We all know the bad news — so now it’s time for the good

1 min read
Worshippers hold candles at the beginning of the Easter Vigil at St. Louis de Montfort Church in Sound Beach, N.Y. in 2017. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Gretchen R. CroweIt’s been a frustrating year for the Church, with seemingly bad news on top of bad news. We can’t even get some comic relief.

During a recent Saturday Night Live skit about musician R. Kelly, who recently was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, comedian Pete Davidson called Kelly a “monster” — then went on to liken him to people of faith.

“If you support the Catholic Church, isn’t that like the same thing as being a R. Kelly fan? I don’t really see a difference, only, like, one’s music is significantly better,” Davidson said. “Look, I’m not saying it’s an easy decision, I’m just saying, you don’t know how good someone’s music is until you find out they’re a pedophile.”

It wasn’t just a crack at bad decisions, leadership or a particular scandal — it was a rip on believers and their beliefs.

Quick to respond, the bishops of the Diocese of Brooklyn wrote in The Tablet, the diocesan newspaper:

“Apparently, the only acceptable bias these days is against the Catholic Church. The faithful of our Church are disgusted by the harassment by those in news and entertainment, and this sketch offends millions. The mockery of this difficult time in the Church’s history serves no purpose.

“The clergy sex abuse crisis is shameful, and no one should ever get a laugh at the expense of the victims who have suffered irreparably.”

All of this is to say: Catholics are in need of some good news. And what better time to celebrate good news than when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ — the embodiment of good news.

It has become our custom over the past several years to seek out stories of conversion to share in our Easter issue — asking what drew you to the Catholic Church and why it felt like coming home.

This year, however, we’re changing it up a bit. This year, rather than asking for why you entered, we want to know why you are choosing to stay. Convert or lifelong Catholic — it doesn’t matter. We are simply asking you to share with us what is so important and meaningful about the Church that makes you never want to leave it, despite some of the failings of its human leaders.

These are the types of stories we all need to hear these days. We already know the bad news. Now we want to hear the good.

Kindly send your submissions to feedback@osv.com (with “Why I’m Staying” in the subject line) for consideration for publication our Easter issue, which this year falls on April 21. Submissions should be no more than 300 words, and the deadline to send in entries is Monday, April 1.

Thank you for considering being a part of this special Easter issue of Our Sunday Visitor. We look forward to reading about your love for our Faith. Your words and witness will help bring hope and renewal to a Church desperately in need of both.

 

Gretchen R. Crowe

Gretchen R. Crowe is the editor-in-chief of OSV News.