A Strategy For Our Lady Of The Atonement

I've received more e-mails than usual about OLA in the wake of Dcn Orr's death and the archdiocese's report. Most have been unhappy at the continued relationship between Fr Phillips and the parish, on the basis that Fr Phillips, based on the archdiocese's report, minimized at least one report of abuse concerning Orr prior to his ordination. This was almost certainly due to a conflict of interest arising from a long-standing relationship of some sort between the two.

One visitor asked who Bp Lopes's superior is -- he is Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. However, given the Catholic principle of subsidiarity, I would work to resolve any issues at the lowest possible level, and it seems to me that this would mean talking with Fr Lewis, OLA's pastor, and the parish council before going even to Bp Lopes. My regular correspondent has outlined some of the problems involved in Fr Phillips's case:

However many bishops enabled priests who were abusing boys, the number of priests who covered for their colleagues and/or subordinates must be in the thousands. The vast majority of these priests "function...as a Catholic priest with full rights and privileges of the priesthood," or did so until their deaths. So Fr Phillips is hardly unique in this respect.

Bp Lopes was certainly between a rock and a hard place when he inherited Fr P. The uproar around Abp G-S's belated attempts to oust him completely indicates how disruptive this course would have been, not just locally but in the entire OCSP. One could make a case for house arrest, especially before details about Orr were public. Now that decision may have to be revisited, although Mr Orr's death has greatly simplified the situation.

I don't know the OLA parish very well, I've never been there, and I've never met anyone connected with it in person. In fact, several who e-mail me about it are former members who perhaps know the situation there only too well. Those who've left probably recognize their position is a minority, which adds to the difficulty. Any attempt to ban Fr Phillips now without carefully preparing the ground would again draw down press packages with pictures of Phillips and his adoring family, Phillips celebrating ad orientem in fancy vestments, statements from Mr Wilson, blah blah blah, the way things went in 2017.

So the first question I have is, "What particular itch do you need to scratch?" I think it's necessary to figure out an achievable, realistic goal that seems reasonable. I think you could preface any efforts by saying the archdiocese's report has changed the circumstances, and we know better now that Fr Phillips had some involvement and knowledge of Dcn Orr's abuse -- now come to light via the 2019 report-- than was known to the public in 2017.

Given this, it might be worthwhile to take the position that Fr Phillips's presence at the parish, saying masses or otherwise, is more extensive than now seems appropriate, in light of what we've learned. I would simply try to sit down with Fr Lewis, put that out, and ask if he can think of ways to dial things back. Again, I don't know the specifics here, which is another way of saying I don't know what particular itch needs to be scratched. But I would certainly proceed with a realistic set of fairly limited goals. If input can be had on potential remedies from knowledgeable sources in the archdiocese or elsewhere, so much the better.

At that point, given subsidiarity, I'd let Fr Lewis try to work things out with Bp Lopes and Fr Phillips as best he thought appropriate. Naturally, it would help if any group or individual trying to accomplish this is already known to Fr Lewis for strong financial and volunteer support of the parish, and is recognized as solid. My understanding is that under Fr Phillips, membership on the parish council was entirely appointive, but I don't know if this has changed. Again, given subsidiarity, the parish council would normally be a good vehicle to work any issues.

Contentious parish situations aren't healthy. My wife and I know this first hand. Sometimes it's important to draw a line and ask what our real priorities are -- do we want "thees" and "thous" inserted into the mass by a Viennese professor so badly that we'll tolerate all kinds of other bitterness? Certainly I've heard from very good people who made that decision about OLA in past years and seem to have moved on quite well.

If you're in the minority and it doesn't look like you can fix the situation, the best thing, I think, especially if you're laity, is to look to your spiritual welfare, leave quietly, and find a parish that better meets your needs. Trade off thee and thou and ad orientem for better companions and peace and quiet! As our pastor puts it, sometimes Plan B is better than Plan A, and sometimes Plan C is better than Plan B.

But in the end, I simply don't know the situation at OLA very well, and I'd simply start with Fr Lewis.