We've been hearing about it for a good many years now. The scandals within the catholic church do not seem to shock us as much anymore. Each day, from different parts of the world, we have accusation, followed by an initial silence, then a reluctant acceptance of the abuse and betrayal of the church's most vulnerable victims: children.
How is it that this institution, while professing a need to impart care to the most vulnerable in society has abandoned those when they are most in need. For decades, they have sought to sweep such issues under the carpet, denying any involvement in coverups or being complicit in the facilitation of the abuse of children. It is only now, that in a reluctant manner, that they are coming clean, and airing their laundry in public, asking the general public, and their own believers in particular for forgiveness.
But let me tell you, there is an air of hypocrisy in that seemingly meek seeking of approval for their contriteness!
They have not let the full truth emerge, and are still involved in the supression of many more scandals that may never emerge fully.
Many young, impressionable and naive men had entered seminaries down through the years, and they were systematically abused and assaulted by pederasts. For these men, even though they may have left the seminary to escape the abusive and torturous behaviour, they may have left the priesthood, but their agony goes on today... because the catholic church refuses to offer them help in any way.
How do I know? Because I was one of those abused men.
In Allah alone is our protection.
Ameen.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
It's all in the way you look at things
I recall the story of a man whose love of God was so great and powerful. He was certain that no matter what would happen in life, God would be there to help him.
One day, the man was walking beside a cliff edge. He lost his footing and fell over the side. Luckily for him, there was a piece of rock that he managed to hold on to half way down the cliff. He prayed that God would now come to his aid in his hour of need. So he waited, and waited ....
An hour had passed by when the coast guard helicopter hovered above.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of there soon", the winchman shouted to the man below.
"It's okay", he replied, "God will save me. You can go rescue someone else."
Another hour passed by, and the man still clinging to the rock heard a noise from above. "Hello there", a young man shouted down, "We'll save you in a few moments - we're here from the mountain rescue team."
"But it's okay", the man responded, "God will save me".
And off they went.
Yet another hour had passed by, and the man grew weary from hanging on to the rock. He was beginning to lose hope, when a navy ship drew close to the cliff face.
"You will be safe soon", shouted the captain from below, "our crew will get you down from there."
"Go away", the man replied, "I have faith in God, and he will come to save me".
The navy ship set sail and moved away.
Half an hour later, the man's strength gave in, and he could hold on no longer. His grip loosened, and he fell to the rocks below.
As he came to heaven, God greeted him warmly, but the man rebuked God, saying:
"All my life, I prayed to you, I gave to charity, I treated my wife and family well, and my employees with fairness. I asked only one thing of you - to come and save me. But you abandoned me in my one moment of need."
God replied: "I sent you a helicopter, a mountain rescue team and a navy ship. What more did you want?"
Often in life, we let the moments of God's providence slip by without recognising them. Let us ask God for the wisdom in seeing his providence whenever it comes to us, and appreciating the means by which it comes.
Ameen
One day, the man was walking beside a cliff edge. He lost his footing and fell over the side. Luckily for him, there was a piece of rock that he managed to hold on to half way down the cliff. He prayed that God would now come to his aid in his hour of need. So he waited, and waited ....
An hour had passed by when the coast guard helicopter hovered above.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of there soon", the winchman shouted to the man below.
"It's okay", he replied, "God will save me. You can go rescue someone else."
Another hour passed by, and the man still clinging to the rock heard a noise from above. "Hello there", a young man shouted down, "We'll save you in a few moments - we're here from the mountain rescue team."
"But it's okay", the man responded, "God will save me".
And off they went.
Yet another hour had passed by, and the man grew weary from hanging on to the rock. He was beginning to lose hope, when a navy ship drew close to the cliff face.
"You will be safe soon", shouted the captain from below, "our crew will get you down from there."
"Go away", the man replied, "I have faith in God, and he will come to save me".
The navy ship set sail and moved away.
Half an hour later, the man's strength gave in, and he could hold on no longer. His grip loosened, and he fell to the rocks below.
As he came to heaven, God greeted him warmly, but the man rebuked God, saying:
"All my life, I prayed to you, I gave to charity, I treated my wife and family well, and my employees with fairness. I asked only one thing of you - to come and save me. But you abandoned me in my one moment of need."
God replied: "I sent you a helicopter, a mountain rescue team and a navy ship. What more did you want?"
Often in life, we let the moments of God's providence slip by without recognising them. Let us ask God for the wisdom in seeing his providence whenever it comes to us, and appreciating the means by which it comes.
Ameen
A thought for the day
Something which most youngsters are afraid of – the dark. Yet, it is quite surprising that when these same young children grow up to adulthood, they very often wish to stay in the darkness for the rest of their lives.
It is there in every aspect of their life – in their relationships, in their jobs, in their beliefs. People can find a comfort zone and then be content with what they have – even though it does nothing to help them realize their potential.
The Light is something which is refreshing to behold. That aspect of looking and seeing things from different angles, and in a “new light” is something we are often asked to do. To think outside the box, to view from a different perspective and to see things objectively.
The first step out of the darkness and into the light can be one of the most challenging steps we will ever take in our lives, yet without that step there can be no growth and realization of our potential.
Without that first step, we may never make marriage a wonderful institution that its meant to be. We may never fully express our love to our partner, and have them believe they are loved.
We may never reach the goals and ambitions that we should aspire to in our working lives – being the best at our job and maximising our potential there.
And we may never understand the true nature of our belief – understanding where we are on life’s journey or participating in life as God intends, and preparing for what will come to us as we depart from the lives we know.
So, don’t be afraid of the light. Go towards it – and let all things become clear.
It is there in every aspect of their life – in their relationships, in their jobs, in their beliefs. People can find a comfort zone and then be content with what they have – even though it does nothing to help them realize their potential.
The Light is something which is refreshing to behold. That aspect of looking and seeing things from different angles, and in a “new light” is something we are often asked to do. To think outside the box, to view from a different perspective and to see things objectively.
The first step out of the darkness and into the light can be one of the most challenging steps we will ever take in our lives, yet without that step there can be no growth and realization of our potential.
Without that first step, we may never make marriage a wonderful institution that its meant to be. We may never fully express our love to our partner, and have them believe they are loved.
We may never reach the goals and ambitions that we should aspire to in our working lives – being the best at our job and maximising our potential there.
And we may never understand the true nature of our belief – understanding where we are on life’s journey or participating in life as God intends, and preparing for what will come to us as we depart from the lives we know.
So, don’t be afraid of the light. Go towards it – and let all things become clear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)