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November 18, 2020Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Earlier this week I participated in the annual meeting of the United States Conference of Catholics Bishops. What is normally a four-day meeting every November in Baltimore, Maryland was reduced to two days with the bishops participating through technology. Despite the awkward format the meeting was productive. We spent considerable time looking at the Vatican report of the ex-Cardinal McCarrick as well as issues related to the pandemic.
The criminal and deeply sinful behaviors of the ex-Cardinal have wounded our Church, along with the cloak of silence on the part of many who should have been responsible for intervening. While it may be a small consolation to those who were wounded, it is good to know that the culture of silence and denial is changing. We live in a church and a world where increasingly each of us recognizes the moral command to speak up when witnessing evil. I also pray that in the Church we feel safe from retaliation when shining a light on crimes. I would call to mind that in the wake of the abuse of minors crisis, our Church led the way in creating safe environments for children and vulnerable adults. The result has shown that allegations of misconduct in the last twenty years have plummeted. Those critical efforts must now be expanded to prevent the kind of sexual harassment and misconduct so painfully recounted in the McCarrick report.
The pandemic has not only taken loved ones from many families but left sickness and economic disaster in its wake. Even as the Church looks to its own losses—most especially in beloved members, clergy, and ministers but also the financial impact—we cannot become so focused on ourselves that we forget the Gospel call to be of generous service to the suffering. I am deeply proud of how the clergy and faithful or our Diocese have responded thus far and I pray that the vaccines on the near horizon will help us to resume the blessings we knew before the pandemic struck. What is clear is that now is not a time to give in to “Covid fatigue” or grow lax about our protocols. We will get to the other side of this crisis but with far less death, suffering, and loss if we will maintain the critical steps of face masks, social distancing, and good hygiene.
On a personal note, you may recall that I shared with you some weeks ago that I had a shoulder joint replacement mid-September. My recovery has gone exceptionally well. This week (Wednesday, Nov. 19th) I had my left shoulder joint replaced. I will need several weeks to rehabilitate the new shoulder joint but by mid Winter I probably will feel better than I’ve felt in years. I have needed this surgery for several years but was hesitant to take the time necessary for recovery. It is my hope now to make use of some of the pandemic downtime to get the recovery behind me so that I can hit the ground running once the pandemic lifts. I also believe that I will have more energy and strength than I’ve had in a long time. I appreciate your understanding of my absence from internet liturgies and several of our diocesan events. I also greatly appreciate your prayers.
May God bless you abundantly and keep you safe! – Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger
Report from Bishop's Secretary on Wednesday November 18, 2020
"I just spoke with the Bishop’s doctor, and his surgery went very well! Thank God! Please continue to keep the Bishop in your prayers for a quick and healthy recovery!"
