August 21, 2018
 
Dear Parishioners,
 
I write this letter after taking to prayer a letter I received from a faithful Catholic who is disheartened by the news of the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania.  My heart goes out to those who have written to me because I hear the anguish in their words as they say they can no longer trust the Church they love.  I want to thank those who have come up to me or have taken the time to write to me words of encouragement and support.  I know that even those who come to me in anger or say very hurtful words about the priesthood are seeking to express their anger to someone in authority.  I do not fault them. Instead, I encourage them hoping that it will help.  I feel as helpless as they do to make any grand changes, but I can help the people God puts in front of me because God has sent people to help me.
 
I must confess that I have thought about what some of you have said to me, “Why not be done with this?!  Walk away.”  The Gospel this weekend is so timely in that many walked away.  When asked if the Apostles will leave too, Peter says, “To whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.”  I love our faith and the many people in it.  Moreover, in my heart of hearts, in prayer, I am reminded of all the words I spoke to the faithful over these past 23 years of priesthood.  Words to the widows and widowers who were in pain, to the men and women whose spouse walked out on them, to the parents who have lost children, to those suffering from physical and mental illness and so many more people seeking to hear that God is with them.  I have preached that God does not abandon his people but instead walks through pain and difficulty with them.  How could I not live up to the same words I preached to so many of you?  I have to believe that the Lord’s words to me will be fulfilled.  The Holy Gospel cannot just be platitudes for the faint of heart.  I know I have to enflesh in my own life these words that I preached.  It is the Gospel that commands me to stay and care for the people I love.   
 
I would like to address some of the concerns that have come up in my conversations with people over this crisis.  I want you to know that as a parish and diocese, we are committed to doing all that we can to keep all people safe.  Since 2002, one rule is that if anyone accuses a priest or Church member of abuse, we immediately call civil authorities for an investigation.  I was thinking that in two years, there will not be a minor who is Catholic who did not fully live under this charter.  Some might not be aware of all that has been put in place these past two decades, which includes the following: 
 

• The Dallas Charter states that no child is to be alone with a non-relative adult in our parish.  We follow the “2-adult rule” for children who are not with family members.
• There is not a room on church property that does not have a window, including the confessional.
• Every adult involved in ministry with children must complete the Protecting God’s Children program—which trains them in the appropriate conduct and interaction with their students.
• All adults who work with children also complete the Virtus monthly online program which trains adults in spotting and reporting abuse. 
• Our faith formation students participate in Circle of Grace, which teaches them to learn about and enforce their safe boundaries.
• Full background checks are conducted on everyone working and volunteering in the Church.
• The diocese is audited annually and has been found fully compliant every year.

 
I share my thoughts with you not to seek sympathy because my struggles do not compare with the hurt and pain inflicted on these innocent victims/survivors.  Their scars run deep and are permanent in nature. I have been part of and faithful to the solutions these past years, and I will continue to be faithful.  I just pray for strong and effective leadership in our church to guide us through this storm, and I hang on to the faith and experiences God has given me over my lifetime of being a priest.  I have met beautiful people, seen miracles and been a part of so much good.  I cannot believe I would throw that all away because I have seen evil.  Our staff has devoted 3 weeks of staff meetings processing this for ourselves and discussing how we can help the parish work through this.  At the risk of sounding trite, I must say a quote from The Lord of the Rings, which really is a deep part of my own spirituality.
 
Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me, I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide.  All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.
 
I will care for anyone who is hurt for whatever reason as Jesus would do, and I pray that God look kindly on us by giving us the grace to make us a better Church in the future.  Out of these ashes, God can bring new life in ways we never would have guessed. 
 
Finally, if you know of anyone who is being abused by anyone, say something immediately to the civil authorities.  We all have a moral duty to stop evil in our midst.
 
Peace in Christ,
 
Fr. Daniel Greenleaf
Pastor