by Matthew A. C. Newsome ©2003

The following was published in the April 3, 2003, edition of the Sylva (NC) Herald, in response to an editorial cartoon that was published that slandered Catholic priests.  While the media have reported many instances of pedophilia and sexual abuse by Catholic priests in America in the past year, the actual numbers show that any attempt to class all priests as abusers is bigotry of the worst sort.  The vast majority of our priests are faithful servants of God and we need to a) defend them publicly when they are attacked publicly, and b) thank them for being priests.

In the March 26 edition of the Sylva (NC) Herald, there appeared an editorial cartoon that showed a couple in bed, reading over the day’s news.  The wife says to the husband that since Saddam is being taken care of, all they have to fear now are the “Ebola virus, global warming, Catholic priests, and al-Qaida sleeper cells.”  I must confess that I am not a regular reader of the Herald.  How did I see this cartoon?  My priest showed it to me.  “Strange,” he said.  “I’ve never been included on the same list with viruses and terrorists before.”

And he has a valid point.  Here we have grouped together as things to be feared a deadly virus, an environmental catastrophe, a terrorist organization responsible for the thousands of deaths of 9/11, and the humble man of God serving to bring the message of Christ’s salvation to the world.  I am reminded of the song I used to sing as a child when watching Sesame Street.  “One of these kids is doing his own thing, one of these kids does not belong . . .”

Oh, I get the cartoonist’s point.  This past year, we have read in the headlines about sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests.  If this is the only exposure you have had to the Catholic Church you may very well think all priests are monsters.  Is this an excuse for Catholic bashing?  Let’s imagine a few other groups on this list of things to be feared.  What if, instead of al-Qaida terrorists, the cartoonist simply listed “Muslims”?  What if blacks were on the list?  Homosexuals?  Or Jews?  Of course, these groups would never be slandered in the newspapers today.  The public would not stand for it.

But isn’t it true that a percentage of Catholic priests have committed sexual abuse of minors?  Isn’t this cartoonist just commenting on current events?  Yes, but it is also true that a certain percentage of Muslims are terrorists, and a certain percentage of blacks commit violent crimes.  We in a civilized society realize that the poor behavior of a few does not condemn, nor even accurately reflect the character of the many.  The editors of the Sylva Herald would never publish material that so slandered any of these other groups.  That would be bigotry.  And bigotry is wrong.  So why is anti-Catholic bigotry deemed appropriate?

There are currently over 46,700 priests serving in the US.  A whopping 1.8% of all priests serving in this country from 1950 till today have been accused of sexual abuse (source: New York Times).  This is for the last half century.  Many of these accused priests are now dead or retired.  The percentage of active priests accused would be even smaller.  By comparison, Newsweek has reported that 5 to 6% of the general public has “pedophilic tendencies.”  In other words, you are far less likely to suffer abuse at the hands of a Catholic priest than any random member of society.

The Catholic Church has existed for 2000 years – far longer than the United States of America, and far longer than the Sylva Herald.  It has shaped the western world, founding universities, hospitals and charitable relief organizations, inspiring artists and composers, and turning sinners into saints.  It has priests working as pastors, educators, and missionaries all over the globe.  While the cartoonist was at his desk creating this tripe, priests were busy celebrating mass, recalling the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary.  While the editors of the Herald were deciding to publish it, priests were hearing the penitent’s confession, and anointing the sick and dying.  While people were sitting at their breakfast table Sunday morning, reading this garbage, Sylva’s priest was giving a homily on the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

This cartoon was especially tasteless considering that Sylva has but one Catholic parish, served by one Catholic priest.  St. Mary, Mother of God, Catholic Church has been in Sylva since 1955.  In 1960, St. Mary’s had 29 members.  Today there are nearly 500 parishioners served by this church.  Those who know and love our pastor, Fr. Ray Williams, and our retired pastor Fr. James Cahill, would be absolutely scandalized to hear any association of these men with terrorists or infectious diseases.  The editors of the Sylva Herald owe these two fine men an apology.

The Smoky Mountain Vicariate, and the entire Diocese of Charlotte that St. Mary’s Church is a part of, are thankfully free of the clerical abuse that has been centered largely in areas such as Boston and Los Angeles.  How dare our good priests be classed with such villains.  The Catholics of western North Carolina have been married by these priests, have had their children baptized by them, been counseled, been blessed, and been instructed in the ways of God by them.  Our loved ones have been buried by them.  We call our priests “Father” for a reason.  They are a part of our family.  Twisted and bigoted humor at their expense does not belong in our newspaper.  We will not tolerate it.

Truth be told, our culture should fear pious and orthodox Catholic priests.  Why?  Because they bear the message of Christ, preserved by His Church – a message which if heeded would mean that our culture, one John Paul II has called a “culture of death,” would have to drastically change its course.  To take up the Cross that these noble men proclaim means repentance and conversion.  It means sacrifice.  It means death.  But it also means rebirth and eternal life.  So our culture of death should fear these priests.  But we as individuals, if we have the courage, should embrace them.

To Father Williams, to Father Cahill, to all the priests that have served the good Catholics of Sylva – and to all faithful Catholic priests everywhere – I say thank you.  You may not always hear it from those in the pews, and you definitely do not hear it from the media, but you are appreciated.  Thank you for doing what you do.  Thank you for boldly proclaiming the faith in the face of persecution and ridicule.  Thank you for bearing your cross and helping us to bear ours.  Thank you for being “other Christs.”