Michael’s Story Published SUN Pagosa August 23, 2018 – View Story
“I’m sorry. So very sorry!” As a professional woman who came up in the 60’s, and was raised Roman Catholic in Toledo, Ohio I’m humbled by the recent crisis. I am no longer a person who subscribes to Catholic dogma. And, this recognition of my grief arises from the lack of genuine concern from the Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church is spectacularly wealthy and retains massive control over people throughout many countries. The data of their wealth is available although skewed to avoid allowing investigators whether amateur or professional from finding the truth. As an aside: visit the Vatican in Rome. This experience will give you a viewpoint of wealth and power that you may not have realized in the past. Personally, I’m an amateur. My credentials? I care!
About 16 years ago the Boston diocese was identified as a priestly abuse center for young Catholic children. Lawsuits were brought and settlements were reached. Millions of dollars were provided to victims. Is this enough?
I had a friend who was abused by a priest. My friend’s name is Michael. His mom, Catherine was divorced, got a GED high school diploma, worked full-time, and received no child support from Mikey’s father. Life was hard. When Father McCauley came to the parish and took a liking to Michael, his mom was overjoyed. Father McCauley took Mikey out to the lake and was very attentive. Catherine believed the caring was important for her son’s connection with a male role model and his development. She noticed that Mikey was quiet and more subdued. Catherine thought that he was more centered and comfortable having a male caring person around him. Wow, was she unaware! This priest was sexually abusing Michael. Mikey couldn’t speak about it. He was distraught, afraid, and believed there was something wrong with him. This is how these predators operate. Sexual abuse is a mechanism for acquiring power.
Michael lived a life of fear and trepidation. He suppressed the remembrance of the actual acts of sexual abuse. He was in and out of psychiatric and psychological offices. Lots of drugs later, he expressed some of what happened to him. It took 40 years before he was able to remember portions of the actual abuse. Michael was 50. He died three weeks later. Michael was my friend.
We cannot continue to live as followers of any form of religious, political, or social precept. We must think for ourselves. Question everything. Be curious. Consider others’ point of view. Think for ourselves. Open our minds to possibilities, especially those that might differ from what we were taught. Let’s avoid more stories like Michael’s.
