I have been asked to repost this posting.

We can communicate till the ‘cows come home’  between ourselves about our abusive experiences,   and the Comboni Missionaries will – as has been demonstrated numerous times  –  not give one iota of a thought or concern to the pain and suffering of many. Pain and suffering  caused by their past actions,  and now by their inaction.  The Comboni Missionaries that i am talking about,  seem to be concerned more with safeguarding their Order, their priests and their way of life.

Listening, showing compassion, empathizing,  and  taking the first step –  yes, just the first step – towards those that have been abused,  is an anathemas to the Comboni Missionaries. The Pope is talking about forgiveness and listening to victims of abuse. The Combonis, some Combonis, and they know who they are, not only,  not listening, but they are making abhorrent statements,  such as: “they are all in it for the money;”   “we will pray for you.”

How dare you. How dare any one of you,  offer me their prayers. It is an insult.

Since 1995, all i have had from the Comboni Missionaries is their prayers. It is not right,  that you write in your many replies to me, that:  “I will pray for you.”  If saying prayers for me,  somehow – in a way i do not understand – makes  you feel better and closer to your God, by all means say them; but please do not insult me by writing to me, and telling me,  you are praying for me and my family. I do not wish to know. Your prayers do not cost, and your prayers seem to be devoid of action and love.

 Some of you seem to live a way of life,  that does not seem to be the Christian way of life. What use are your prayers if they are not accompanied  by truth. What use are they if they are not accompanied by action. What use are they if they are not accompanied  by a fight – a fight that wants justice to prevail, what are they if they are not accompanied by love.

Your  bible states this very clearly in 1 Corinthians  13:1-3

‘If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.’

 Father Robert Hicks, Father Enrique Sanchez, Father John Frazer, Father  John Clark, Father John Downey and Father Martin  Devenish,   as well as  many more, had an opportunity to talk   and to take part in honest dialogue – they have chosen  not to. They have their own reasons for choosing to do that – reasons that i do not understand.

Why will they not respond and write something in their defence. I may have a distorted view. I may be so biased that i am completely wrong in what i am saying. If that is so,

please write to the blog and post your comments on the blog. I somehow think that it will not take place. However, i live in hope; hope that i will be proved wrong.

“Christianity is not a religion,  it is a way of life:” is a comment Father  Robert Hicks said to me many years ago. I have,  on many occasions,  used that comment when arguing about religion with pious and religious Catholic  people.

Clericalism, unfortunately,  can blind even the most astute and intelligent  person.

How terribly sad.

 Mark