Q: Scandals can arise in the Church anytime. They may pertain to priests, nuns or to anybody. How should Catholics take these scandals?

A: They should be guided by the truth and should not be scared of the truth. Truth will set us free, no matter where it is, where it comes from. All of us should live honourable lives. We have to protect life and live it with heads held high. From the very beginning of the Church and in the very life of Jesus, there were scandals. His own disciple betrayed Him, another denied Him. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:13, “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in un- belief.” We are not afraid of scandals and mistakes, but acknowledge them and honourably march ahead. We should have an attitude of acknowledgement. We are human beings who are naturally weak and frail. Yeah, we are a confessing and a con- verting Church. We are converted in the church and are converting others. We are con- verting, transforming and renewing ourselves. The Church is ever renewing. The Spirit of God is ever renewing us.

Bp Henry D’Souza
Bishop of Bellary