The Walk Humbly Podcast – Episode 25

Seminarian visits, seminarian formation, failure of the Born-Alive Act, release of names of clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the Diocese, summit in Rome on abuse crisis

February 28, 2019

This week's episode of the Walk Humbly Podcast includes:

• Bishop Burbidge speaks about his recent visits to seminarians of the Diocese of Arlington and his relationship with them. He also talks about how seminary formation has changed over the years since he was in the seminary himself.
• Bishop speaks about the failure in the U.S. Senate of the Born-Alive Act that would have given protections to children who survived an attempted abortion. He expresses his great disappointment in the bill’s failure and how disturbing it is that such a bill even has to exist. Moreover, he speaks about how members of the lay faithful can make their voices heard.
• Last week, the Diocese of Arlington released a list of that names of all priests credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the Diocese over its entire history, from 1974 to the present day. Bishop offers his reactions and thoughts.
• Earlier this month, Bishop Burbidge and his brother bishops from all over the world met with Pope Francis at a summit on the clergy abuse crisis. Bishop reflects on this summit.

Bishop Burbidge also answers these questions from the faithful:

• Why can't the Church allow priests to marry and women to become priests?
• I have read conflicting information regarding divorced Catholics who cannot receive communion. If the first marriage didn't take place in the Church and the second marriage also didn't take place in the Church, am I forbidden to take part in communion?

Bishop Burbidge also answers questions from the faithful. If you are interested in submitting a question, please email info@arlingtondiocese.org and include your first name and parish.

Topics discussed:

• 1:00: Bishop Burbidge talks about his recent visits with diocesan seminarians, both here in the U.S. and in Rome.
• 1:56: “I am very, very proud of our seminarians. We keep the standards very high in accepting a seminarian; and we have tremendous candidates who are devoted and are actively and fully participating in their programs of priestly formation. So, such a great joy. I'll be ordaining, God willing, five new priests this year, too.”
• 4:09: Bishop Burbidge speaks about seminarian formation and how it has changed over the years.
• 4:59: “Probably one of the greatest shifts really in the early '90s with John Paul II's famous document, Pastores Dabo Vobis, "I Will Give You Shepherds," he said that really what has to be a major focus in seminary formation, if not in addition to the spiritual, is the human formation. The human formation. How is this man growing in emotional maturity, in his ability to embrace chaste, celibate living? How is he able to relate to all people: his peers, women, everyone? So, they have to become part of the discussion with the bishop and with the seminarians.”
• 6:20: You know, parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. The schools are only your partners. […] Same thing with the bishop; he's the chief formator.
• 7:38: Bishop gives his reactions to the failure in the U.S. Senate of the Born-Alive act that would have required protections for babies who survived attempted abortions.
• 8:07: “…what we need to acknowledge is that there is an unhealthy shift, I think, in the national conversation. It was bad enough when a baby in the womb had no voice or rights ... it is bad enough ... but now babies outside of the womb, whose cries can be heard, will be snuffed out. This is where we are in our nation. So, what I think it is? It's a rallying cry for all Catholics, for all people of goodwill, and I see that happening.”
• 9:42: Bishop Burbidge reminds the faithful that we still have the power to do something, and he offers some suggestions on what we can do.
• 9:42: But we have power, and so, that begins with getting on our knees in prayer, that's where it begins, and then we should carry that power to the voting booth and to vote for pro-life candidates; that's why it's so important as a faithful citizen.
• 13:03: In response to the Diocese’s release last week of the names of all clergy credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor in the history of the Diocese, Bishop offers his reflections on that list, including how this crisis affects his brother priests.
• 14:05: Earlier this month, as you mentioned, I had to bring the bad news and explain the scope of sexual abuse of minors that has occurred and found credible in our diocese since its founding in 1974. The day the list was announced, I was especially praying for victims and survivors; the pain they feel on a day like that must be -- I can't imagine -- but it certainly has to be particularly challenging; and not just for those who were abused by one of the names on the list, but for anyone who has been abused.
• 15:36: “As a priest, it's very hard. I can't even imagine how anyone could hurt a child. You become a priest to help families, to shepherd the faithful, and the last thing you would want to do is to hurt someone. So, to learn that one of my brothers, a brother priest -- no matter how long ago it was, it is my brother priest; we share that same fraternity, that same priesthood…”
• 19:00: Bishops from around the world, including Bishop Burbidge, attended a summit with Pope Francis in Rome on the clergy abuse crisis and bishop accountability. Bishop Burbidge speaks about that summit.
• 21:21: “Everyone's at different places. In many ways, to be able to acknowledge how the Church in the United States has addressed this and has moved forward 17 years later is a good sign, and maybe we're in a position to help other countries, to share with what we have learned and what has worked and what needs to be improved, and hopefully that we can do that so that we, God willing, can prevent any such abuse of children.”
• 22:49: And again, if we're gonna move forward, we have to acknowledge it, we have to express our deep regret and sorrow and apologies, and the only way that we can bring any source of moving forward is by that acknowledgement and corrective steps, which I think the Holy Father is encouraging us to do. So, in June, the bishops will meet again and consider more comprehensive policies and procedures, especially those related to bishops.
• 24:12: Bishop Burbidge answers: “Why can't the Church allow priests to marry and women to become priests?”
• 27:22: Bishop Burbidge answers: “I have read conflicting information regarding divorced Catholics who cannot receive communion. If the first marriage didn't take place in the Church and the second marriage also didn't take place in the Church, am I forbidden to take part in communion