Reading the news about LA Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala who resigned and admitted fathering two children now teenagers I reflect on my own feelings.
Seeing that he was a President of Pax Christi, presided over wacky liturgies in the dreadful L.A. Religious Conference, and had previously attacked Catholic bloggers it is sad the filter that I tried to apply to him. I wanted to put him in a nice little box with the label “progressive Bishop” and say “I’m not surprised.” So much easier to dispose of people that way.
Further reflection causes me to think of the mystery of sin. Original sin affects all of us and that goes whether someone sides on the so-called progressive side or see themselves as being faithful to the Church. There certainly have been those who have evangelized the faith with the truth of the faith who have fallen and lived double-lives like Fr. Corapi.
Certainly it is much more scandalous when a bishop succombs because the seeming level of hypocrisy is much higher. They “should have known better” we say as we live our own flawed lives not fulling living up to the Gospel we profess. So much easier to dismiss someone than to sincerely pray for theirs and your own salvation with some fear and trembling involved.
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Fr. Z is fond of saying the Church is a hospital for sinners and not a haven for saints. It is good to keep that in mind. Planks and splinters.
The only response that I can formulate is, “Amen.” Thanks for putting it in such simple terms. I’m a sinner, too.
But what I find most interesting (and disturbing) is Archbishop’s Gomez’ apparent reassurance to his flock that Bishop Zavala will more or less go someplace and never be seen or heard from again.
Is that our Christian understanding of the redemptive power of the cross? Is that what we are to glean from the story of the Prodigal Son? Isn’t confession of sin, forgiveness and reconcilation with God and the family of God what my baptism in Christ and my Catholic faith are all about? Am I missing something? Is what Christ said to the adulterous woman: “Your sins are forgiven you, now go and hide yourself away in perpetual shame.”?
I say, shame on us if this is our response as a Church!
Deacon Ed: Those of us who have suffered through the awful recent decades in Los Angeles are happy indeed that Archbishop Gomez has removed, permanently, this traitor to his office. This being done, he can go somewhere and do penance, which is precisely the redemptive power of the Cross, for those, unlike the miserable heretics and apostates responsible for the abuse of the faithful in Los Angeles all these years, who sincerely seek repentance.
You see, Deacon Ed, the moment of truth is at hand. The lies of the modernists in Los Angeles, imposed upon the faithful for so long, are collapsing.
The Archbishop is going to allow the remaining Catholics in his archdiocese to see that times have changed.
The heretics, apostates, and traitors to their ecclesial vows will be removed.
This is a good thing, Deacon Ed, and we can always tell who is on the other side, because they will not like it.
The future is not bright for those who do not like it.
I don’t think Zavala could work with Gomez the way he could work with Mahoney. Zavala is a liberal. Gomez is not. So it is no surprise that when Gomez got a chance to get rid of Zavala he took it. How long did Mahoney know about these kids?
I think Bp Zavala living a quiet and private life now is very much what is appropriate. Forgiveness means never having to do penance?! Especially when there is grave public scandal involved, penance and (for a cleric or other ecclesial minister) leaving public ministry is often totally appropriate. I myself live a life of penance (prayer, regular fasting) due to past sins which aren’t even known to most people here, and in reparation for scandal in the Church. Look at how Abp Weakland of Milwaukee, already a cause of scandal for his mishandling of cases of sexual delicts and well known pro-homosexual attitudes, caused further scandal by publishing a not particularly repentant tell-all book after revelations of homosexual contact with a seminarian who he subsequently paid off with large amounts of diocesan money.
Traditionally it has been understood that on the road to holiness there is a way of innocence, for those who never sinned mortally, and a way of penance, for those who have sinned gravely. Jesus has paid the price, we may receive plenary indulgences, and still our contrition and reverent love of God leads us to an attitude of penitence.
Deacon Ed, I think you are right in speaking of God’s mercy. When it comes to someone in an official position like a bishop, there are also other factors involved. One is that it is appropriate for him to go and do penance. Even St. Paul spent three years in the desert after his conversion! It doesn’t mean the bishop will never be seen or heard from again, but that he will not be held up as a model for people to follow. That’s a big difference!
As a former resident in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I don’t want to “see” or “hear” from Bp. Zavala again. I could very easily make an argument that Zavala was worse than Mahony…I will be praying for him though…
I hope no one would misconstrue my comments to mean that I think the bishop ought to continue in his office. That would be to give scandal. And I can certainly commiserate with what the faithful have been through in LA. I have, however, seen far too many instances when the Church deals with such matters as “getting rid of the problem” when the “problem” is a person, a child of God and someone born again into Christ Jesus. Is there room in the Church for forgiveness, reparation, and true reconcilation? Is marginalization and alienation of a sinner a Christian response? Doubtful. Again, I offer for consderation the parable of the Prodigal Son. What are we to take away from this? Would all of us have the heart to receive this bishop with open arms if we should meet him on the street? What would we say to him if that would occur?
If I met His Excellency on the street I would kneel, kiss his hand (not his ring- he has desecrated the office- but his hand, the hand of a priest who consecrates the eucharist).
I would then ask His Excellency to please publicly repent of all of his years of falsehood, of his years of enforcing heterodox and heretical teachings, of advancing the agenda of the homosexuals which now threatens to destroy marriage itself, as it has already destroyed the perceived holiness and sanctity of our priesthood.
I would remind His Excellency that a public scandal requires a public repentance.
I would tell His Excellency that I will be praying for him to receive the courage and grace necessary to undo the terrible damage he has done.
And then I would ask for His blessing.
Rick, if he publicly confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness you would then embrace him as a brother in Christ?
I would embrace him as a brother in Christ even before then, Ed.
He is not excommunicated, merely removed from ministry.
He’d be a good example if he “quit” because he’s taking up the challenge of parenthood. And struggling at employment–maybe having to work at two or more jobs–to provide for his kids. Just like a lot of parents do. Instead of leaving the faithful to “pick up the tab.”