I was reading some of the blogs that come from others who share a similar experience. One in particular struck me with a word that I no longer wish to use in my search for answers. The word is adrift. Please excuse an old Navy man for taking exception with this term. Adrift implies that the vessel is no longer under command and is without direction.
That word should not apply to those of us seeking some modicum of truth and/or justice. We need direction and we need to be unified in our actions to force a change in the way the bishops deal with the issue of sexual abuse not only of children but of vulnerable adults as well. A simple review of the numbers of accused/convicted pedophiles and philanderers on Bishop Accountability show an alarming number of perps who have enjoyed the protection of the Church. The numbers are way to high and we all know that the list online is, by no means, a complete list. Please remember that list only has the names of those who have been identified in a public forum. There are many more who have not come on the radar yet.
Adrift. That word can be applied to the Catholic Hierarchy. They lack the moral authority to command and the act of protecting pedophiles is an indication that the they are so lost in preserving their little fiefdoms that they have lost direction.
No, we are not the ones who are adrift. We have a direction, we have the truth as our true north. Until that heading is relayed to the Catholic Church and all Dioceses come around to that heading, they will be the ones who are adrift.
Off My Knees - A Blog by Michael Baumann 
Michael, I love your thoughts about “Adrift”… would you consider linking our web site to yours? We can link your’s to ours. http://www.steubenvilletruth.org/
Thanks for all that you do for surivivors,
Judy Jones, SNAP director Southeastern Ohio 636-433-2511
Michael: Thanks for your reflection. After following the actions of the bishops for 25 years, I have come to some conclusions as to what is driving their decisions. I believe that once Catholics are willing to take a hard look at the sexual politics going on in the priesthood and hierarchy, they will be even more motivated to get to the truth you speak of and do something about it. John
Michael,
We are, indeed, not the ones adrift. Thanks for saying it so well. The vatican boys, and too many of their bishop underlings, increasingly seem like a panicked group of PR executives, scrambling against the growing worldwide awareness that their laicization could only improve their standing. Our compass is indeed set on Truth.
Powerful metaphor for the problem which continues to unfold. For me my need for spirituality is borne out of a need for conscious contact with God. I opt to practice religion within the context of the Catholic faith. I go despite my feelings towards the hierarchy. Outraged at how the Scranton diocese has protected its own, I came to the conclusion that the Scranton diocese would like to think of its self as all powerful. In fact–it’s a hollow kingdom of musty churches and folks going thru the motions. I don’t think Jesus had in mind what has become of the Catholic Church. There is one good bishop out there Tom Gumbleton who got removed from his ministry for his testimony ny in front of his state gov’t to remove the statue of limitations. In Tom’s words–the current group of bishops are just John Paul II’s yes men–not men committed to justice and amending this criminal wrong.