Revelations 12

by De Freitas

  Fr. Simon left Archbishop Donahue’s office and drove the short distance to Assumption Church. He entered the parish office and greeted Fr. Thomas, who had filled in for just over six months for him. He could see, in the short time that Fr. Thomas was there, the positive changes he had made. He thanked him and settled down to his work. As he was going through his mail, he instantly recognised Bishop Mark’s handwriting on an envelope.

  Dear Fr. Simon;

  I pray this letter finds you in good health.

  I have been following your introduction into the priesthood closely. I guess, like your life, it has been dramatic, to say the least. You have gone overnight from the newest member of our clergy to its most famous. I am in no position to cast judgement on your actions, but I will say they are entirely understandable and you will always have my support.

  I would like us to continue to keep in touch. Please understand that there are powerful forces within our church and we must not discuss sensitive matters by telephone. You have my address. Please feel free to write me at any time, destroy this and all future letters you receive from me.

  God Bless;

  Bishop Mark

  Fr. Simon held the letter to a candle. Over the coming years he relied heavily on Bishop Mark’s guidance. The young priest settled in quickly. He adopted the same style as Fr. Mark, where he would stand at the door after Mass and see all the parishioners as they left. He got to know many of them personally and, like he did with the elderly in Sidon, he built up profiles and put them in touch with each other. The most dramatic change Assumption Church saw was in its attendance numbers. Fr. Simon ordered additional seating to be installed and many badly needed renovation projects were completed within budget around the church.

  It was tiring but rewarding work for the young priest; there were not enough hours in the day. He was up before sunrise and started each day by going for a run. It did not take long for Archbishop Donahue to recognise the potential in him. He possessed all the qualities that make exemplary priests. He had outstanding communication skills and connected with his parishioners. People started writing articles in the local papers, regarding the inspiration they got from his sermons, but most of all, Archbishop Donahue was in awe of his interpretation of the Bible.

  Prior to their regular meetings, he chose verses from the Bible that he wanted to discuss with Fr. Simon. He could not understand how a new priest was able to simplify God’s message into everyday language that people could relate to. Because of Fr. Simon, Archbishop Donahue and Bishop Mark kept in regular contact over the years, and the two men became quite close. In April 2001, Bishop Mark was appointed Archbishop of St Louis.

  The seemingly, never ending allegations against the church continued, both in Ireland and around the world. The Vatican was unable to change the news cycle and it was clear the media coverage had impacted church attendances and the trend seemed irreversible. Fr. Simon, not only had name recognition because of the incident at the hotel but also due to the fact that almost every year he finished in the top twenty for his age group, in the Dublin ten kilometrers run. The local news media loved him and were always there to have a word with him when he crossed the finish line.

  July 2006 marked the tenth anniversary for Fr. Simon at Assumption Church. He crossed the finish line of the Dublin 10K run, in what for him, was a disappointing personal time. However, the media was there as always. While he was being interviewed, some members of his congregation presented him with a plaque, in recognition of his ten years of work in the community.

  The following morning, at the Archbishop’s house in Dublin, a group of senior clergy had gathered to welcome Cardinal Giovanni Bertello who was considered, by age, to be the most senior Cardinal in Rome. While they were having lunch, a short clip of Fr. Simon being presented with the plaque was shown on the local TV station. It caught the eye of Cardinal Bertello straight away. From his point of view, it offered a welcome break from the constantly negative TV coverage of the church. He also recognised Fr. Simon as the priest who had been involved in the hotel fight. He asked about him and Archbishop Donahue put it simply.

  “Your Eminence. He is the only priest I am aware of that has increasing attendances at Mass.”

  Cardinal Bertello raised an eyebrow. “What’s his secret?”

  “I have often wondered this myself. I believe he possesses a way of simplifying God’s message and delivering it in a way that his congregation relate to. He just has this natural way of connecting with people. I have celebrated Mass with him on a number of occasions. His parishioners listen and do not drift off. At the end of Mass he greets each of them by name as they leave. You would not have noticed, but in the news clip you just saw, quite a few of his parishioners took part in that race with him. In fact, there are a few elderly amongst them that entered and walked the entire ten kilometres. Fr. Simon has got the race organisers to cater for them. There are frequent stops along the way, where they can sit and get a drink if they choose.”

  “Very interesting. I would like to meet Fr. Simon,” said Cardinal Bertello.

  “Your Eminence,” said Bishop O’Reilly from County Armagh. “You are only in town for a short while and we have a full schedule today. Perhaps another time would be more appropriate.”

  Cardinal Bertello paid no attention to the words of Bishop O’Reilly and waved his hand in a dismissive fashion.

  “Archbishop Donahue, you obviously know Fr. Simon very well. I want to meet him this afternoon.”

  “Yes, Your Eminence. I will call him immediately and ask him to come over. He is not far away.”

  “No, I want the two of us to visit him. We will leave straight after lunch. I would like to see his church and the job he is doing there.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Fr. Simon was in his office when he heard a knock on the door. He opened it and was shocked to see not just Archbishop Donahue but also recognise Cardinal Bertello.

  “Fr. Simon, I would like you to meet Cardinal Bertello. He is on a brief visit from Rome.”

  “Your Eminence, it is an honour to have you visit Dublin and, even more so, that you have found the time to visit our church. Please come in. I was not expecting you so my office is a little untidy and we are just completing the last of the renovation work outside, but come on through. I have just put the kettle on.”

  “Thank you, Fr. Simon. It was not in my schedule to visit you. However, we were having lunch earlier on when I saw you on the TV.”

  “Of course, yes. My legs have not quite recovered yet but I really enjoyed it, even though it was not my best race.”

  “The reporter obviously follows you closely. He knew you were more than two minutes off your personal best. Do they interview you every year?”

  Fr. Simon nodded. “Yes, it’s become a bit of a tradition. Last year a local company even offered to sponsor me if I wore a cap with their logo on it.”

  “I think it is wonderful, Father, to see such positive coverage of the clergy. Archbishop Donahue said many in your congregation, both young and old, take part with you. It must be a wonderful experience.”

  Cardinal Bertello stood up and looked around the office. He picked up the black and white wedding photo on the shelf.

  “You look a lot like your father,” he commented. “And this children’s Bible, looks to have been well used.”

  “Yes, I was given it as a gift for my first birthday. My mom used to read it to me every night so, when I left to come here, I couldn’t leave it behind.”

  Cardinal Bertello picked up the plaque from the desk and examined it. “You must be even more proud to have received this yesterday?”

  “Yes, that was such a nice gesture by the parishioners. It more than made up for the disappointing time I ran!”

  Cardinal Bertello smiled and looked at Fr. Simon closely; he was fit and healthy looking, with blue eyes a
nd jet-black hair that was broken with a tinge of grey on the sides. He presented the perfect image the Cardinal was looking for.

  Over the next hour, Cardinal Bertello asked Fr. Simon many increasingly difficult questions. He wanted to get his views on marriage, contraception, abortion and church history to judge the young priest’s response. The questions got more pointed when he asked about the incident in the hotel. All the while, the Cardinal was assessing not just Fr. Simon’s answers but the words he chose, the tone of his voice, his body language and the eye contact he maintained. Eventually, he asked Fr. Simon to take him around the church and show him what changes he had made. Archbishop Donahue was silent throughout but wondered why the most senior Cardinal in Rome would spend this much time speaking to someone considered a junior member of the clergy.

  One year earlier, in April 2005, Pope John Paul II, who served as the Bishop of Rome for twenty seven years died. Unfortunately, much of the abuse by the clergy had happened under his watch. It was hoped by many, both within the walls of the Vatican and the wider Catholic community, that the election of a new Pope would mark a new beginning for the church.

  In 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger succeeded Pope John Paul II and became the new Bishop of Rome. He took the name Pope Benedict XVI. For many who had seen the decline in the church knew he did not represent the change that was needed. At seventy-eight years of age, he lacked both the will and energy to take on the task of reform. He very much represented the conservative old guard.

  There was deep division, thousands of the dedicated members of the clergy were left disappointed with his appointment. For them the two pressing issues within the church were number one, to defrock and hand over to the authorities the monsters who were within their midst and secondly, to carry-out the much needed reforms of church doctrine.

  It was against this backdrop, after his meeting with Fr. Simon, that Cardinal Bertello returned to the poisoned atmosphere within the walls of the Vatican. Along with Bishop Donahue, they gathered a trusted group of Cardinals. Something had to be done to improve the image of the church.

  Cardinal Bertello had longed for reform. From the time he served as a priest to the present day, he had dedicated his life to serving people. He and many of his fellow clergy were powerless as they looked on at the shame that was brought to the institution they loved. As the senior Cardinal, he now had a level of influence that, if used wisely, he could make a positive difference, but he was under no illusion. He knew he was up against powerful forces that wanted to retain the status quo. A year earlier, he had made many enemies when he tried and failed to get a younger, more reform-minded Pope elected. His only option now was to put a fresh face before the public and what better place to start than in Ireland where so many of the clerical abuses had been committed.

  Before leaving Dublin, he visited Irish News Television (INTV) and obtained copies of all the interviews they had done with Fr. Simon. Some were just a few words to the effect of ‘well done, Father’ after crossing the finish line, to brief chats that lasted a couple of minutes. As the years went by, they tended to get a little longer, but in every one he handled the questions with dignity and class.

  All of the cardinals at the meeting had heard of Fr. Simon, because of the incident at the hotel, but knew nothing else about him. Cardinal Bertello told the gathering of his meeting with Fr. Simon and Archbishop Donahue. He outlined the work he had done over the last ten years in Dublin.

  After a couple of hours of discussion, the agreed plan was to return to Ireland and set up an interview with INTV, which commanded the largest viewing audience in Ireland. The interview was to be aired live. However, the possibility for embarrassment would be removed, as the questions and answers would be entirely scripted. Within a week of visiting Fr. Simon at his parish, Cardinal Bertello and Archbishop Donahue were again in Dublin knocking at his door. They sat in his office and asked his thoughts on doing an arranged interview. Two weeks later INTV had been approached, an interview agenda was set and agreed after numerous changes to the questions. The interview was scheduled for 8pm on Sunday night to maximise TV audiences.

  Fr. Simon was initially apprehensive. He had never done anything like this before, but he studied the script given to him closely. As the day of the interview approached, his nerves had subsided somewhat. As requested, he arrived at the INTV studio two hours ahead of schedule. He was given a brief introduction to the layout of the set and the cameras that would be used, after which he was taken to the makeup room where he was given some final advice. About half an hour’s drive away, at the Archbishop’s house, Cardinal Bertello, Archbishop Donahue, and a few other members of the clergy were glued to the TV.

  3…2…1…live!

  “Good evening. My name is Eoin O’Connor. My guest tonight is Fr. Simon Holman, who has been the parish priest for over ten years at Assumption Church on the outskirts of Dublin. Welcome to the show Father.”

  “Thank you for having me.”

  “Father, you are originally from the small town of Sidon in Mississippi. I’d like to take you back to your roots. I understand you lost your father during the Vietnam war. Please tell us about your childhood.”

  Fr. Simon did well not to act surprised. This was not in the agreed list of questions.

  “Yes. Unfortunately, I never knew my father, I was an only child, I was raised by my mother, Martha, on the outskirts of town.”

  “Your father was from a military family going back generations. It is a little unusual for you to become a priest – no?”

  “From an early age, my mother made me promise that I would not join the military. The death of my father was very difficult for her and she would not have been able to cope if something happened to me.”

  “Tragedy has been very much a part of your life hasn’t it, Father? From what I have been told, a girlfriend, your pregnant fiancé and your mother were all murdered by your aunt, who committed suicide. This would have turned many away from God, how did you keep your faith?”

  With this question, Fr. Simon knew the interview agreement was certainly broken and television ratings were more important. A few miles away at the Archbishop’s house, they watched in horror. None of them were aware of Fr. Simon’s past. Cardinal Bertello held his head in his hands.

  “What have I done?” he whispered.

  “Keeping my faith was a challenge of course, but that is what life is about for all of us. The Bible is littered with stories of men whose faith was tested by God and each of us have to face, to varying degrees, the things that happen in our lives that test our faith. No one is exempt from this. May I add for people watching, that it is understandable if, due to personal tragedy, your initial reaction is to drift away from God for a period of reflection. However, these things are always easier to overcome if we keep our faith. When we come back to God, we realise there is a higher purpose. If we hold onto our faith, as the years go by, the sadness subsides to an extent. You look back and understand things do happen for a reason.”

  Eoin O’Connor stared at Fr. Simon. He was not expecting such a comprehensive answer. “Father your introduction to the priesthood was far from normal. You attacked a fellow member of the clergy in a hotel here in Dublin. I’d like to play for our viewers, who have not seen it, the CCTV footage of you leaving the hotel following the attack.”

  Fr. Simon thought, this is bad, it can’t get any worse. He watched, along with millions, the footage of him walking briskly out of the lobby with blood clearly visible on his clothing.

  “Fr. Simon, you have never admitted nor denied the reason behind this assault. However, there were numerous allegations in the past about this particular priest. In fact, while we are being honest, let’s name him… Fr. Michael Aaron. After this incident, many who are now adults, came forward with very believable accusations against him. One of his acolytes spoke out recently. He said he told you what had been done to him b
y Fr. Michael and you immediately left and went to the hotel that evening. As you may know, Fr. Michael was taken from his hotel room, his face covered in blood, with a fractured eye socket. More than ten years have passed and I’d like to give you the opportunity to finally confirm what everyone knows happened.”

  Fr. Simon paused and thought how best to answer the question. “I would just like to say to everyone, it was a moment of weakness on my part. I should not have done what I did. After the incident, I apologised to my superiors for my actions. I let myself down, as well as the institution I represent, there are better ways to deal with things like that and what I did was wrong.”

  “Father you say there are better ways to deal with what that priest did, but is it not a fact that this is happening in every country throughout the world? Nothing is being done about it and it is putting people off the Catholic faith.”

  “Those are all encompassing statements you have made, Mr O’Connor. I do not fully agree with them. Of course, there is no excuse for the actions of some members of the clergy. They must be defrocked and dealt with according to the law in whatever country the offence has taken place. Regarding your last point, you are partially correct when you say their actions may have put many people off from going to Mass. However, for others, it is worse, as it may have entirely cost them their faith. We should do everything through the church to encourage them back to God.