Dear Friends,

The Gospel for this morning’s Sunday Mass, as I write this, is about the man who went out into a field to sow good seed. Later an enemy sowed bad seed. Subsequently, the master of the field was asked if workers should go in and root out all the weeds. His reply: "No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest..." Matthew 13.

I believe this parable is taking place today, as it has throughout the centuries. It is our Lord Himself who has sown good seed in the world through His Church. The evil one, however, has also sown bad seed in the world, and even in a certain sense among those who comprise the Church. The evil seed will be with us until the time of judgment - and it will grow. But, so also will the good seed continue to be with us and grow. And we know from the promise made to St. Peter, that the powers of evil will never overcome the Church.

By this parable Our Lord is helping us to understand that the effects of evil will be with us until the end of time. If we become too zealous in trying to uproot all that appears to be coming from the "bad seed", then we are liable to start destroying the fruit of the good seed that God has planted. I think that we can apply this to what is happening in the Church today.

The American Bishops, as a body, have decided to suspend from ministry any priest who has sexually abused a minor. It is the Bishops who, by the power given to them by Christ, have the responsibility for making such decisions, subject of course, to the ultimate authority of the Holy Father.

Some would go further and want to see such priests completely cut off from the priesthood. This is not possible, however, because once ordained a priest remains a priest forever. If the Priest in question, or anyone for that matter, is truly sorry for what he has done, is making use of the means necessary to avoid relapse, and is subsequently living faithfully according to his vocation - then trying to strip him of his vocation may be equivalent to uprooting the fruit of the good seed that God has planted.

In working with a number of priests who have been guilty of sexual involvement with a minor - usually a teenager - I have come to see that good fruit can follow genuine conversion and renewal.

This is in no way meant to justify the crime of sexual abuse ,deny the immense harm that it can cause, or seek to place those responsible for it in a position where they could re-offend. Because of this and because the "bad seed" is never completely uprooted from deep within each of us, I feel it is important to take every measure necessary to help such individuals to avoid the possibility of relapse. They themselves usually do not want to ever do it again.

I believe that the Servants of the Paraclete have been called to assist such priests on the road of conversion and repentance for the harm caused, avoidance of relapse, and a more intense living of the inner life of a Priest and/or religious. This touches the heart of Priesthood. It accomplishes much for the sanctification of others, even if no active ministry is engaged in. While this is not the only ministry confided to us by the Church, it does seem to be the most needed at this time.

For your prayers, comments, suggestions and support I would like to say a sincere word of gratitude and in turn assure you of our prayers as well as the prayers of those who come to us for assistance.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Peter Lechner, s.P.

Servant General