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Father Kenneth W. Schmidt

painting

An Imperative to Be Healers

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Twenty years after the Catholic Church in the United States self-imploded due to a heightened and appalled awareness of the extent of child sexual abuse at the hands of clergy, we know more:   • It’s not just a problem in the United States.   • It’s not just children who have been harmed.   Read More
reflection

Should I Go to a Counselor?

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Many years ago, I had a period of major depression. I was only working one hour a day and yet convinced that I did not have a problem. I proved that “denial” is not just a river in Egypt. It was easier to fool myself because I was away at graduate school, so my “not Read More
reading Bible

Preaching for Encounter

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A couple of years ago, I participated in a program designed to improve the preaching of Catholic priests, hosted by the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics and funded by the Lilly Endowment. I was quickly brought up short when I realized that I could not even articulate my expectations or goals for a Sunday Read More
counseling

Father, I Need to Talk

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Perhaps they call you and want an appointment because they “need to talk.” Or maybe you’re uncomfortable as someone pours out their heart to you while standing in the aisle of a grocery store. Or even perhaps you ask someone politely, “How are you?” and they proceed to tell you something quite personal! What do Read More
brain

Some Thoughts on Clericalism

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Not infrequently, Pope Francis has challenged us to avoid clericalism. The recent Vatican report about Theodore McCarrick raised clericalism as a concern for the Church, not just the behavior of one person. But what is clericalism? “Clericalism arises from an elitist and exclusivist vision of vocation, that interprets the ministry received as a power to Read More
LIVESTREAM MASS

Normalcy: A Year Later

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“I can’t wait for things to get back to normal.” That’s what I’ve said to myself. But what does that mean? What do I think that’s going to be like? A year has passed and we’re still not there. I still look forward to the day when things like physical distancing, face masks and sheltering Read More
wedding

Being the Priest for Your Family

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Your cousin asks you to witness her wedding. Your father wants you to talk to your mother about their marital difficulties. Your brother is upset and asks you to hear his confession. You want to buy a piece of property from your aunt. Your sister asks you for a loan to make the down payment Read More
PENNSYLVANIA CHURCH

The Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse

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The trauma was not only caused by priests; it includes all clerical orders and other Church personnel. It’s not just a problem in the United States or the Northern Hemisphere; it’s worldwide. It’s not only sexual abuse. We now recognize that power, position and a presumption of privilege can result in sexual, verbal and emotional Read More