Crisis in the Priesthood
Bishop Mengeling Answers our Questions

Below are excerpts from a variety of Bishop Mengeling's public statements in response to the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

Addressing the Hurt Caused: With profound sorrow, I say to the victims and their families: I am sorry this has happened to you. It should never have happened, and I apologize. I seek your forgiveness for the betrayal, the loss and suffering you endure. The people in the Diocese of Lansing are hurting, and they need help, just like everyone else. They're disappointed. Some of them are confused or even traumatized. For this reason, I've encouraged our priests to talk about this every chance they get. This has made a tremendous difference because it has released people so they can talk about it. When members of a family are silent, it doesn't solve anything. The Church is a big family, and when parts of our family are in trouble, the whole family suffers for it. Yet, with the devastation and pain, comes purification. I've always said, "The infection has to come out before you can get cured." And that's a painful business.

Taking Responsibility: I feel a sense of loss in the context of the people who are hurt in all of this. I sense a great disappointment in myself and others that this did not come to our attention from within. Rather, in many ways, we were forced from the outside to pay attention to the problem. The Lord works this way. Sometimes, we get in a rut. We get complacent. St. Basil, who lived in the fourth century said, "To be humble, you need humiliators." We've been humbled, and that's a good thing. The Holy Father says this is a purification. And we all need that, on a regular basis, so we don't get complacent and take things for granted.

On the Current Crisis: The Church has been facing difficult situations for 2,000 years. This is one of the toughest times, but in the history of the Church, this is where Catholics have the most resilience and strongest faith. The only way the Church continues, despite failures from within and attacks from without, is by keeping our eyes fixed on Christ. Without that, we're going nowhere. The number one question asked during ordination is, "Will you love the Lord Jesus and His people, the Church, and will you serve God's people with all your heart?" Every one of our priests answered "Yes" to this question with great enthusiasm, and we need to say "Yes" today more than ever before. They say that the best defense is a good offense. That's our offense. In this time of challenge, we will stand strong and firm, and believe in the Lord Jesus with our eyes are fixed on Him. We will be strong in faith and have confidence in Him who says, "I will be with you always [and you'd better stick with me or you're done.]" This is as true for the sacrament of matrimony as it is for the ordained priesthood. The Holy Father reminds us, "We shall not be saved by a formula but by a Person, and the assurance which he gives us: I am with you!"

On the Press: On April 24, I welcomed the local newspapers and television stations to a press conference, not as adversaries or enemies, but as allies. It's not easy being under the microscope, but that's where the Church is, and a lot of good is going to come out of it. The press has sharpened the awareness of the Church - and hopefully all of society - about the extreme gravity of child abuse. Their emphasis on the tremendous pain, loss and confusion of the victims and their families is especially important. Pope John Paul II said in his talk to the cardinals, "The abuse which has caused this crisis is by every standard wrong and rightly considered a crime by society. It is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God."

Zero Tolerance: In my letter to the Catholics of the Diocese of Lansing March 15, I said, "No one who has had a substantiated claim of abuse of a minor brought against him or her is actively working in the Diocese of Lansing." We have a zero tolerance policy regarding the sexual abuse of minors. I stress the words of the Holy Father: "People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood, or the religious life, for those who would harm the young." That is our number one concern - our young people. We're concerned about the whole reality of sexual abuse of minors, which is rampant in our society. The problem in the Church is just the tip of the iceberg. The police, educators, lawyers, psychiatrists and counselors all know what a massive problem this is.

On Civil Laws: Locally, I am delighted about a new bill being introduced to the state legislature in Michigan which would require that members of the clergy report suspicions and allegations of sexual abuse of minors. This has already been included in the policy of the Diocese of Lansing, adopted two years ago during Jubilee 2000. Anyone working for the Diocese of Lansing is required to report abuse to civil authorities.

Reporting Abuse to Authorities: Every August, new employees in the diocese are gathered together and the Diocesan Sexual Misconduct policy is explained to them very carefully, and they are made aware of their responsibilities to report sexual abuse, and to be alert of these possibilities. Prior to their being hired, there is also a screening process. We get many false allegations, and we have to deal with them all. Our collaboration with civil authorities and prosecutors is invaluable in helping to determine if a claim is legitimate. A substantiated claim could involve a criminal conviction on one hand. When there is no crime involved, there is a canonical process, in which an accused priest has the right to get an advocate, to be defended, and to prove his innocence.

On Homosexuality: We must keep in mind that there are many people with a same sex attraction who are living chaste lives by God's grace. Chastity is part of the Church's teaching, and it makes sense. There are homosexuals in the priesthood who are great priests, who are devoted to their people and who live the ideals of the priesthood. On the other hand, there are others who don't. It's not a black and white issue. We need to look at this with patience, and never forget that the main thing is the protection of children.

On Celibacy: There are people who think that celibacy is the problem. It's not. Only about two percent of the priests have been involved in sexual misconduct. If celibacy has to be done away with and is impossible because of that, then I would propose that because of adultery, we have to do away with marriage. We know that adultery is prevalent but does that mean marriage is impossible? No. The issue is not celibacy. I can tell you very frankly that the vast majority of our priests are faithful to the promise they made.

On the Future of the Priesthood: A change is happening within the Church which can only be attributed to the working of the Holy Spirit. For about the last 10 years, the screening process for admitting men into the seminary has been very complex and detailed. In that time, there has also been a real spiritual awakening, which we can especially see in our young people. Our parishes, our people, and the communities that we live in have a spirit that's resilient. We're not people who run away and throw in the towel when it gets rough. I see it in Lansing, in Flint, in Jackson, in Ann Arbor. It's all over the place. There's an atmosphere that's very positive, which I can't take credit for. I've only been here seven years, and I can make comparisons. If you've lived here all your life, maybe you can take it for granted. We have a great group of priests in the Diocese of Lansing, and people have confidence in them. There is solidarity and a good rapport among them and they pursue the ideals of the priesthood. Although no one's perfect, they believe, they're committed, and they're doing the best they can.

On Good Coming from Evil: Personally, I have a deeper, sharper sense than ever before in the last four months of this horrendous reality of child abuse. Imagine if the whole United States became intensely aware of this massive problem throughout our society. If this entire crisis with these priests and the Church can mobilize the entire country into an intense campaign for the protection of our children, it's worth it. - Most Rev. Carl F. Mengeling is the fourth bishop of Lansing.