Anne Lastman

“Offering up” is the mandate of priesthood, and whilst the priest in his ministry is called to visit the sick, console those who weep, feed the poor, administer sacraments, all important works, his most important role is to “offer up” through sacramental identification with Jesus the High Priest, sinful humanity yet redeemed and bringing it in whole communion into the life of God. The priest who stands configured with Christ offering sufferings, humiliation, shame, sins of others. The sufferings of His Eminence for victims of clergy abuse and the  and abusers covered in the blood of Christ as atonement for the sin and pain caused.

The priest makes Christ omnipresent in our world, and unites himself in the voluntary offering up of sufferings which are shared and offered together with the Chief Shepherd Jesus.

Whilst we have the charisms called Monsignor, Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal and even Pope, these are charisms of governance with each working according to that state for the cohesion of the whole Church, these charisms are objectively different and even it might be said of the, secular variety because they are function and performance related.   However, underpinning the charisms of governance of the Church is the most important charism of all, priesthood.  Priesthood is to be configured to holiness because the work of priesthood is heaven related.

In his offering of his suffering, shame, humiliation, imprisonment for the sins of wicked shepherds and also for the healing of the wounded and abused victims, His Eminence Cardinal Pell has not exercised his charism of Cardinal Prefect for the Vatican Economy (governance) but has exercised his charism of priesthood. One of suffering, and united to Christ. One who loves the least amongst the flock (accuser). In this action Cardinal Pell has demonstrated visibly, what has befallen him, and verbally, his offering up of his sufferings for the healing of others and atonement for the sins of others, which is the mystery of his priestly vocation. Service and the sacramental dimensions of priesthood.

Cardinal Pell has visibly shown that he is a man of prayer and a firm and strong believer in intercessory prayer both in his service at the altar of sacrifice and the sacraments and the mystery of atonement which he celebrates, as priest, and further the mystery as mediator between the wounded and forgiveness.   

The media in all its forms (print/visual/social) which we know, even supported the victims and their supporters to travel to Rome to confront Cardinal Pell as he gave his evidence has been merciless and unrelenting in their attack against His Eminence and perhaps, we can see that this was because of his strong belief in the Church and all it stands for. His orthodoxy unquestioned.   

As I watched Counsel for the Royal Commission into sexual childhood  abuse and its representative Ms Gail Furness SC I kept being reminded of the Old Testament priest who laid his hands on the chosen “goat” and placed all the sins of the community on its head and then sent the goat out into the desert to die and so all sins of the community were expiated. (hence scapegoat).  Is this what Ms Furness was trying to do?   Lay all past sexual abuse sins by sinful priests on the head of Cardinal Pell? 

The anti-Catholic Church anti-Pell saga played out before the eyes of the world and was done with the sole purpose of bringing down Cardinal Pell, to make him pay. To humiliate him, to embarrass him and the Church and to call into question his position at the Vatican. One might again think of the scapegoating phenomenon. 

But we thank God that in due time he was exonerated of all charges.by High Court of Australia.  He was unanimously acquitted o and I was present on that day and heard him being declared innocent and to be immediately released from prison. 

My friendship with the Cardinal goes back over 30 years and it was he who 26 years ago, when he knew what I wanted to do,  (post abortion grief counselling and sexual abuse counselling) Without his help I could not have done it.  He kindly set me up with three rooms to practice from and much encouragement.  He understood that abortion grief is real and help for victims of this grief work is important. In due course every time I went to Rome and he was available we would meet for coffee and biscotti. A truly humble yet humorous man and one who also enjoyed talking about Australia.  For me he also kindly wrote a testimonial for my book on sexual abuse of children in family.  I appreciated his care.

As he is returning to Australia to be laid to rest, it is my hope that I will be present for him as he was for me.