Opus Bono Sacerdotii
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Opus Bono Sacerdotii

Vicars of Clergy Newsletter
A joint publication of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and St. Lukes Institute
July 2005, Number 22

          Do you remember where you were and what you did on February 12, 2003?  There is one priest who will never forget that day.  Here is his story:

           “On February 12, 2003 the police arrived at the door of the rectory, where I had been assigned as pastor for the previous seven years, armed with a search warrant for my computers.  A man working on our server discovered that I had been viewing child pornography on the Internet.  Less than 5 hours later I was placed on administrative leave and told to vacate the rectory and not go back there again.

            I had lived a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” existence. No one knew of my addiction.  I had friends and family in whom to confide, but I was too embarrassed to say that I needed help.  Each day I climbed into my tomb, rolled the stone in front of it, and got lost in my addiction.         I have often said that this experience is the best worst thing that has ever happened to me.  I certainly would not wish it on my worst enemy, but it saved my relationship with God and others. With family and friends immediately reaching out to me, I was directed to a treatment program.  At nearly the same time, I was introduced to Joe Maher of Opus Bono Sacerdotii.  These two programs, as well as my family and friends, saved my life at a time when I was feeling very alone.

At my arrival at the treatment program, I was asked why I had applied to enter.  I remember my answer well: “I don’t know what God has in store for me in the future. All I know is that I want to enter that future healthy in mind, body, and spirit.”   At this point, I realize that I am still tempted by the same feelings of anger and resentment, but I have new behaviors to deal with them. I’m on the road to recovery.  I believe that the Lord has said to me what he said to the friends of Lazarus, “Unbind Him and let him go free.”

Before leaving for the treatment program, I met Joe Maher and Pete Ferrara, the co-founders of Opus Bono Sacerdotii.  They listened to my story respectfully and non-judgmentally.  I could see in their eyes a true love of the priesthood, even in the life of a priest who had sinned. What I remember most about my first meeting was, as we prepared to leave, they asked me for my blessing.

Joe Maher was contacted by several of my priest-friends asking what they could do to help.  Joe responded that I would need money to retain legal representation.  He told them that if people made a contribution to Opus Bono Sacerdotii they would direct these funds for my legal defense. With this burden lifted, I was able to concentrate totally on my recovery.

During my treatment, I knew that Joe was only a phone call away and that he would be there to listen to me.  The support and unwavering encouragement, along with money to pay for my legal defense, were probably the most important services I received from Opus Bono…”

This is only one story of hundreds of priests Opus Bono has helped.  Opus Bono evolved from helping one priest in Joe Maher’s local parish in April 2002, to over 2,000 priests today, with an average of 4 to 5 new priests calling per week. Opus Bono provides assistance for priests who have been cut off from varied forms of support such as health insurance, car insurance, and fraternity with their bishop, family, friends, and active brother priests. Stipends are given to priests who need supplemental income when their salaries have been reduced. Most priests need canonical information and representation. So Opus Bono provides canon lawyers as well as assistance to priests who are involved with civil or criminal litigation. Through the OBS Lawyers Network, canon, civil, and criminal attorneys help priests by sharing their expertise.

Priests contact us for a variety of reasons.  Some have committed crimes; some have been accused; and others call because they need direction and have no where else to turn.  Through our referral network of psychologists and recovery centers, priests can get answers quickly about personal issues and receive professional help.    What is always needed is a listening and caring ear for a priest in shock who has been suddenly removed from the priesthood.  At times a priest will contact us in great financial need. Recently, Opus Bono helped fundraise half-a-million dollars for a priest’s criminal defense.  At the very least, the growing list of monthly Mass stipends given to removed priests in the amount of $100 to $200 helps preserve their dignity and sense of purpose. Through our outspokenness in the media, and especially through our website www.opusbono.org, we have tried to provide a calm voice in the discussion of sexual abuse. There are thousands of hits to the site on a weekly basis, and the number is growing. We reach out to priests through our priest-support networks such as our e-mail support group called Fidelity-Fraternity-Forever.  We also communicate by mail with priests in prison to provide some support.

Some bishops and religious superiors have now asked that we be the first contact for any priest being removed from ministry in their diocese or order. This makes our work more effective, since we are there at the beginning to help set the tone, assure that rights are being protected and appropriate support is given. We charge no fee for our services and encourage all bishops and clergy who need our help to contact us.

Most of all, over the past three years we have all learned to become more compassionate.  The human condition is so weak and fragile; we need to help each other in order to be healed. Not long ago, one of Opus Bono’s priest supporters told us, “Because priests are human, there will always be problems in the priesthood. But there has never been an Opus Bono Sacerdotii.”  We have learned that the illusion that these problems would one day just go away was shattered for us when the story of Opus Bono appeared in the April 4, 2005 edition of Newsweek.  That article encouraged many more priests to call and to ask for our help. And they did! It also helped us to realize that this is God’s work. We must be faithful to His Call that is most evident in the Gospels of Jesus Christ, and the authentic teaching of the Church.

(Contact Opus Bono at: 248-625-8500 or www.opusbono.org)