Holy water and ink can be quite effective against lies.
So went the thought last week as I read more developments in the priest pedophilia scourge and thought about ridiculous accusations that “the media” are deliberately sensationalizing the situation.
A saintly Roman Catholic priest came to mind, one whose work and demeanor seemed to personify cornerstones of the Christian faith – mercy and humility.
The Rev. Charles M. Magsam was 81 years old and a retired Maryknoll missionary when I met him in Corpus Christi, where he provided spiritual counseling. He was a peaceful little fellow. His hair grew in shiny platinum ringlets, and his countenance glowed as though made of light.
He was a highly experienced and well-educated counselor. He also practiced the ministry of deliverance, dealing with demonic harassment and helping people escape the flood of confusion that can fill lives during dark times.
Father Magsam had seen and dealt with horrific manifestations of evil during his years in Chile and other locales south of the border as well as in South Texas. His little tool kit contained a vial of blessed water. Spiritual agents of evil cannot tolerate that water, Father Magsam said, so he always gave them a good dousing when they were bothering his brothers and sisters.
Two stunning characteristics marked this soft-spoken, sweet soul. There was no discernible fear in him – just a comforting, understated cheerfulness – and he had a profound humility that gave him an ethereal quality, as though he were a holographic image and not there at all.
He thought of himself only when his needs could not be ignored. Hunger was satisfied with a thick slice of tomato for lunch; thirst called for a sip of water. Otherwise, he immersed himself in the needs of others. In fact, he passed away while counseling someone on the phone. His body was found seated in a chair in the cottage that housed his ministry, the receiver still in his hand.
I’ve thought about Father Magsam’s approach every day as more news develops regarding the priest pedophilia scandal that has splattered the American church, a monolithic source of social good, with rottenness.
The news media share a conviction with Magsam. He believed in the power and value of forcing a confrontation between lies and truth. So do we. His work was like ours in that it can provoke violent response and misunderstanding. There can be ugly, disgusting moments filled with howls of protest or seductively cherubic denial.
But, as Magsam taught, whatever must be tolerated for the sake of the confrontation is worth it; the confrontation is good, because sooner or later it will defeat lies if the motivation is to serve the greatest good. That is the media’s objective.
In bringing more truth to light in the pedophilia scandal by exposing lies and coverups that perpetuated attacks on children, the news media have been splattered with accusations of frenzied coverage. Nonsense, to put it politely.
I’ve read many U.S. news reports about this issue. I agree with Christine Chinlund – the reader advocate at The Boston Globe, where the pedophilia story broke last January – that coverage has been factual, well-documented, even-handed, and the product of commendably aggressive but fair and persistent inquiry.
The news media will follow developments in this scandal, and not because they have found a delightfully marvelous mountain of muck to rake. You may hear otherwise. Think twice about believing it.
The truth is that the media are confronting an evil on behalf of millions of people, including the many selfless priests who have been unjustly smeared.
We don’t need many tools for the job. Father Magsam had holy water. We have ink.
