tvc.dsj.org | September 25, 2018
CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS
21
Santa Clara Turns to Ethics for Guidance on Clergy Scandal
By Deborah Lohse
Like many who have been appalled
by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report
and other allegations of clergy sexual
abuse in the Catholic Church, staff and
scholars from Santa Clara University’s
Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
have spent recent weeks seeking a way
forward in this dark time.
The result was a series of reflections
on how ethics can provide a framework
for thinking about solutions: how to
begin the hard discussions that are
necessary for true reform; what ethical
parameters should guide those seeking
reform; and an examination of why
stories of abuses – even decades in the
past – stir up instant anger, mistrust
and feelings of betrayal, and shouldn’t
be dismissed as “old news.”
The series can be found online at bit.
ly/SCUEthicsClergyAbuse.
For parishioners, Julie H. Rubio,
professor of social ethics at the Je-
suit School of Theology of Santa Clara
University, suggests finding ways to
confront what aspects of “ordinary”
Catholic culture might need to be
aired and changed, to “confront the
deep distortions that made violence
ordinary and allowed it to be tolerated
for too long.”
For bishops, Markkula Center’s
former executive director Kirk Han-
son suggests considering disclosure of
more rather than less negative infor-
mation as a form of trust building. For
other organizations, Markkula Center
Director of Bioethics Margaret McLean
provides lessons from the scandal that
can be applied in other contexts such
as health care.
In an article called “Outrage Before
Ethics,” Center Scholar Karen Peterson-
Iyer argues that the first response to
the scandal should really be anger.
Markkula Director of Campus Ethics
David DeCosse reinforces the need
for outrage as well as hope, lest we fall
into cynicism, and reminds us that “our
very revulsion at what happened testi-
fies to the enduring basis of ethics: our
most fundamental intuitions of good
and evil.”
And for Church leaders who will
ultimately reckon with the changes
that must at long last be implemented,
Markkula’s Senior Director of Lead-
ership Ethics Ann Skeet lays out the
warning signs of unhealthy culture,
and offers a reminder that it is the
people of the church – not the institu-
tion – that should be the focus of pro-
tective reforms.
As Paul Crowley, S.J., Santa Clara
University religious studies professor
and editor in chief of Theological Stud-
ies, wrote in his own blog, “The object
of faith lies not in human traditions or
in the forms of religion per se. Faith
arises rather in God’s desire for us, a
divine desire made manifest in the
person of Jesus, who, like the prophets
before him, decried religious empti-
ness, the confusion of holiness with
mer e human precepts.”
In sum, he says, “The institution
may have been defiled from within, but
the faith itself has not been.”
Deborah Lohse is assistant director
of media and internal communications
at Santa Clara University.
Sacred Heart Students Celebrate School with an Energizing Spirit Rally
On August 24, just a week into the
school year Sacred Heart’s Student
Council designed and initiated a
“Spirit Rally” to welcome all students
– especially new students – into the
new school year. The whole student
body gathered in the school gym
and experienced many fun games,
cheers, and contests. “SH Mustang,”
the school’s mascot, danced along and
helped to boost the energy as well.
One of Student Council’s goals was
to formally present this year’s school
theme “Let Me Help” to all. Let Me
Help is designed to focus the whole
community on the Christian call to
action and service.
Mrs. Stephanie Vives, one of the
Student Council moderators described
the importance of this annual tradi-
tion as “…a key event that celebrates
friendship, welcomes new students
and faculty members, builds school
spirit, provides leadership opportuni-
ties for the student council, mentors
the younger classes and creates life-
Saint Frances Cabrini Welcomes
Father Thomas Flowers, S.J.
Newly ordained Jesuit priest Father
Thomas J. Flowers, S.J., celebrated Mass
with the student body of Saint Frances
Cabrini School. His nieces Kayla (‘20)
and Eden (‘23) Flowers were excited to
welcome him to school.
As this was the first day, the stu-
dents and faculty gathered together in
church, Father Flowers talked about
the excitement of a new academic year.
The school’s theme for 2018-19 is ‘With
Our Voice, We Preach the Good News.’
Father Flowers challenged the
students to live out the theme, as well
as live out God’s most important com-
mandment, “Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, soul, and mind.”
Father Flowers has now begun his
doctoral studies in history at the Uni-
versity of York in England.
time memories. Definitely a highlight
in our school.”
The Student Council is a student
leadership program that helps in-
terested students learn and develop
leadership skills through a variety
of meetings, retreats and activities.
They will be organizing more events
and opportunities throughout the
year and will keep strengthening the
school community, build school pride
and lead service projects for the rest
of the school.
Sacred Heart Mustang mascot and Student
Council leading the “Spirit Rally.”
15th Annual Pilgrimage to
ST. JUDE THADDEUS
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Location: Walk starts at 9:45 am from Corpus Christi Church,
62 Santa Rosa Ave., (Between Alemany Blvd. and Mission St.)
San Francisco; and ends approx. at 1:00 pm at St. Dominic’s
Church (Home of the Shrine of Saint Jude), 2390 Bush St.,
San Francisco. (Approx. 5.7 miles)
Transportation: Buses will be running from
St. Dominic’s Church to Corpus Christi Church
from 6:30 am to 8:30 am only.
Parking: Available at St. Dominic’s Church.
Bilingual Mass: 1:30 pm - St. Dominic’s Church
Celebrant: Most Rev. William J. Justice, Auxiliary Bishop
Archdiocese of San Francisco
Father Thomas Flowers, S.J., with his nieces
Kayla (‘20) and Eden (‘23).
For more Information:
Shrine of Saint Jude Offi ce (415) 931-5919
E-mail: [email protected] | www.stjude-shrine.org