Thank God for small favors.
Literally.
When they set up the schedule for the trial of a high-ranking monsignor and another priest in connection with the Philadelphia Archdiocese priest sex-abuse scandal, I winced.
It became pretty clear that the testimony was going to be brutal. I also made a note that the trial would coincide with the holiest week on the Christian calendar.
But I also noticed that Judge M Teresa Sarmina wanted the sessions to run Monday-Thursday with Friday off.
Thank goodness for that.
We'll be spared any more horrific testimony on Good Friday.
It's bad enough that the region's priests had to deal with more ugly testimony yesterday, Good Thursday, a very special day in which priests rededicate themselves to their mission, in the spirit of Jesus sitting down at table with his disciples one last time before his betrayal and passion.
Sometimes referred to as the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday services commemorate the Last Supper and Jesus' relationship with his followers, in essence the first priests.
The testimony in this trial has been hard to stomach. My guess is it isn't going to get much better. I still haven't been able to get my arms around this case, other than thinking this is what happens when men care more about themselves and the institution they represent than children. It's just incredibly difficult to read every day.
But not this day. Not the holiest day on the Christian calendar, marking the day when Christ was crucified.
We await the resurrection, and Easter Sunday.
Easter is all about new life.
Nowhere is that more needed than in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Literally.
When they set up the schedule for the trial of a high-ranking monsignor and another priest in connection with the Philadelphia Archdiocese priest sex-abuse scandal, I winced.
It became pretty clear that the testimony was going to be brutal. I also made a note that the trial would coincide with the holiest week on the Christian calendar.
But I also noticed that Judge M Teresa Sarmina wanted the sessions to run Monday-Thursday with Friday off.
Thank goodness for that.
We'll be spared any more horrific testimony on Good Friday.
It's bad enough that the region's priests had to deal with more ugly testimony yesterday, Good Thursday, a very special day in which priests rededicate themselves to their mission, in the spirit of Jesus sitting down at table with his disciples one last time before his betrayal and passion.
Sometimes referred to as the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday services commemorate the Last Supper and Jesus' relationship with his followers, in essence the first priests.
The testimony in this trial has been hard to stomach. My guess is it isn't going to get much better. I still haven't been able to get my arms around this case, other than thinking this is what happens when men care more about themselves and the institution they represent than children. It's just incredibly difficult to read every day.
But not this day. Not the holiest day on the Christian calendar, marking the day when Christ was crucified.
We await the resurrection, and Easter Sunday.
Easter is all about new life.
Nowhere is that more needed than in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
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