The following is a major excerpt from “pastor’s notes” that was written by Father Larry Percell, pastor of St. Nicholas Parish, Los Altos, and was published in the parish bulletin there.
By Father Larry Percell
The following is based on my homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter. On the Sundays of the Easter Season this year, the second reading came from the Book of Revelation.
John wrote from exile on the Island of Patmos because he refused to bow to Rome and call Caesar “Lord.” So he was banished, and his fellow Christians left behind were being persecuted.
Naturally questions arose: Why would God allow such good people to suffer? Why do evil people prosper? Who will have the final victory: God or God’s opponents? Those questions were raised in ancient times, and they are still raised today.
Persecution still threatens Christians in parts of the world today.
Perhaps the more visible wounds in the Church right now are the internal wounds from the pain and humiliation caused by the scandals we are enduring in many dioceses throughout the world—wounds from the betrayal many children have suffered at the hands of priests and bishops who covered up and moved priests around on the bad advice of members of my former professions, psychiatrists and psychologists, who thought that these priests could be cured.
The Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature; apocalypse means “unveiling.
Once again, the media are unveiling the evil and misguided actions in the Church; and well they should because a culture of secrecy and discretion has allowed this to continue for too long and too many have been badly hurt in the process.
Sometimes we priests don’t speak out openly on this subject because we don’t want to offend anybody. When we do speak out openly, some will agree with us and some will not. But we dare not keep silent now. People count on us and want to know where we stand.
As painful as these revelations are, they are necessary and can lead to change and reform. I believe a blueprint for reform has already been written: The Second Vatican Council and the 2002 Dallas Charter.
Vatican II called on the pope and the bishops to act in a collegial way

and listen to each other. Communication should not be one-way, top down.
Vatican II also called diocesan bishops to have pastoral councils made up of lay people, mothers and fathers, so that they are not just listening to priests.
Whenever one homogeneous group is talking in isolation, they are susceptible to group think.
The 2002 Dallas Charter, which is supposed to guide all dioceses in the United States, can be extended to dioceses all over the world, with its guidelines for the protection of children and vulnerable adults and lay review boards.
There is sin in the world and in the Church, and we cannot save ourselves from it. Only God can and has in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
After Jesus’ resurrection, he breathed his Spirit upon his disciples; and soon it became clear that discerning the truth would be challenging but not impossible.
The Acts of the Apostles, which we have also been listening to during the Easter Season, shows us in many places the value of diverse, even dissenting, voices in the ongoing conversation that will keep the community viable and healthy.
The Book of Revelation focuses our eyes on what is to come—what God will do to bring about the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
The world’s seeming indomitable powers, despite present appearance, will be overcome. The Church’s way of operation can change and be based on humility and transparency.
While some may not agree with me, I think that Pope Benedict can lead the way. But some in Church leadership will have to surrender power and that is not easy.
But in the Eucharist, we celebrate the ultimate act of surrender and selflessness of Jesus that empowers us not to be attached to anything except God and God’s loving plan for all.
• Father Percell, a widower who was ordained in 2003, had previously been a seminarian, then a husband and father. He earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology and from 1974 to 2000 worked as a mental health consultant to the criminal justice system in San Mateo County. This included evaluating sex offenders for the Court. He also was an adjunct faculty member at St. Joseph College Seminary and St. Patrick Seminary for a total of 25 years.