A Triumph of Faith, Courage, and Grace.

'MISERY TO MINISTRY'
by Mary T. Sorrendino
 (http://www.amazon.com/Misery-Ministry-Mary-T-Sorrendino/dp/0974966495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301152193&sr=8-1 )

A Book Rewiew:

I recently finished reading Mary's book. It arrived in my mailbox at 1pm and I had it read shortly after midnight. I could not put it down. I have known Mary for about 25 years, and when I was told that she wrote a book, my first reaction was...."are you sure we are talking about the same person?" Mary had shared pieces of her story when we worked together some 15 years ago, but I had no idea that she struggled so, even as we worked side by side. I knew she never graduated from High School so I was quite surprised when I heard that she actually wrote a book. I immediately knew I had to read it.

It does make sense when I look back on those times. She was very meek, mild, and quiet, unless of course I "ruffled her feathers" just to a rise out of her. Then she would come ALIVE and could get quite feisty. I loved to tease her. However, there was one thing I always encountered when I was around her ... and that was her sincerity and LOVE.  Love for God and love for people.  Especially dear to her were the downtrodden and marginalized.  I never once saw her put anyone down and she was always kind to everyone, even if they were not kind to her. God bestowed a wondrous capacity to Love upon Mary, the likes of which I have only seen in one or two people my entire life of 53 years. What makes that gift even more wondrous today -- is the fact that she had that gift, exhibited it, and lavished it on others all the while she suffered so internally.  Yes, I knew she had some issues but never did I imagine the depth and breadth of her very difficult life.  To be able to rise above all that took tremendous courage and strength.  I am sure there are very few people on earth, who against such tremendous odds and mental anguish, would be able to rise above it all.  It is truly hard for me to fathom.  As you read her story, it will sadden you.  Then it will amaze you.  You may even shed a tear or two, as I did.  Then it will encourage all of you, especially those who suffer from abuse, neglect and mental anguish. They will see the reality of the Hope and strength that comes only from trusting Jesus Christ. This book is truly a testament of one woman's life long struggle with her demons and the triumph over them. Mary knows and shows us that it is only possible when we CHOOSE to cooperate with the grace of Almighty God, through His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mary, I am so very proud of you. Thank you for sharing your MISERY with us, so that you can MINISTER to others.

May God bless you and keep you, this day and always.
Your friend in Christ,
Bill

Sex Abuse IS NOT Exclusive To The Catholic Chruch

As a Roman Catholic, I am very conscious of the shame that the sex abuse scandal has brought to the Catholic Church.  In this recent article from the NY Times dated March 12, 2011, the reporter brings to the written page a "REVELATION" of UNTHINKABLE proportions.  This is an extensive article (more than 6 typed pages long) and was well researched and presented.  I know there will be those who say that as a Catholic I am trying to divert attention from the Church's major scandal to the much bigger scandal in the public sector.  However, they must also realize that no matter where this kind of behavior is found it MUST be rooted out and dealt with.  While the Church has brought shame upon herself because of the sex abuse scandal, I am also very aware of the extensive steps the church has done to prevent such abuse in the Future.  Unfortunately the public sector and our government has done absolutely nothing for the past 12 years about the extensive abuses found  in these group homes, by counselors, hospitals, and especially in our public schools where the problem is worse than any other sector of society.

Charol Shakeshaft Ph.D., a scholar from Hofstra University completed a report  commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 "No Child Left Behind Act" signed into law by President Bush. Between 6 and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.  It is estimated that roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a school employee from a single decade—1991-2000.  That compares with about five decades of  cases of abuses found in the church by clergy and religious.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a report on the nature and scope of their abuse problem, found almost 14,000 cases of abuse by  about 4,000 priests and deacons since 1950 -2000.  That is 290,000 over a NINE-YEAR period in the public schools vs. 14,000 over a FIFTY-YEAR period in the Catholic Church. Shakeshaft commented that such figures led her to  contend: “…the physical sexual abuse of students in the schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests.”  (To learn more Google: Charol Shakeshaft PhD. or go to the links at the end of this article.) 

I am also just as outraged by the level of media coverage that these articles have had -- or should I say - LACK of coverage.  The media coverage of the Catholic priest abuse scandal is nearly COAST TO COAST and on every major network.  Yet, whether they just want to turn a blind eye, or they are just anti-Catholic, or are maybe they are just too afraid of the Public worker/teacher Labor Unions …. There is NOTHING but DEAD SILENCE when it comes to the problem in our public schools.   Even though I am Catholic, I am still an AMERICAN CITIZEN!  WHERE is the public OUTCRY!?  WHERE is the OUTRAGE!?!?  AS a parent, I DO NOT have a problem if a priest who is guilty of sex abuse is removed and or jailed.  I am also VERY concerned when there is NOTHING being done to protect the VICTIMS of these  CRIMES by these public sector Perpetrators!

I hope you read the articles linked to this post.  Look for yourself and learn the facts.  Then write your state and federal representatives to insist on action.  Thank you for listening.  We must all be a part of the solution or we must confess to being a part of the problem.

Abused and Used At State-Run Homes

Sex Abuse by Teachers Said Worse Than Catholic Church

Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep You

Re: 'An Airport Encounter' by Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Finally!  I applaud this priest, who with some VISIBLE authority, publicly admits to the shame that the Catholic Church must bare for the sex abuse scandal. At the same time he is willing to address it in open conversation without shying away from it. Yes, there is good reason for that shame, and he expresses that. Yet, at the same time, this priest is able to put it into perspective as we look at this topic in light of society as a whole. Although it is not an easy topic to talk about this priest is not afraid to address it.  He knows that the media and those who do not care much for the Church have used this shameful crisis to brand the entire Church as evil. Thank you Archbishop Dolan for taking a firm stand against the guilty parties and at the same time reminding everyone of the RICH contributions of the Catholic Church in our society.

The NY Times had a recent article that really was a 'revelation' for the rest of the media and the anti-Catholics in our society. I can not help but ask them, where is THAT shame? Where is the outcry?  Where is the outrage?

Checkout his  blog posting: "An Airport Encounter' here http://blog.archny.org/?p=1127

View the NY Times Article Here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/nyregion/13homes.html?_r=3&scp=2&sq=state%20homes%20abuse%20&st=cse

Until Next time, May God Bless and Keep You.