Spiritual intentions

​Spiritual intentions
 
I have adopted a practice of articulating and sharing my spiritual intention for the day.  This does not ensure that all my actions are 100% in line with my spiritual beliefs but it does keep me more aware of the advice of Grandma Fannie.    If she told us children once, she told us thousands of times to “Think before you speak.” and “Say what you mean but do not say it meanly.”
I wish I could say that as a result of Grandma Fannie’s wise teaching I am always kind and thoughtful.   Sadly, not true and, yet, these and other reminders have led me to seek out other wise teachers.    I continue to be blessed with many teachers which add to or reinforce the teachings of Grandma Fannie.
 
Despite being committed to living the teaching of wise mentors, I may read something in newspapers or learn of news via some other medium and be tempted to respond with anger and judgment.   I have often shared that one of my most recurrent “sins” is being judgmental of those I experience to be judgmental.  Shall I laugh or cry at this hypocrisy?  Grandma would be pleased that I am at least recognizing my hypocrisy.
 
The question of spiritual intentions and following Grandma Fannie’s advice has frequently arisen these past few months in relationship to the decision of Roman Catholic church officials to publicize the names of priests who have for the past 70 years or so had credible accusations of abuse of minors.  These lists contain:
 

• Names and assignments but not whether they were able to get help and change their behavior.
• Both living and deceased individuals.
• Vague reference to abuse such as abuse of minor with no other details.

 
This list does not contain:
 

• Whether those who were accused of abuse got the help they needed and were able to continue their career with no danger of future abuse.
• The long list of positive contributions by these same individuals.
• Whether the abuse was related to some disease such as addiction and if they have been successful in their recovery.
• The name of those clergy and deacons who may have been in abusive adult relationships.
• The fact that it seems as if very few priests and deacons are celibate.
• Why it is unrealistic to expect most men and women to remain celibate.
• Other abuse such as severe corporal and physical punishment of students by some clergy and nuns.
• Other examples of abuse of power by the “leaders” of organized religious institutions.
• The fact that many of those accused and possibly guilty of abusive behavior daily live with self-imposed agonizing shame and need our loving support; not more punishment.
  
  

Most important it does not contain what the publication of the list is meant to accomplish and how it will accomplish that goal. Possible
goals are:
 

• More shame and punishment by public humiliation and exposing those on the list still living to emotional, physical and verbal violence
• Giving the illusion of accountability and transparency without having to be accountable for the systemic issues which set the perfect condition for further illness and abuse.
• Doing what is needed to ensure that the organized church retain its hold on money and other power.
• Giving the legal authorities and general public what it wants; a seat at the lynching without doing anything to address the factors leading to the lynching.

 
I am proposing that we ask some difficult question and that we do so in love.  It is not my goal to judge the humanness of church officials, legal officials, or the general public.  It is my goal to constantly challenge myself and others to “Think before we speak.” and to “Say what we mean but do not say it meanly.”  It is my further goal to challenge all of us to focus on preventing further abuse rather than more punishment and judgment of those who, for various reasons, succumbed to human weakness.
 
Written December 1, 2018