NEW ORLEANS - THE GRAPES OF WRATH

During the closing days of the Mardi Gras season, my old lady (R.W. as you might know her) asked me why I did not wish to participate in the festivities and refused to leave the house. My response was simple – the tragedies of New Orleans and more. As I looked with gloom at the crowds, I could not fail to remember the novel I was forced to read so many years ago, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. That novel of the Joad family and their attempt to overcome the devastation of the Great Depression was one of the most sobering novels I have ever read. Faced with the reality of the destruction of their crops and the need to find a way to live and support themselves the Joad family takes to the road as they travel to what they believe will be safety and a new beginning – California. On the way they find people who are returning from California having found no relief, they lose family members, and suffer other tragedies but somehow they continue on. In the final chapters we see some semblance of a future and an understanding of what can be done. As Katrina flooded this city, the Joad family and others are faced with a deluge that makes their future even more uncertain. Anger will give them courage. The rain will return wealth to the land instead of dust. The death of a newborn infant and his subsequent placement in the swelling rivers becomes a sign to others of the suffering of so many. We also see one character realize that one can put himself or herself in the service of the collective good, and that a woman’s feeding a starving man in an unusual manner shows that generosity and self-sacrifice are the greatest of virtues. Yes there is much more to this novel. In that novel are references to the bible and much more. Yet at this time to me it shows the state of New Orleans and perhaps the nation.

I see New Orleans as a dustbowl of disrepect for life, a city filled with hate, a city of corruption, and a city seeking to revive in the midst of the tragedies of Katrina and those that occur each day. However, like those characters in the Grapes of Wrath, we must allow our anger to become a united courageous effort, we must put ourselves in the service of all, we must expand our own generosity and self-sacrifice in order to renew this city.

Today the City Council held once again a meeting in which the main issue turned to that of race. Race is like the dust of Oklahoma in the Great Depression. Dust destroyed the crops on which the people relied. Dust caused people to leave their homes for better opportunities. Ethnic background issues will destroy this city unless the leaders and the citizens will face the reality that race cannot be a deciding factor in any decisions that are made. I read the hate filled postings on various sites and discuss them with RW and others. Somehow, we must take this form of dust that is hiding a valuable city, it must be blown away by the voice of unison, the voice that says we are one in purpose and we will no longer be a divided city and we will join together to overcome the violence, the anger, the division that has continued to destroy this city for generations, even before Katrina. Perhaps then the bodies of infants, teenagers, and others will not lie on the streets of this city. Perhaps then education will improve. Students will be encouraged to learn. Clergy will lead by example and prayer. Parents will see that their children learn respect for others and for themselves. Elected official will see that they represent all, not a select few. Perhaps, you may call me naïve and foolish. I called myself a person with hope. Let us all hope together.

A NEW BEGINNING

Plato said: “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” In this city we call home there is a greater need for people to reach out to others in friendship and to offer hope. The time has come to learn from the evils of the past and to let them rest. To take what we have learned and to turn this city around is a goal that all citizens should seek. Therefore, on this day some call Mardi Gras, others Fat Tuesday, and others Shrove Tuesday, let us all strive to become refreshed during the days ahead and to unify in seeking the solutions to the problems. May we look at our actions, assess them, and correct them. May we hold out our hands in friendship to all. May we offer our help to all. May we begin to inspire others to do the same. Perhaps we can begin a renovation of this city.

AN ISSUE THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE SIMPLY NEW ORLEANS

EVEN IN FAITH THERE MAY BE EVIL
Today in the Times Picayune I read the story of Regnum Christi’s leader, the deceased Marcial Maciel Degollado. The history of this individual has long been questioned and now some of the truth has been admitted by those who have succeeded him in leadership of Regnum Christi.
Without a doubt, this has devastated the members of this program in our area and others. However, the immediate result is not a destruction of their faith but an assault by individuals who have long ago given up their faith in the Catholic Church and blamed it on the issue of pedophilia of some priests.
Having known many priests over the years, including those in the episcopacy, from my early childhood until today, I will state that at no time did anyone of them make any advances to me as a child or as an adult. Now, evidence will prove that this is not true in all cases. However, the immediate presumption that all priests are pedophiles or in violation of their vows is wrong.
In our society there are many religions that face the same problems as the Catholic Church but few of them are so vilified as the Catholic Church. One must wonder why?
Do I agree with the acts of some members of the episcopacy that violated the trust of the members of the church by hiding the acts of these men? NO!!!! They should have taken immediate action to remove them from their positions and advised the proper authorities IF there had been a violation of the law, particularly that of pedophilia. This is the major mistake that the Catholic Church’s leaders made.
Now, they are attempting to overcome this by an extensive and exhaustive method of try to assess all priests, deacons, religious, and volunteers in the parishes. The exhaustive method chosen is unfortunately demeaning to many – both those who are clergy and religious and those who are lay persons. However, it is an attempt to disclose facts but it is not a guarantee that these issues will not arise.
In the case of Regnum Christi, the Church failed a long time ago to listen to disclosures and to take the necessary actions. The members of the movement, many whom I know, are well meaning individuals of faith and leaders in their parishes. This disclosure cannot be used to criticize them or to characterize them in a demeaning manner. The Catholic Church must reach out to them and apologize for its failure to take actions which should have been taken some time ago. Will the Regnum Christi and the Legion of Christ be destroyed? I do not believe so.
However, it is time for the Catholic Church to analyze its requirement of celibacy for ordination to the priesthood. It is time to recognize that those who are married and those who are celibate may both serve the Church as priests as well as permanent deacons. As the original priests of the Church were both married and single, so should the priests, bishops, etc., of the Church today.
However, one must remember that even this will not eliminate the issue of pedophilia and adultery, etc. that exists today. We see it also in other faiths. However, this may give the church more men who are willing to be vocal about certain issues than those who are now priests. I remember telling one priest to report what he knew and his response was that it might ruin his “career”. The call to the religious life, the priesthood, the diaconate, etc. should not be viewed as a career but as a personal call to serve those who are in need, whatever that need may be. If anything, I hope this will be taken in the manner in which it is posed – food for thought by all.

Sir Walter Scott once stated: “A sound head, an honest heart, and an humble spirit are the three best guides through time and to eternity” He also stated: “Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”. This week I have seen actions taken by the City Council, the resulting act of the Mayor, the legal decision relative to access by WWL-TV to public records, the failure of the Mayor and his staff to abide by the law, the order of Judge Ledet, the failure to abide by the order, the request for a contempt order, etc. In light of what I have read I can only say that the most applicable quote would be the second quote of Sir Walter Scott. The Mayor and his staff are weaving a tangled web which will further restrict the future of this city and the attempt of citizens to unite in an attempt to create a city which will welcome all. I have live through decades and not seen such hatred and contempt being expressed by the Mayor, his staff, and other of his supporters. This race baiting web of deceit is harmful to all people. One can only hope that justice will eventually result from the courts or a vote of the citizens of this city. It would be better, Mr. Mayor, if you were to follow the first quote above by Sir Walter Scott.

DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWERS?

Once again, I read the news and saw the continuation of the loss of life, not only in New Orleans but in surrounding communities. I checked my blog and discovered no one could answer the question I posed. I read on other posts about various clerics – the one in Austria who blamed Katrina on the moral status of New Orleans and the one in England who denied the holocaust. There were responses to those articles and many referred to the issue of pedophilia in Catholic clergy. Accurate, yes, but not the only issue that the Catholic Church and other denominations must face in this city of New Orleans. Why Catholicism can even be shown to have been racially divisive and discriminatory in Louisiana, and yes, New Orleans. Now, it will seek harmony, that which should have been in place for many decades. However, I blame the other denominations for the failure of harmony in this city also. Again I post the same basic question as to the cause of the loss of life and what has given such an impact to it in the city and the surrounding communities. What can we all do? I doubt that there will be any takers but there will be the anger posted elsewhere, an anger that must be smothered in order to create order out of the chaos that exists in New Orleans.

THE CAUSE OF HOMICIDES IN NEW ORLEANS

Well, I woke this morning to the pecking of RW on the keyboard. I need to send her to school to take course in use of the keyboard. They evidently didn’t teach her at that place on St. Charles. It was quite early and church services were not until later. I inquired as to her purpose and she roared about pay salaries of state employees and how much she was cheated out of because I made her retire. I reminded her that she made the choice and that she enjoyed her new job as a tour guide. She is still busy typing.
I took my laptop and checked the news. Yes, that woman has some valid points. However, I am more disturbed over the situation of New Orleans and the various crimes that have been occurring over the past few years. Floats are ready for parades, people are gathering at various sites throughout the area, and fun is on the minds of most. However, I believe that before the end of this day, death will have stalked the streets of New Orleans and blood will lie somewhere and destroy the celebrations of many.
I, myself, am trying to comprehend the cause of this disaster that continues to plague the city and now the surrounding parishes. Of course, we can blame it on Katrina and the resulting dispersion of so many. However, we cannot afford to blame it on any one ethnic group alone nor on Katrina. To me this is a result of generations of poverty, ignorance, immorality, lack of parental guidance, and yes lack of religious leadership. For the latter I will be highly criticized. Yet, history will show that religious leadership has failed to lead in the past and it has been a cause of the downfall of this city even today. Now that I have thrown this out to those who may read my missive, I would be interested in seeing some responses.