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COMPASSION FOR CLERGY SENTENCED BEFORE THEY WERE TRIED

By Lawrence M. Ventline

What a heart! Compassionate describes former CEO Joseph Maher of www.opusbono.org.

Sitting at a meeting where he recently addressed concerned parishioners, I felt some relief from this radiant family man who has gone to bat for clergy who have been sentenced to "limbo" before they've been tried in the sexual abuse fiasco confronting the church I love.

Someone really cares, I thought.

Unbelievable… Incredible that a companion on the journey takes seriously the compassion Christ shows. 

Maher, president and founder of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, for the good of the priesthood, goes beyond pigeon-holing labels of conservative, liberal, moderate, Republican, Democrat. 

He moves right into the heart of the Gospel with mercy and compassion for clergy. 

Love is served up here in this man who loves the priesthood and goes the distance to support and encourage those who are in trouble. 

"I'm not here to judge them" he is quick to say, even as he asks for the priest's blessing, as he did with me one Sunday afternoon as we talked on the phone about his mission, before he packed for Rome for the beatification of Calcutta's Mother Teresa.

Talk about transparency. He even shared his own personal conversion and "born again-like" experience after college days.

"The mission of Opus Bono Sacerdotii is to find solutions to the problems confronting priests in accordance with the authentic teaching of the Church and the Holy Father and his predecessors," the smiling, confident, faith-filled Maher says with enthusiasm.

Founded with two other businessmen and a Catholic priest in Detroit , Maher attends meetings of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, visits with heads of Congregations in Rome and consults with Avery Cardinal Dulles, among others advisors. 

No fly by night organization, Opus Bono Sacerdotii has a board of directors, a corporate attorney, and estimated expenditures of $913,909.98 for this past year, with $550,000 of that for insurance, legal fees, cost of living and other priest expenses, according to their 25-page handbook.

With offices on Jefferson Avenue along the Detroit River and Belle Isle in downtown Detroit , not far from the Archdiocese of Detroit, Adam Cardinal Maida thanked Maher for what he's doing, and appreciates the "zealous love for the Church and her priests" he bears.

"Let me know of any priests who are in trouble," Maher repeats often when he talks with individuals and groups. 

One accused priest was sitting next to him when he spoke recently in St. James Church in Ferndale , Michigan .

With a brief introduction of Opus Bono Sacerdotii, Maher fielded questions from participants with all the candor, compassion and understanding that one would expect from Episcopal shepherds.

And, he's good at what he does.

Admitting that bishops are not very good at being Shepherds, Maher is slow to criticize anyone. Perhaps his compassion spills from his ardent praying and groundedness in the Gospel.

Some dismiss Maher as conservative.

The much-loved John Dearden and his warning on labeling persons comes to mind: "If I have less money I'm conservative, but if I have a little more, I may be more liberal," I recall him saying once shortly after retiring as Archbishop of Detroit.

Maher has provided financial systems analysis and improvement for Fortune 500 companies like General Motors, Daimler Chrysler and Consumers Energy, along with serving as a senior level manager for the internet and entertainment industry in Beverly Hills, California, after he earned a Bachelor's of science degree in written communication and marketing from Eastern Michigan University in 1986.

Universal in nature, Opus Bono Sacerdotii is Catholic without a doubt. Catholic with a big Heart. Catholic compassion, coupled with mercy. 

For this priest, at least, Maher is a breath of fresh air. Fresh air that I haven't felt  since the Spirited Vatican Council of John Cardinal Dearden's days in Detroit when dialogue and input was appreciated, and brother priests would stand up for each other in solidarity.

(Lawrence M. Ventline, D.Min., a priest for 28 years on special assignment for the archdiocese of Detroit , is a psychotherapist,  author and decade-long columnist for The Detroit News: a Gannett Newspaper. Founder of Cura Animarum/Care of the Soul and Companions, he can be reached at 248 542-8835, Ext 16, LVentline5227@wideopenwest.com, and www.addiction-specialists.com).