Matt Abbott reprints an open letter from a New Jersey priest, Fr. Robert Hoatson, to Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, criticizing his Novena to the Holy Spirit in reparation for the sins of the Scandal taking place at 9 parishes that felt the impact of the abuse most keenly. Hoatson basically repeats what other critics of the novena have said, which is that it's wrong to invite survivors to engage in any Catholic worship experiences since it was priests who abused them and bishops who covered up. There's a flaw in that logic: If a victim was physically abused in a hospital, would you say he should never go to a doctor for healing? Of course not. Likewise, the only real cure for the damage done by abuse, especially the spiritual murder of their faith, can come from Christ the Healer.
No one is saying that every victim has to attend these events. Certainly those who feel like it is time for them to go should go. But this novena is as much about the rest of us to pray for forgiveness for failing to do what should have been done, to pledge ourselves to never let it happen again, and to seek through prayer and penitential acts to build up the grace for victims to be healed and for Christ's Church to once again become a beacon of grace and light.
Hoatson's name should sound familiar
