From the Heart

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Peace and Blessings in the Lord.

On occasions when Cardinal McCann was very happy about some situation he expressed his joy in the wonderful expression "Thank God for God'.

While the present scandal of child abuse by priests which is currently rocking the Church doesn't give us any joy, but rather much sadness and confusion, I believe that at this time too, we can do no better than to echo the Cardinal's expression - "Thank God for God".

You have no doubt heard, seen and read much in the media these last few weeks about this scandal. I have no doubt that it affects you just as much as it affects me, as well as Bishop Cawcutt and all our priests. We are all saddened by it and really there can be no excuse for what has happened - and there is also no excuse for it to be hidden away. There is and there can be no place in the Church for this kind of misbehaviour.

Much harm has been done - and the press has asked if the Church is able to repair the damage. Perhaps it can, but perhaps it can't - but certainly God can. God has done so many times in the past. He has helped the Church in her almost 2000 years to survive many crises. Our prayers then must flood heaven - that God will inspire the Church to do what it so urgently has to do to repair the damage. And so, with the Cardinal we too at this time of unhappiness and confusion can say "Thank God for God". We are consoled that He is a God who is Holy; who loves; who provides; who cares and a God who is compassionate, merciful and forgiving.

Remember too that by far the majority of our priests are good men - good priests who themselves are striving to be holy. Pray also therefore for them and in this way you indeed can help them to be the holy priests, which the Church and our society today need.

And finally let me remind you that we have the strictest protocol or guidelines as to how the Church and I will react to any accusation made against any priest, deacon, religious or church worker. The first step is for the accuser to be in touch with our "contact person" - who in Cape Town is Jayne Payne (the social worker at Nazareth House). She will deal with the matter immediately and so I would therefore beg anyone who has any allegation of the kind with which we are dealing here to contact her at 461-1635.

With my prayerful good wishes and blessing.