Easter 2C: Virtus as a Sign of New Life

Well, the church is in the news and on the front page of the paper again.  I certainly don't enjoy reading articles about how well or how poorly the church has responded to incidents of sexual abuse.  But gratefully I know that the year is 2010, and we here at Holy Cross, and we of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas have made significant efforts over the past 5 years to educate ourselves on how to protect and care for our children, especially from sexual abuse.  We have set ourselves to the task of living our Catholic faith authentically through the implementation of what is known as our Virtus program.

This may not sound like much of a topic of an Easter Season homily, but the dynamic of coming to understand, and working to prevent any type of abuse against children is not unlike the process of coming to recognize Christ as present in the resurrection.  The joy that is the birthright of each child is the very same joy that we are given at Easter time.   Today's scripture lays out for us the process that Thomas went through as he strove to grasp the enormity of a new life in Christ, the joy of a life that extends beyond the veil of death into supernatural life.  And Thomas simply wasn't ready to accept that reality on the word of his friends.  He couldn't see it.  He wanted proof, tangible proof that in Christ God had shown that life continues beyond death.  He experienced the joy of the Risen Christ in community, not alone.  Christ came to the gathered community; most probably they were breaking bread, dining together, remembering his final words at that last supper, his tragic death, the stories of his miracles.  It is then that they encountered the Risen Christ.  But the joy grew within them gradually, over days and weeks and months and even years.  Along with the joy came healings, signs and wonders.  The people esteemed them……bringing the sick and all those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Christ wants each person here to experience his Easter joy.  Christ wants healing to come to all.  As I reflect on the past 6 years since our bishops passed their Charter for the Protection of Children in Dallas, I can see how much I personally have learned by my participation in the Virtus Program.  I am here to say that for me the program has been an eye opener, an Easter experience for me, a chance to move from misunderstanding to awareness, an opportunity to learn the dynamics of how the sin of sexual abuse happens.  The sad fact is that estimates across our culture are that one in five women and one in six men have been sexually abused as a child or a teen by an adult.  This has happened in homes, churches, schools, libraries, automobiles and any place where an abuser is able to gain the trust of a vulnerable child.  What we have learned in our Virtus program is the absolute necessity as a church to recognize the signs of abuse, to monitor access to our children and our programs, and to communicate our concerns when we have them.  This is why all priests, sisters, teachers, coaches, catechists, classroom aides, and volunteers who work with children are required by the charter, and by our archdiocese to participate in the Virtus Program.

We are learning to be ever more vigilant in caring for our children.  We strive to communicate our concerns immediately.  We work hard to monitor access to our buildings and programs. Can we do this alone?  Of course not!  Protecting children is a community responsibility.  The fact of the matter is that each one of us whether parent, neighbor, grandparent or friend is charged with doing all we can to make sure our children are safe.  We need all of you to assist us in this process.  The Virtus training is required for all who work or volunteer with children, and it is recommended for everyone.  Just call the office and we'll get you started. 

Paul Ashton of the www.VirtusOnline.org program states it beautifully:

"The job of every parent and teacher is to do everything possible to ensure that children are always able to find and access joy. Creating an environment of safety and security allows ….creativity to flow; the sharing of music and laughter that always results is a sure sign of the resurrection and Jesus’ triumph over suffering and death.

We might all do well this Easter to think about the joys of our own childhood and perhaps relive a few of them with the children in our own lives……. climb a tree with them, make up a story, build with blocks, invent a sandwich, dig in the dirt.  What better way to celebrate God’s love for us this Easter than to find the joy in our hearts that we once had as children. Sharing this joy with others is what the resurrection is all about.

The Holy Spirit is opening our eyes so that we can more perfectly care for our children.  As a community let us celebrate the children entrusted to our care.  Their joy is a sure sign of the resurrection.  May it be our joy too!