August 16, 2018, Blase Cardinal Cupich Archbishop of Chicago PO Box 1979 Chicago, IL 60690-1979 ‘Your Eminence, I thought I knew how thoroughly the face of Christ was disfigured by the Order of Bishops and predatory priests and how after 2002 the hierarchy and its clerics/religious turned the page on that disfiguration, This week, I learned I was wrong. Gravely wrong. ‘The Pennsylvania Grand Jury report shows the Church in an existential crisis. As for myself, and those I know who attend ‘mass regularly in the Archdiocese, we feel betrayal, lied to, hurt, anguish, frustration, anger and hatred, dismay, let down, foolish, stupid, powerless, and sense, no, hold a conviction that you, your brother bishops, and priests across this Archdiocese still do not — do not - comprehend this situation, the callousness, the lack of remorse and reforms, and a continued disregard for vietims. I'm aware that most instances of rape and abuse preceded the Dallas Charter in 2002; but ‘what has proceeded 2002 is a continuation of the secrecy, self-serving culture, and Christ-less behavior, of clerics ~ whatever their title. The root causes of abuse remain, The systems, procedures, and paramount of all, the secrecy especially of sex and sexuality remain where the light of Christ has been intentionally extinguished over and over and over again. My feelings come from a place that knows not what it’s like to be sexually abused. But I now know people whom have been groomed or abused in this Archdiocese. Each time these reports come out, because you have failed to act responsibly, ethically, as Christ — and the law — would have, you drive that erown of thoms deeper into the skull of Christ, who is enfleshed in these victims. Because I still believe in Christ — though your actions as a body of Bishops certainly have led many from him; and that millstone is around your neck, not theirs ~I write this leter. Iwill not contribute financially ~ to any appeal from you or your priests ~ until there's: (a) an independent lay review board overseeing the handling of abuse allegations; (b) a separate, transparent account for pastoral ministry, Catholic charities, teacher salaries, etc. overseen by a lay board, not a bishop; (c) a commitment to assist all victims, and dissolving all non-disclosure agreements; (d) that you ensure vital Church services, the actual Gospel mandate and Works of Mercy like soup kitchens, youth retreats, multicultural ministry, and myriad others ministries be set up financially in a separate, lay-administered fund that can't be touched for settlements, lawyers, or PR firms at your disposal. This model has been employed with success in the past vis-d-vis the Big Should Fund. ! would rather my parish, and every sanctuary in this Archdiocese be sold, brick-by-brick, to truly repay the crimes of bishops, priests and religious and support victims and/or their families, We cannot be about mission until you address this, We trusted you; our parents, and grand-parents trusted you. We deferred to you and believed you. Our faith in God was facilitated by you, and now this. You've disfigured the face of Christ, you have destroyed our identities, and our communion, and for what? So you could wantonly mutilate the words of Christ to dispense mercy on abusers but not, victims; justice in the here-after but not for people today? What spiritual patrimony is there for me to pass unto my children? Did saying the Liturgy of the Eucharist, imploring God to wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin, make these priests think they were absolved of punishment for criminal rape and sexual abuse? The Good Samaritan did not aid and abet the violent robbers and victimize the victim; but that’s how this has played out. You, the Order of Bishops, your internal structures and fundamental embrace of secrecy especially related to sex or sexuality has failed the mission of the Church, Christ himself, all the faithful and especially the thousands and thousands of victims of this failure most pronounced in sexual abuse, especially of minor children. Now the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in those places and circumstances where only through them can it become the salt of the earth. Thus every layperson, in virtue of thevery gifts bestowed upon them, is at the same time a witness and a living instrument of the mission of the Church itself "according to the measure of Christ's bestowal”... [Lumen Gentium, No. 33] conclude with the above quote from Lumen Gentium. I decided to write this letter after discerning where L, my Catholic faith, and that of my children go from here. A discernment aided in the failure of your priests to mention this crisis, to solicit prayers and support for victims, or to ask for forgiveness yesterday at the Feast of the Assumption; a feast rooted in bodily integrity. Please, I need you and other bishops to understand not only the existential and monumental issue that this is, but to understand that you who tarnished the lives of so many. And now the Roman Collar that you wear, the symbol of ‘your rank and of the Church cannot assist us, the Church itself, in being present or operative. The circumstances today, depict a Thomas Nast cartoon only it’s not an anti-Catholic caricature. It's our reality ‘The Church which is a mission, and is on a mission, cannot share the Gospel or the redemptive love of Christ Jesus, save souls, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or speak on behalf of the marginalized or oppressed in society because in isfiguring the face of Christ, in thrusting that crown of thorns on victims of sexual abuse, you have no trust, you have no credibility. You have to reform your systems, and structures, and attend to penance, reparation, civil punishment, a prioritization of victims and all of God's children over predator priests, secrecy, and the concern over scandalization. The scandal is here. It's horrific. For the love of God I implore you: for the victims, for the faithful, for the services and ministries provided on behalf of Jesus Christ and his Church, understand that things must change, and you must assist in ‘that change, now, and that cannot happen until you comprehend this and empower the laity to lead the renewal and healing, Sincerely, a lark Piper Parishioner, St. Barnabas Church ~ Chicago.