality of Clergy Killers because we believe that “this cannot happen in the Church”.

•Discernment- To face these Clergy Killers one needs discernment of God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to face such Clergy Killers.

     The best and the surest way to deal with the attacks against the Church, the pope, the bishop and the priests is by forgiveness.  Just like the way our Saviour did. Jesus was betrayed he forgave. Jesus was spat upon he forgave. Jesus was scourged he forgave. Jesus being God was humiliated he forgave, even on the cross he forgave. Being the minister of God means to forgive, to show the other cheek.  Showing other cheek also means being prudent.  When we notice such ‘Clergy Killers’ it is necessary to identify them, speak about them in the parish council, with the prayer groups etc.  If the priest/pastor remains silent he will suffer collateral damage to his health and reputation.  For a lie repeated dozen times is accepted as truth.  The aim is to pray for the ‘Clergy killer’ taking into confidence the people of God. ‘Clergy killers’ need help even though they may think that they are fine.  They need not only psychological help but also family and spiritual help.  Forgiveness of the ‘Clergy Killers’ should be at two levels; one from the part of the priest/pastor and second from the part of the parish.  For when “clergy killers” malign the good name of the priests, they also fling mud on the reputation of the parish and of the church. The biggest blessing that results from forgiveness (given by both, priest as well as parish) is the conversion of the offender.

I would like to conclude this reflection on a lighter note. The preacher's Sunday sermon was ‘Forgive Your Enemies’. Toward the end of the service, He asked his congregation, "How many of you have forgiven their enemies"?   About half held up their hands. He then repeated his question. As it was past lunchtime, this time about 80 percent held up their hands. He then repeated his question again. All responded, except one small elderly lady.   "Mrs. Jones?" inquired the preacher, “are you not willing to forgive your enemies?”  "I don't have any." she replied smiling sweetly.  "Mrs. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?" "Ninety-three," she replied.  "Oh Mrs. Jones, what a blessing and a lesson to us all you are. Would you please come up in front of this congregation and tell us how a person can live ninety-three years and not have an enemy in the world."  The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said "I outlived the old hags."

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own…If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” Jn 15:18-20