Faith Meets Life: In the wake of Bishop Lahey

We have a highly educated man who most would think would be able to keep himself out of personal ruin. Yet, if the charges against him are proven, it will turn out that he was carrying with him the very photos that would destroy his career. He is a representative of a faith that protects the vulnerable, yet he is charged with taking advantage of the weaker.

The contradictions rush forward as we learn about the allegation that Catholic Bishop Raymond Lahey collected child porn. The day the story broke the headline on Nova Scotia's leading newspaper announced, “Bishop Busted,” a notion that goes contrary to what many expect of Christian leaders.

People are responding with shock and anger. The CBC website posted comments by Ronald Martin. Martin negotiated a $15 million settlement with Bishop Lahey on behalf of some of Nova Scotia's Catholic sexual abuse victims. His faith, the article states, has been “shattered.”

The same posting quotes Bishop Anthony Mancini who is overseeing Lahey's former diocese (a diocese is a region of Catholic churches): “These latest allegations are another setback for the Roman Catholic Church in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

In fact, the charges against Lahey impact many more people than the members of the Catholic Church in those provinces. They trouble Catholics all over the country. And, as a non-Catholic Christian who was once a chaplain at the college and currently is pastor of a church, I feel that all Christians, not just Catholic ones, are troubled.

Serious misconduct on the part of any Christian leader makes it all the more challenging for anyone, including myself, to present Jesus Christ as the bringer of a new dawn where all people are to “love your neighbour as yourself.” We expect leaders who teach that to live by that standard.

Nevertheless, it may be that some good can come of the current situation. First, it is possible that people will look at the vast majority of Christian pastors, priests, and volunteers in our country and see that they do try to live consistently as people of compassion, care and courage.

Second, it can give us a chance to look at our own lives. Who among us has not been seriously inconsistent and untrue to the very standards we profess to hold? Jesus taught that you and I must not get caught up judging others but must first examine or own dark side and ask for God's help in dealing with that.

Third, it may encourage the Catholic community to take another look at its teaching on the celibacy of its leaders. Most Christians of the two billion or so on the planet do not believe celibacy is necessary, or even desirable. They believe that, generally, leaders who have healthy sex lives are better for it. They will be less likely to opt for sexual deviance. The Christian Bible and the experience of the church do not, in my opinion, have to be interpreted to make celibacy a requirement for church leaders.

Fourth, it may encourage all people, all of us, to find a greater unity through prayer and dependence on God. In the end, no one, Christians included, is free of the temptation to do serious wrong and to victimize her neighbour. But with God's help, Christ taught, we can reach for and attain a greater level of care for all people.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.