Loving the Church

Source: alexpress.com

 Recently while on a trip with strangers I was confronted by criticism of the Church. “Pope Pius  X11 was EVIL, EVIL” he yelled, “He helped Nazis escape to South America.” Words spoken by a former catholic who ranted on about how priests always are asking for money.

I was shaken and angry and walked away. I didn’t think there was any point arguing, and I determined rightly or wrongly, that he was not interested in listening.

So I checked google about the Vatican and the Nazis. Details emerged about a Austrian bishop  working in Rome who sent a letter to Hitler supporting the annexation of Austria.   Bishop Alois Hudal provided reference letters to help Nazis get documents to travel to South America.  He was Director of the Pan-Germanic College Santa Maria dell’ Anima in Rome.

Bishop Hudal assisted  Nazis including the commander of the Treblinka death camp to escape prosecution. According to historians Pope Pius was unaware of this activity.

What I realized over the following days was how much my instinctive love of Holy Mother Church is almost visceral. I have a reflex instinct to defend her. Oh yes, she is far from perfect and has caused much suffering.

The recent child abuse scandals have overwhelmingly brought attention to corruption and hypocrisy at the highest echelons. But as Dorothy Day said: “The Church may be a harlot at times, but she is still my mother.”

I see her as a woman trying to run free, to fulfill the mission for which she was founded.

John Montague earned his Master of Divinity from Regis College, University of Toronto. He is an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. He has a Master of Social Work, and, until his retirement, provided counselling to individuals, couples, and families. For seventeen years he organized a Day of Reflection for Catholic parents of lesbian daughters, gay sons, and transgendered children.

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4 Comments
  • Yvon Bellavance ex sj
    Posted at 04:02h, 14 January Reply

    The problem is not the Church but certains persons in the Church.

  • patrick kelly
    Posted at 13:23h, 14 January Reply

    What is the story behind the medallion?

  • Philip Shano
    Posted at 15:36h, 14 January Reply

    Thanks John. Always good to hear your voice. I’m up in Guelph these days, directing the Exercises.

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 17:21h, 14 January Reply

    Thank you John!

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