Satan corrupted abusing priests
Monday December 07 2009
How could men who were supposed to be dedicated to God and to the welfare of God's children sink to the level of betraying their God and destroying innocent children.
I believe the answer, simplistic though it may seem to some, is that these men allowed Satan to corrupt their very selves by neglecting humble and sincere prayerful contact with God, an essential part of their priestly training.
Many people tend not to believe in the existence of Satan, yet Christ himself spoke very clearly and emphatically many times about Satan, spirit of evil.
Christ gave the example of frequent prayer to God as vital in the continuous battle with Satan.
He warned his future first pope, Simon Peter, that Satan was the dangerous enemy who would strive to destroy him and the Church.
"Simon, Simon, behold Satan demanded to have you that he may sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned again strengthen your brothers." (Luke, Chapter 22, Verses 31-32)
St John in his gospel relates very dramatically how Satan entered into and possessed the heart of Judas, a priest of Christ, corrupting him so that he went out to betray the son of God (John, Chapter 13, Verses 21-28).
Satan in his evil endeavour in corrupting numbers of priests throughout the world, strives thereby to destroy the Church.
The priests who betrayed their vocation must firstly have themselves cut off contact with their God in the discipline of humble prayer.
Like every person in Ireland, but particularly as a priest, I am shocked, humiliated and devastated by the horrible events as depicted in the inquiry into the Dublin diocese and I pray every day for all the people who, as innocent children, were so terribly harmed and wounded.
And I pray for God's forgiveness for those who inflicted the harm and suffering.
The way forward for all, but especially for those in authority, is a renewed and continuous dedication to following Christ in the example of his own life and through putting into practice the prescriptions he gave us in his sermon on the mount.
All this can only be achieved by humble, continuous and sincere contact with Jesus Christ in prayer.
Fr Con McGillicuddy
Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Irish Independent
