Welcoming Bartimaeus

I first heard the story of Bartimaeus the blind beggar Jesus healed on the road to Jericho (Luke chapter 18:35-43 and Mark chapter 10:46-52), during the Gospel readings for Mass in the Fall 2003. Hearing it, I experienced an epiphany. I understood that survivors of clergy abuse were like the blind beggar and the people and the leadership of the Catholic Church were like the disciples around Jesus who told Bartimaeus to go away and not bother Jesus. Over and over we Catholics have told survivors of clergy abuse to go away and be quiet and not to bother us.

Jesus always welcomes the wounded, and He does everything He can to heal them.

Galvanized by the story of Bartimaeus, I started handing out newspaper articles on the clergy abuse scandal in my parish. I thought that if only other Catholics knew more about the issue, they would be moved to act. It didn’t work out that way. A few people supported me privately. Others told my friends that they were concerned but did not wish to risk their relationship with the Franciscan priests who staff our parish. Others reacted with hostility towards me and my message. The more I was rejected, the angrier I got