Sexual
Abuse in the Catholic Church
Kim: Jesus, would
you please comment on the ongoing scandal of sexual abuse in the Catholic
Church?
Jesus: There
is no question that this situation is a great tragedy for all involved.
There is no question that this situation has caused much pain and suffering,
especially among the innocent children who have been victims of this
abuse. There is no question that the priests who performed the abuse
and the leaders who covered it up have made severe mistakes. Inasmuch
as you have done it unto the least of these my little ones, you have
done it unto me.
That being said, I would like to bring a perspective into this debate
that is not affected by the lower state of consciousness and its normal
pattern of reactions. When people hear about a situation like this,
they often tend to go into one of two extremes. In this case, one extreme
is that many people feel outrage and anger towards the priests who performed
the abuse and the leaders who covered it up. People then channel their
anger into making some of their fellow Catholics into scapegoats. They
want to punish the scapegoats instead of truly seeking to resolve the
situation.
The other extreme is that some people feel that the sexual abuse, and
especially the cover-up by leadership, casts doubt upon not only the
Catholic Church but their faith in Christianity as a whole. Some people
become so discouraged that they leave the Church, leave Christianity
or even give up on all religion.
From my perspective, these reactions are very understandable, yet I
must tell you that they are not constructive. I am not saying that people
should not feel outraged. I am not saying that people should not question
their beliefs or the Church. However, the real question is, “Where
do you want to go from here?” Where do you want to go on a personal
level, and where would you like to see the Church go?
What I would like all people to understand is that when you are trapped
in the lower state of consciousness, it is very easy to go into the
extremes. However, when you to fall prey to this unbalanced reaction,
you will only make the situation worse. You see, in this situation everybody
has already suffered a great deal. The unbalanced reactions of wanting
to punish people or give up on religion will do nothing to diminish
the spiral of suffering. It will only reinforce that negative spiral.
As an ascended being, an Ascended Master, I am always first and foremost
concerned about the spiritual growth of everyone involved with a situation.
Therefore, I would like to provide a perspective that could potentially
help people create a positive spiral that could actually lead to a constructive
outcome.
I would like to see the many Catholics who are currently questioning
their faith end up with an even stronger faith in me and in my true
teachings. I would also like to see the Catholic Church go through a
period of reform that could realign it with my true teachings and thereby
enable it to meet the spiritual needs that people have in this day and
age, spiritual needs that are in many ways different from the needs
that people had 2,000 years ago.
What then could bring about a positive change, an upward spiral? First
of all, we need people to get back to a balanced perspective instead
of being caught in the unbalanced and extremist viewpoints. I understand
that many people are outraged, yet I encourage these people to channel
their anger into a firm resolve to see positive change and reform in
the Church.
I understand that many people are questioning their faith, not only
in the Church but in Christianity as a whole. I encourage these people
to realize that their faith in me should not depend on anything that
happens in the outer Church or the outer world. The main theme, the
main message, found on this website is that it is possible for people
to build an inner, personal relationship with me that is independent
of anything, and I truly mean anything, outside themselves.
I would like those who doubt their faith to realize that questioning
your faith can be the first step towards strengthening and deepening
your faith. We live in a rational age, and it is time for humankind
to move out of the state of consciousness in which people have blind
faith in their leaders or their outer organizations. If your faith is
a blind faith, you are likely to follow the blind leaders who will lead
you into the ditch.
In this day and age, it is more important than ever before to go deep
within your heart and make contact with your higher self, your Christ
self. When you make this inner contact, your faith will not be based
on the shifting sands of the outer world, or even your own outer consciousness.
It will be built on the rock of the Christ consciousness, of the Christ
self, that you can contact directly within your heart. This website
contains many teachings and techniques for developing a conscious contact
with your Christ self [link
1, link 2]. I strongly encourage
people to use these tools to build an inner faith instead of the outer
faith.
Take responsibility for YOUR Church
What I would like to see happen is that all people move out of the extremist
approach to the situation and develop a balanced perspective. The very
core of this balanced perspective should be a clear and uncompromising
recognition of the inescapable fact that it is time, and past time,
for the Catholic Church to go through some major changes.
Times have changed, and unless the Church changes with them, it will
inevitably become obsolete and collapse under its own weight. I have
given detailed teachings on why and how religions need to change elsewhere
on this website.
When you develop a balanced perspective, you realize that simply turning
certain priests or leaders into scapegoats will not resolve the real
problem. The sexual abuse performed by priests is not the real problem.
It is simply the effects of a much deeper, underlying problem that goes
to the very core of the Catholic Church.
Making certain people the scapegoats and punishing the scapegoats will
do very little towards resolving the underlying problem. This points
to another aspect of the unbalanced state of consciousness. This state
of consciousness always looks for an easy solution, an easy way out.
When people are in this state of consciousness, they don't really want
to change themselves. So when a problem appears that points to the need
for change, they want to find a quick and easy solution to the problem
so that the problem will go way and they don't have to go through the
deep, inner soul changes that are required to truly resolve the problem.
I must tell you that the reason why the sexual abuse by priests has
been systematically covered over by the leaders of the Catholic Church
is exactly this state of consciousness. Many leaders of the Catholic
Church realize that the Church has some severe problems. Yet because
they are not willing to go deep within themselves and go through the
necessary personal changes, they feel powerless to solve those problems.
They literally feel that there is no resolution to the problems of the
Church or that they are powerless to bring forth such solutions.
I must also tell you that the cover-up of the sexual abuse is not the
exclusive responsibility of the leaders of the Catholic Church. The
simple fact is that the leaders of any organization will to a large
extent be a reflection of the consciousness of the members of that organization.
There are millions upon millions of Catholics who deep within their
hearts realize that the Church has certain problems. Yet they are not
willing to openly recognize these problems because they do not want
to go through the necessary personal changes that are required in order
to truly resolve the problems.
So many Catholics have doubts about their faith, but they are not willing
to go through the difficult and sometimes painful soul work that is
required to resolve these doubts. Therefore, millions of Catholics simply
want to keep doing what they have been brought up to do. As I have said
in many places on this website, there is no automatic salvation. The
only true path to salvation is to attain Christ consciousness, and this
cannot be done by belonging to an outer organization and blindly following
outer doctrines.
So when a problem like this sexual abuse surfaces, many Catholics would
prefer to sweep the problem under the rug and go on with business as
usual. This tendency among the members of the Catholic Church is partly
responsible for the fact that the leaders of the Church did indeed attempt
to sweep this problem under the rug—and were successful for so
long.
The essence of the situation is that millions of Catholics know that
something is wrong and that the Church needs to change. Yet they are
not willing to take responsibility for the situation and realize that
any change in an outer organization must begin with an inner change
in the consciousness of the members and leaders of the organization.
If people are not willing to go through the process of creating this
change of consciousness, this change of heart, they will feel disturbed
when problems, such as sexual abuse, surface. They will look for an
easy solution that will make the outer problem go away so they can continue
to ignore the need for a change in consciousness.
Is there a way out of this impasse? There is indeed a way out, but the
question is whether a critical mass of Catholics will be willing to
follow this way or whether they will continue to follow the way that
seems right unto a man.
No easy way out
I am gratified that many Catholics have been awakened by the sexual
abuse scandal. I am gratified that so many people are calling for reform
in the Church and that so many are demanding a greater influence by
the members of the Church. This is truly a step in the right direction,
and I strongly encourage these people to continue with these demands
even after the media frenzy about the scandal has abated.
However, my real concern is whether the people, who today are demanding
reform and change, will be willing to go all the way to the root of
the problem. Will they be willing to go through the process of a change
in consciousness, a change in beliefs and culture, required in order
to solve the core problems of the Catholic Church? Will they be willing
to go through the process of creating outer changes in the Catholic
Church, a process that will be agonizing and require enormous changes
in church culture and in the outer organization?
Certain engineers or systems analysts are trained to point out and resolve
problems in organizations. These people often talk about different levels
of problems. Some are surface problems that are easy to solve while
others go to the very core of the organization. These latter problems
are often called systemic problems. I can assure you that the real problem
with the Catholic Church is not the sexual abuse by priests. It is only
one among many smaller problems that are caused by a problem, or rather
two problems, that go to the very core of the Catholic Church and the
culture and belief system upon which the Church is founded. These problems
are so integral to the Catholic Church that solving them will require
a dramatic shift in the culture and belief system of both members and
leaders of the Church.
The real problems facing the Church
There are two systemic problems that have affected the Catholic Church
from the very beginning, and even before there was a Catholic Church.
One of these problems is that the Church has been based on a misunderstanding
of my true teachings and of the true path to Christhood. This misunderstanding
goes all the way back to Peter and his denial of himself as one of my
followers. I have spoken in more detail about this problem elsewhere.
An offspring of this problem is that almost from the very beginning
there has been a tendency that the outer organization has been based
on the need to justify Peter’s decision not to follow me all the
way. Over the first centuries of the Christian movement, this caused
numerous subtle changes in the culture and belief system of the early
Christians. It led to the formation of an orthodox Church which claimed
that the path to salvation was not an inner, individual path but an
outer path that required membership of and allegiance to an outer organization
and an outer belief system. This led to the emergence of a Church which
claimed that the only road to salvation goes through the sacraments
controlled by the outer church.
This process eventually led to the formation of the Roman Catholic Church
with a fixed outer doctrine that is aimed more at supporting the outer
organization than at helping people understand the true teachings of
Christ. In other words, the outer organization itself suddenly became
more important than the true spiritual goal of helping people discover
the inner path to salvation.
I did not come to start a rigid outer organization that would do to
people what the Jewish temple priests had done to people. Did I not
say, “The kingdom of God is within you?” Did I not challenge
the Jewish leaders, and did not those leaders plot my crucifixion in
order to silence me?
If you will honestly examine my mission and my teachings, you will discover
that I did not come to establish an all-powerful outer church. I came
out of love for the individual soul, and I came to help each soul walk
the path that leads to salvation. To be the true church of Jesus Christ
on Earth, an organization must be focused on this goal instead of allowing
the power plays of the outer organization to become a goal in itself.
The ongoing human power plays
This then brings us to the second problem that goes to the very core
of the Catholic Church. Anyone who would make an effort to examine the
history of the formation of the Roman Catholic Church would discover
that from its very inception the Church has been heavily influenced
by human power plays, as clearly outpictured in the interaction between
the early Church and certain Roman emperors.
Because of these interactions, the Roman Catholic Church has, since
its very inception, been heavily influenced by an elitist culture which
has an insatiable desire for power and control. It is this elitist,
power-hungry culture which is responsible for the worst atrocities committed
by the Catholic Church, such as the Inquisition, the Crusades, the burning
of books and the massacre of the Cathars. It is also this culture that
is responsible for the fact that the Roman Catholic Church has systematically
distorted my true teachings and created a culture that is very far from
my true teachings and my true intent.
I am gratified by the fact that so many Catholics see a need for the
members of the Church to play a more active role and have more direct
influence on the workings of the organization. I would like to encourage
these people, yet I must bring a sense of practical realism to the issue.
If the members of the Catholic Church are to have any chance of ever
attaining a real influence over church matters, they must be willing
to recognize the existence, the motives and the modus operandi of this
power-hungry culture. They must be willing to confront this culture
and to make a very firm and determined stand against it. This will require
a very determined and very skillful effort, because I can assure you
that after 1,500 years this culture is firmly entrenched in the Catholic
Church.
Airing the dirty laundry
I can also assure you that in order to overcome this elitist culture,
it will be necessary to air all the dirty laundry of the organization.
It has been said that all power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts
absolutely. The sad fact is that for 1,500 years Catholics have believed
that the Church has the power to determine whether they go to Hell or
go to Heaven. Therefore, they have given church leaders absolute power
on Earth.
I can assure you that this absolute power has led to such a massive
abuse of power that most people could scarcely imagine it. I can assure
you that in order to transform the Catholic Church into a modern organization,
which can meet the needs of spiritual people in this age, you will have
to be willing to look at this abuse of power, to expose it for what
it is and to make a very strong demand that it be rooted out of the
Church. For this to happen, you would have to go all the way to the
top of the Church and expose the people who are ruling this Church behind
the scenes. This would require a massive effort.
I realize that I am painting a grim picture. Yet I can assure you that
both myself, my beloved Mother and many other members of the Ascended
Host would very much like to see the Catholic Church reformed and transformed
into a modern organization. Therefore, we would be more than willing
to support anyone with a sincere desire to bring about this reform.
I can assure you that the prayers of ordinary Catholics for sincere
reform of the Church would have a tremendous effect. However, prayer
in itself will not do the job.
Catholics must take an active approach
If the Catholic Church is to be reformed, Catholics must move out of
the passive state of consciousness in which they look to the Church
for leadership. They must realize that the true meaning of "church"
is not the outer organization or the outer buildings, no matter how
powerful the organization seems or how imposing the buildings are. The
true meaning of church is a gathering of people around the purpose of
bringing God’s kingdom to Earth. In other words, it is not the
organization and the buildings that form the church; it is the people
that form the church.
Therefore, Catholics must take on an entirely new mindset and realize
that if the Church is to be reformed, it must be reformed from within.
What I am saying here is that God will not reform the Catholic Church.
I will not reform the Church. The blessed Virgin will not reform the
Church. And I can assure you that the leaders of the Church will not
reform the Church, because if they had any intention of doing so, they
would have done so already.
The Catholic Church can be reformed only if the members of the Church
take an active stand and reform the Church. This reform must begin in
the consciousness of each individual member of the Church. People must
be willing to go through the transformation in consciousness whereby
they begin to see themselves as spiritual people, as sons and daughters
of God. They must be willing to look for and embody my true teachings.
I have given many teachings
on with this website that are specifically designed to help people,
Catholics and non Catholics alike, go through this personal transformation.
I am aware that some of these teachings will be very strong meat for
many Catholics. However, if you will honestly look at how certain teachings
were deliberately taken out of the Catholic Church, you will realize
that what I am giving here is not blasphemy or anathema. What I am giving
on this website is my true teachings. If you have any desire to create
a church that will survive in the new age, I can assure you that it
must be based on the rock of the true teachings of Christ and not on
the sands of man-made doctrines and dogmas.
Follow your highest love
I am indeed the real Jesus Christ, and I am giving this teaching in
an attempt to reach every Catholic who has an open mind and heart, every
Catholic who loves me more than the outer Church. Consider what is your
true love. Do you love an outer organization with all its pomp and circumstance,
or do you love the spiritual teacher whom you know as Jesus Christ?
If you know in your heart that you love me, then follow me. Follow my
true teachings instead of following the doctrines that were created
out of a desire for power and control. I recognize that this is a strong
message that will require some soul-searching by many Catholics. Yet
if you have read this message, it can only be because at some level
of your being you are ready for this message.
I am not asking you to follow any outer teachings. I am asking you to
go within your heart, establish contact with me and then follow your
inner directions. Follow your highest love. Seek me with a pure heart,
and you will find me. I will then show you what you can personally do
to serve my cause on Earth, whether it be through an outer organization
or in other ways.
I am the Good Shepherd and I am here to call you home. Your home is
not an outer organization. Your home is my Sacred Heart, and the key
to being in my Sacred Heart is to discover that you have a portion of
my Sacred Heart deep within your own heart.
Stop looking for me outside yourself.
Go within.
Knock on the door in your heart, and the door to the Christ consciousness
shall indeed be opened to you.
Related topics:
married priests, female
priests, how
religion must change in this age, how the Catholic Church is based
on Peter's mistakes,
teachings on how religious
organizations can adapt to a new age.
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Copyright
© 2003 by Kim Michaels |
