To the editor:
There is a crisis at St. Andrew Parish in Westwood. By “crisis” I mean the time has come to make a decision.
The Greek root of the term “crisis” refers to a time when a difficult or important decision must be made. In medical terms, it characterizes the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, leading either to recovery or death.
Since August 28, 2018, St. Andrew’s has been without a pastor or even a parish priest. Our pastor stepped aside as an investigation from 2004 was reopened as a result of new information and an “abundance of caution” by Cardinal Tobin.
Since then, the laity in the pews have continued to celebrate the liturgies, provide social services and outreach, and grow our community as would be expected of a people of faith. Our model has been, and will continue to be, the early church.
On Wednesday, June 5, six members of our church and Fr. Sean Manson, our current administrator, attended an informational session to commit to Healing our Church, an archdiocesan response to the twin crises of sexual abuse and the coverup by the bishops. These small group listening sessions encompass both the active engagement of the laity, as well as lifelong faith formation, two of the six pillars Cardinal Tobin has defined as “Forward in Faith Together” which are crucial to the Church’s future.
The decision facing St. Andrew’s is to create a new culture welcoming all and respecting all as equals, or to continue the denials and deception, which are destined to fail.
I invite the laity to discover and claim their role in helping to rebuild and heal the Church alongside our cardinal in Newark and our pope in Rome.