Sooner Catholic soonercatholic.org November 22, 2020 archokc.org Go Make Disciples Frontline workers lean on Catholic faith while serving during pandemic By Jolene Schonchin While people were told to stay home, The Sooner Catholic these unsung heroes were in the middle of the pandemic every day. Michelle DeLeon, As the number of coronavirus cases Dedicated people such as health care a labor and and hospitalization were rising daily professionals, educators, city workers, delivery around the nation, dedicated Catholic law enforcement officers, food sup- nurse at men and women within the Archdio- pliers and emergency management Oklahoma cese of Oklahoma City were serving on teams helped those in need, leaning Children’s Hospital. on their Catholic faith to get them the frontlines, helping others, caring Photo for the sick, protecting and serving through. provided. the communities, and educating stu- dents through it all. continued on page 8 Church celebrates Christ the King while nation celebrates Thanksgiving By Charles Albert The Sooner Catholic After the Spanish Flu 100 years ago, Pope Pius XI gave Catholics the Feast Day of Christ the King to “hasten the return of society to our loving savior.” Christ has always been known as the King. As Saint Paul told the Philippians, “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth.” In Revela- tions 19:16, “Christ is referred as continued on page 16 Sr. Barbara Joseph sits in her new “mobile meals” bus that helps feed the homeless. Photo provided. Sr. BJ’s Pantry gains new bus to deliver meals, hope By Eliana Tedrow “It’s really one of the few ways we can get out The Sooner Catholic there and see our friends who are still on the street because we can’t have large gatherings ister BJ’s Pantry has taken the ministry anymore,” Sister Barbara Joseph said. on the road with the use of a new “mo- Sister BJ’s mobile meals travel around down- bile meals” bus. Going mobile allows town Oklahoma City on Sunday mornings in volunteers to bring meals, clothing and search of those who need assistance. She said evenS prayer to their friends on the streets while she recognizes the impact her ministry has on helping keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. continued on page 7 2 November 22, 2020 Sooner Catholic Sooner Catholic November 22, 2020 3 Put Out Into the Deep Archbishop Coakley’s Luke 5:4 Find more Victims in McCarrick report show statement in response to news on the fear, courage, anger, need for action the McCarrick Report Giving thanks during a pandemic “The revelations included website in the report on former cardi- nal Theodore McCarrick are By Sooner Catholic Staff By Carol Glatz “hard” credible evidence and a in Metuchen, New Jersey, near This week, we will observe Thanksgiving. It is per- lay collaborators have shocking and disturbing to our Catholic News Service climate of incessant gossip and McCarrick’s residence. haps the most distinctly American of our national embraced new ways to sense of decency. This behavior rumors about McCarrick’s procliv- Her letters, and a series of let- holidays. Normally Thanksgiving marks the begin- carry on the mission Additional coverage of should not exist in the Cath- ities that ended up being lever- ters that unknown sources would ning of the “holiday season.” The year 2020, however, and ministries of the Church and archdiocesan olic Church or anywhere and VATICAN CITY – The Vatican aged by some to paint him as “a send to church officials in 1992 has been anything but normal. We may not be feeling Church by adapting in news and events, only on certainly shouldn’t be allowed Secretariat of State’s report on victim” of envy and enemies. and 1993 accusing McCarrick of very festive this Thanksgiving. such innovative ways as soonercatholic.org. to continue for decades. While Theodore E. McCarrick provides a A New York woman, called pedophilia, were anonymous. She In the aftermath of a bitterly contested election, live-streaming Masses, the Catholic Church in the glimpse into how a number of wit- “Mother 1” in the report, describes did not want to identify herself civil disturbances, scandals and the ongoing global “parking lot” Masses and a To send photos, event United States and the Archdi- Archbishop Paul S. Coakley nesses and victims of the former how McCarrick groomed her fam- or her children, just warn others pandemic, it might be hard to remember what we online religious forma- information or story ideas, ocese of Oklahoma City have cardinal’s abuse sought numer- ily into trusting him and feeling that McCarrick had “an attraction ought to be grateful for this year. Stresses from all tion. e-mail [email protected]. worked diligently to create safe ous ways to alert church officials special by receiving his kind and to boys” by including all events the ordinary personal, economic and societal chal- Since then, we have seen armies of staff and volun- environments for all people and were disturbingly aware their generous attention during the she personally witnessed. lenges seem to have been multiplied by COVID-19. teers step up to provide parishes with technology as- a within the Church, this report The U.S. Conference of allegations might trigger repercus- 1970s and ‘80s. Her fear and anxiety over po- And, as the recent dramatic spike in COVID infec- sistance and pitch in to prepare and sanitize church- is another challenge for us to Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sions. tential repercussions gave way to tions has reminded us, we are not out of the woods es for a safe resumption of public Masses. We have But she began to see the stay focused on preventing gathered virtually for the Over its 460 pages, the report anger when “nothing was being yet. seen beautiful outreach efforts as parishes developed then-bishop as a threat when she abuse from ever occurring and 2020 Fall General also reveals how much difference done” and her letters seemed ig- During this difficult time, I have been reflecting websites and set up calling trees and other means to caught him massaging her sons’ acting swiftly and justly if an Assembly on 30 years can make when it comes nored. The report said no originals on a passage from Saint Paul in which he bares his support and help carry one another’s burdens. The inner thighs in front of her hus- allegation is received. I am Nov. 16-17. Find to flagging misconduct and abuse. or copies of her letters were ever soul about his struggle with weakness and vulnera- Knights of Columbus developed a beautiful “Leave No band, who seemed, in her words, grateful for our dedicated cler- more information The report begins with a New found. bility. He says, “Three times I begged the Lord about Neighbor Behind” initiative that some parishes have “oblivious to Ted’s behavior.” gy, religious men and women at usccb.org. York mother’s account of writ- While she felt they needed to get During her interview for the this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, ‘My embraced. I have marveled at the way in which our and laypeople who continue ing to every U.S. cardinal and him “out of our lives,” her hus- report, she said she had wanted grace is sufficient for you, for power is made per- Catholic schools and religious education programs to lead the way in our efforts a Catholic Bishop Abuse the papal representative in the band “refused to understand,” to go public in the early 1990s, fect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of adapted both to online instruction and the return to to remain transparent and to Reporting service mid-1980s detailing McCarrick’s and she proceeded to witness on- but her one son insisted McCar- my weaknesses, in live classroom in- protect children, young people The new Catholic Bishop “dangerous” behavior toward her going inappropriate touching and rick’s behavior was only “creepy” order that the power struction during such and the most vulnerable from “In the aftermath of a bitterly contested Abuse Reporting service underage sons. Having left no ad- massaging by McCarrick with her and “uncomfortable,” not actual of Christ may dwell uncertain times. The such abuses. I invite everyone launched on March 16. The dress or legible name, her red-flag oldest son. But when she found abuse. However, she said, she “re- with me … for when election, civil disturbances, scandals selfless cooperation to pray for survivors of abuse third-party reporting service warnings went unheeded. out the priest was bringing alco- gretted every day” not acting more I am weak, then I am and the ongoing global pandemic, it and sacrifices needed and their families with the is responsible for receiving Decades later, in 2017, when hol along on overnight trips with firmly earlier. strong” (2 Cor. 12:8- to keep one another hope that they may find peace might be hard to remember what we allegations of sexual abuse the Archdiocese of New York re- her underage sons, she realized The report also goes into detail 10). This is the para- safe are a work of the and healing.” against current or retired ceived an allegation of the sexu- he was “a dangerous person” en- about the experiences of sever- dox at the heart of our ought to be grateful for this year.” Holy Spirit as well. Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, al abuse of minor by McCarrick al seminarians and priests, who Christian faith and With so many people bishops in the United States.