“Ask a Priest: How Should I Speak About the Archbishop Viganò Case?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: I’m concerned and struggling. I do not watch mainstream news, but I follow certain Catholic-oriented and TradCat sites on Internet and Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding Archbishop Viganò’s letters and the Vatican response. I speak to my husband and my mother regarding the situation, I try to be cautious about what I say so as to not sin against clergy, per the Blessed Mother’s request; but after I’ve shared any info I feel as if I have committed a grievous sin! Can you offer me any guidance on what constitutes sins against clergy in this particular situation? I don’t believe in burying my head in the sand as my sisters do. I want to know what is going on, but I do not want my curiosity to be an occasion of sin. – J.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Thanks for your note and for your obvious concern for the Church.

It’s a sad state when the divisions in the Church are so high-level and so public. Behind all this is the devil, who is anxious to stir up disunity among the faithful.

It is understandable if people are talking about the items that pop up in the news.

A key element needed in these conversations is charity. This includes the virtue of justice, which means that we refrain from judging or condemning anyone.

For the moment the surest thing we can say is that Archbishop Carlo Viganò, a past apostolic nuncio to the U.S., made some accusations and the Holy See has basically denied them. Here, a principle from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is helpful: A person should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Perhaps there will be no “trial” and no definitive conclusions reached. We might just be left with conflicting accounts about what happened. If that is the case, it would be good to refrain from making any judging or at least not sharing those judgments with others.

None of this means, however, that we have to stick our heads in the ground. The Church still needs purification.

Maybe the positive route is for all of us to intensify our prayers for the Church and to discuss ways that we can help the clergy and hierarchy, all with an eye toward safeguarding the vulnerable among us. This could take many forms: adoration for vocations; fasting; and opportune and respectful suggestions to the right people.

Some of the problems we see today have been brewing for decades, if not centuries. Reform will take a while. But it is something we can begin today, with our own striving for holiness.

An extra suggestion: To guard your own spirit of peace, you might want to try to get your news from balanced and civil outlets. Sources that pour fuel on the fires raging ’round won’t bring much calm to your heart. The Spirit prefers to speak in “a light silent sound” (1 Kings 19:12). Also, you might find it useful to read my colleague’s blog post about the recent scandals: https://rcspiritual.wpenginepowered.com/weekly_email/a-response-to-disaster-weekly-message-for-09-11-2018/

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!