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For many weeks now two principal stories have dominated our news headlines: the current strife between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the ongoing saga of clergy abuse and Church leadership cover-up. I don't know about you, but I'm at the stage now where, the more I read these reports the more saddened, perplexed and even wearied I become. When will it all end? Where did it all go wrong? When will it be put right? And at what cost? Let's briefly examine what's at stake in these two tragic crises in the light of our gospel reading this morning.

First of all, my burning question around the Israeli-Palestinian issue is: What does each side want? Well, if there is one desire shared by all Israelis, it is to live in peace, within secure, recognized borders. If there is one desire shared by all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it is to live in their own independent state, free of Israeli occupation and control. Beyond this, the consensus on both sides breaks down. For Israelis, the question is: what constitutes "secure borders"? For the Palestinians, the question is: does an independent state eradicate Israel altogether, or does it exist side by side with the Jewish state? And I ask myself: what is the resolution to this tragic conflict? What is the truth that will set them free?

And now the issue that is closer to my home and my heart: the painful exposure of clergy abuse in our country and the apparent cover-up by some diocesan authorities. Let me first of all say that as a recently ordained priest of not quite a year yet, in addition to sorrow for the victims, shame for the priesthood and sadness for the church, I have felt lovingly supported by parishioners and friends who genuinely care for who I am and what I am about as a priest. And this has been most reassuring and comforting in these early days of my ministerial priesthood.

That said, I have also felt within me a growing anger, at how, in many cases, sick and obviously psychologically disordered priests in certain dioceses were allowed to remain in ministry, and consequently abused over and over again. For example, if documented T.V. and newspaper reports are to be believed, as early as the 1970's, a Boston priest, against whom sexual complaints had already been made, was quoted, in a letter found among chancery documents handed over to police, as proclaiming that kids are not traumatized by sex with adults, but by the surrounding commotion. How such a pathologically sick individual could be allowed to remain in ministry is beyond me, and yet that is what happened over and over again.

Now, it is not my intention here to demonize this or any other priest, but to say simply this: in a case of child abuse or the seduction of youth, it is not only a sexual sin and a psychological disorder; it is an issue of justice for the victim and judgment before the law. There can be no hiding behind some kind of misguided impunity associated with ordination or sacred orders. It is a travesty of justice and a denial of the truth when anyone, priest or otherwise, eludes or is protected from our justice system. Moreover, as a church and teaching authority, we can never presume to preach to our people about sexual holiness and forgiveness unless we are, and are seen to be, a sexually holy and, above all, repentant church.

So, I think we have a right to feel angry and hurt, because anger has to do with the abuse of truth. For if truth is not honored, whether by our politicians, our police, our newspapers or our princes of the church, why trust them?

In the midst of whatever angers, hurts or confuses us in the news or in our daily lives, my prayer is that we will be strengthened and inspired by our advocate, the Spirit of Truth, to name the truth for what it is and to unveil all the injustice and evil that sadly affects our lives and ultimately damages the whole created order. For only truth makes possible love. And truth alone yields forgiveness and new life. Isn't this, after all, what we want for our children and our world?