Message from Frank Schickling, PA Catholic Action Chairman ...

A number of e-mails have been distributed recently relative to the poor taste in humor of late-night comedians at the expense of our priests and the Catholic Church.  Well, as a wise person once suggested, I think we need to choose our battles.

Rightly or wrongly, the Church got herself into this crisis through a series of antiquated procedures and policies related to the handling of inappropriate and criminal behavior by a minority of her priests.  I believe we need to deal with this, not cry 'foul' when some ridicules us.

Rather, I think we need to look back to the founding purpose of the AOH in America over 166 years ago ... to protect the Roman Catholic Church and to protect our priests.  Well, brothers and sisters, the Church and our priests need us now more than ever.

I've been in contact with a number of religious over the past couple of weeks ... including a few chaplains.  What I am told is that morale for priests is very low at this point, and understandably so.  One cannot read a newspaper or listen to the news without hearing of an abuse claim or case.  The attention paid to this crisis is unprecedented.  This is more
the reason for us to bind together. 

I've also been in contact with a number of you.  Some of whom have acknowledged a crack in your faith in the Church as well.  This too is understandable.  However, this too, must be dealt with.  We are a people of strong tradition and faith.  Please don't let your faith be swayed by the bias in reporting.  Remember, the atrocities that have been perpetrated were done so by a minority of our priests.  These men are sick.

What we can do is pray.  Pray for guidance.  Pray for understanding.  Pray for resolution.   And pray for our
faithful priests that they have the strength and courage to persevere during this trying time in our history.  We should
also pray for those priests who are sick.  They need compassion as well.

Prayer can be personal.  Prayer can be by group.  I strongly recommend special devotions at your monthly meetings and at
your communion breakfasts.

Also, we can thank our chaplains and our parish priests for everything that they do for us.  Let them know that they are
not alone in this battle.  Write them a letter, give them a call or better yet, go up to them after Sunday mass.  Tell them how you feel.  They are only human, after all.  They need love and support just like everyone else. 

Let's keep true to our founding beliefs, and true to our creed:  Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.

Yours in our creed,

Frank Schickling
PA State Catholic Action Chairman