Holding the Archbishop to account

To the Editor:

Once again, it is that time of the year, when our church, along with many others, is being audited by the Newark Diocese. Once again, our church, and its organizations, will be subjected to new, ridiculous rules that encroach on how we, as parishioners and group leaders, run our church lives. It started me wondering, does the Diocese get audited also? How about Archbishop Myers? What about his personal finance records? I have tried several times, in vain, to get a copy of the financial reports of the Newark Diocese. Guess I’m too low on the totem pole to get a copy.
Which leads me to my next question. At least 17,000 members of the diocese have petitioned against Myers to end his lavish lifestyle, myself included. We have petitioned the Vatican, the Pope, the finance directors of the Vatican, and so on and so forth. All in vain! No response, no nothing! How long will these atrocities go on in our Diocese? We have an archbishop who lives in the lap of luxury and ignores the cries and pleas from his flock. Published reports have also connected him to the cover up of pedophile priests.
Where is the outcry from the people? How about our local leaders, our priests, pastors, and bishops? Do they have voices? When will they finally group together and rise up against the injustices of our Diocese? I am not ignorant, I know that most of them are afraid for their churches, of their parishioners being subject to retaliation from the archbishop. But it is time to put our fears aside; it is time for all of us to work together, parishioners, priests, pastors, and yes, bishops, to demand justice! Stand up for the flocks that you serve! A wise man consistently tells me “You, the people, are the church. I am not the church, I am your spiritual leader.” Too bad the archbishop doesn’t feel this way.
In conclusion, we must all remember the words of Pope Francis: “The Church encourages those in power to be truly at the service of the common good of their peoples.” It’s time to remind Archbishop Myers of his words. It’s time for Pope Francis, and the Vatican, to step out of their own boxes, and look around at what’s happening outside their country. It’s time to do the right thing!

MRS. JANICE MACHIN

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