My Catholic Church Returns Safely Dte (Down to Earth): An "Attempted" Hijacking and Simple "Recovery" Strategy

By Gordon L. Cundiff

For all Members
and
Loved Ones Past,
Please know our thanks to You,
will
Forever Last.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449736972

Gordon L. Cundiff

Gordon Cundiff was educated in Catholic schools through elementary, high school, and one year in St. Ambrose University seminary. His formal schooling was finished at Bradley University. He is married forty-six years to Marilyn, who likewise has twelve years of Catholic schooling. They have four adult children and five grandchildren. Gordon and Marilyn have operated their sole proprietorship business, Dimensional Services Co., since 1965. They have specialized in marketing, public relations, and fund development work for churches and other not-for-profit organizations. They have both served on numerous church and school boards and organizations including parish councils, as religious education teachers, and as RCIA director and staff. They are proud to say three of their four children attended Catholic college. Their youngest daughter has worked for the past fifteen years for the University of Notre Dame. Gordon has written many other pieces, including a letter to be read at his funeral celebration, entitled, “Whistling Past the Cemetery,” and three children’s books to be released next year, Birds, Bees and Camel’s Knees, May All of Your Ghosts Be Holy Ghosts, and Because I Love You Soooo Much

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER I Preliminary Thoughts before Exploring the Attempted Hijacking of My Church

CHAPTER II Reaction to the Perceived Threat of the Emerging Layman

CHAPTER III The Pompous and Self-Important Ascendency of the High and Mighty

CHAPTER IV How Things Went So Wrong During Our Watch

CHAPTER V Comeback Victory with God’s Golden Rule as a Guide and Our Recovery Strategy

CHAPTER VI Winning Souls and Friends and Influencing Other Catholics

CHAPTER VII Canary Sightings and Rainbows among the Black Clouds

CHAPTER VIII God wants our Ship to Come In, but our Steward Ship is Sinking while the Choir Sings.

CHAPTER IX Only One of the Sides of the Stewardship Coin is Money.

CHAPTER X God Sent Us out in Pairs for a Reason with His Word as a Walking Stick to Lean On

CHAPTER XI Beyond Life and Faith, God’s Next Greatest Gift

CHAPTER XII The Faith of Our Children, Tomorrow’s Church

Concluding, Transitional and New Beginning Thoughts

Dedicated to and in appreciation of:

The inspiration of Our Lord and Heavenly Father,

His Son Jesus and

their Holy Spirit,

St. Joan of Arc,

St. Andre Bessette,

the love of my wife Marilyn,

and our two daughters and daughter-in-law

and our two sons and son-in-law

and our five grandchildren,

my parents and grandparents,

and

the friendship and advice of Fathers Bill Betson,

Mike Pakula, Bob Lee, and John Corredato

Monsignors Edmund Grzybowski, Paul Kinder and Robert Livingston.

Thank you all

from Gordon Leander

Introduction

Continuing our journey on a nearly hijacked flight on Roman Catholic Airlines, we observe and help shine the spotlight of guilt on those about to lose their grip on the controls of our airship. Like a spellbinding episode on some terrorist driven television series, that thought leaves my heart pounding and makes me breathless. Even if you are flying on different Airline or safely on the ground, I hope you find this book interesting.

Before we address such a frightening scene of an almost hijacked church in flight, let me first state some preliminary observations. When I think of the lifelong dedication of my mother and grandmother, to their Catholic Church, and likewise, my wife’s mother and father, I shudder to think about how they would be spinning in their graves. I say this while knowing full well that they have long since departed the grave for the better place that awaits us all. Since they now look on from a vantage-point near Our Lord’s, they must share in His disappointment with the human state of our Catholic Church today.

The Vatican Council II Constitution on the Church, states that our union with those who sleep in the peace of Christ, is not interrupted, but strengthened. For that reason, I regularly draw strength, courage and inspiration from my ancestors and from Monsignors Edmund, Paul and Bob who were of great counsel to me while still on this side of life. I can only imagine, in human terms, their embarrassment with the current state of affairs within our Roman Catholic Church today, and throughout this first decade of Century 2100 and continuing still.

In referring to the present misguided, state of my Church, as only an attempted hijacking, I mean NO ONE human or group of humans can really take over the controls of our flight guided by the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the ride can seem dangerously out of control on occasion and even grossly off course at times. Now may be one of those times.

Clergy sex scandals unfortunately have dominated our church news during the past decade and in a somewhat reduced way still do. The sick misdeeds as reported of a measly, yet staggering (4%) of our priests, are in the news. Rather than the good deeds of many more good priests have been overlooked. The few have overshadowed the more and have gained press time and newsprint ink around the globe. Some of them unfortunately, have even garnered space on police station blotters and court room dockets as well. The bad news of the day has hidden and overwhelmed the world’s view of the soul saving image that the Catholic Church has had in the past and will have once again, I trust. May God help us.

We are currently a very distracted church. Instead of spreading the Good News as our primary objective, we are pre-occupied with and find ourselves, deflecting the bad news of the day and night. Some high and mighty among us have even attempted to cover it up. We will have more to say about these few later,… I am sad to say. Keep reading friends, because there truly is a bright light at the other end of the tunnel.

Let us first place the present day scandals that have come to light early in this third millennium, in proper historic perspective. We need to realize that the first attempted take-over of our body of believers, occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane, a long time ago. At that time, Judas Iscariot, an ordained man of the cloth or worse yet, a culprit playing the part, signaled his attempted over-throw with a betrayal kiss. The current betrayal taking place in today’s world, may not be as personally harmful and degrading to Our Savior Jesus, but nearly so. These horrendous, scandalous sins of today, two thousand years later, do not hammer the painful nails of Calvary, but they do inflict a devastating body blow to those of us who believe and follow Him.

Let us also put a correct and proper label on the scandalous behavior of recent years. Some would say that the code word for today’s state of disgrace in the Catholic Church is solely the P-word Pedophilia. To the contrary, I say that another significantly more accurate operative P-word is Pompousness. The sick sin of abnormal sex among the reported 4% of our clergy was fostered by the self-important, arrogant style of far too many of the remaining 96%. I use the word pompous from the description used by a sincere friend, over fifteen years before the present day scandals began to see the light of day. Most of us could not or would not have believed back then, just how right and insightful this sad forecast might have been. As I think back, a trusted family member of mine, also privately shared with me his then unbelievable and depressing premonition. It has now sadly come to pass and put the rest of our church to a shameful dishonor. We realize that sins and scandals also exist in other church denominations, as well in the business, political and even sports world. But regardless of wherever else in society they occur, our Church is sadly disgraced today.

This heartbreaking, but hopefully soon to be interrupted take-over of our Church, by the super-pompous among us, will I believe still result in a happy ending. I only hope it is during my lifetime, but at my age, that joyful safe landing and makeover, better hurry. It will no doubt take many years to out-live and fully recover from the shame of today and recent past. At times, it appears that the charges of abuse seem to be fewer and farther in between. Even the financial settlements also seem to be somewhat more reduced, so maybe we are seeing the beginning of the end and will soon get past the darkest of times. Thank you God! But believe me, the secular press of today and tomorrow will not miss an opportunity to expose and will never turn a blind eye to any suspicion of the insidious and harmful misbehavior. Also, I truly believe that pompousness has shrouded over or caused these sins to be overlooked and fester undetected, wearing a cloak of ignorance and blind ambition.

Read on to see why I feel that pompousness, aloofness and an air of superiority among a substantial number of our clergy has cultivated an atmosphere that allowed pedophilia to ferment and infect our Church.

Even more important, however, let us seek together what we can do to rise above this unfortunate state in which we currently find ourselves. We need to help regain the powerful influence that our church can and should have in today’s troubled society. To see that day of rejoicing, we cannot just sit back, waiting with hope. For that reason and to help hasten the day, I write this little book. We need to join forces with those within our clergy who also abhor the effects of pompousness as well as pedophilia and retake OUR Church. If the shoes of the fishermen fit, put them on, and quick. Or even more appropriately, if the strange looking hat does not fit on the proverbial, too big head, reduce it, (the head) humbly back to proper size. It will then become a far more comfortable fit to be worn with just and genuine pride.

If you identify with my impassioned and disappointed, but not bitter feelings expressed on these pages, please join with me and many other men and women of good faith in this cause. The suggestions that we make for our recovery, may seem too simple, but be assured they are very powerful. Some of the most effective crusades throughout the ages have been fueled by a contagious and fast spreading fire in the hearts of people like you and me who share a common purpose and conviction. Fuel for the fire includes an inspired prayer life, a practiced appreciation of stewardship and a real motivated evangelism. Nothing could be more thrilling than to live during the time that our church rises from the ashes and once again resumes a path of growth and regains its strong ministerial potential in society. Our society is so greatly in need of its influence.

For our first step, we must make sure that the Golden Rule is practiced by all who also observe the Canon Rule, more properly called Canon Law. We all must think positively that it can and will happen! As we know, all things are possible and we could hopefully live long enough to experience the thrill of being a part of it. I sincerely hope and pray we will live to see it, on this side of the grand threshold. My Canon Law comment above reminds me of the Chicken and the Egg riddle. Could it be that some among us may even think that Canon Law precedes, predates and even over-rules the Golden Rule? Surely not!

Over the years I have rather simplistically divided the world’s population into those who are people persons and those who are not. The distinguishing characteristic is having or lacking people skills. That is the natural or learned ability to relate to people on human, down-to-earth terms. (DTE, for the texters on board.) Although it is not easy for some, anyone can learn or improve their abilities in this area. It is so important in our life and in our world I call it a "survival technique."

Furthermore, I have applied the above skill level distinction to my relationships within the Church. Throughout my life I have encountered and know