Saint Ignatius Blog

Hi,

I am in an administrative role at a medical facility, as well as a practicing Catholic at St. Ignatius. I have an employee who is openly gay, and at times, talks about her sexual preference at work….as well as brings her “friends” to company functions. I have talked with my wife, as well as other members of the parish on how best to address this issue…if indeed it is my duty to bring it up at all. My problem really rests in the last sentence…”duty”….duty as a Catholic….duty as an administrator. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Rob.

Editor’s note:

          The following letter has appeared on the internet and was viewed by many readers.  Many felt it would be appropriate for the readers of Avoyelles Parish.

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?”

I replied, I had a “drug problem” when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning.  I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.  I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.  I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.  I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields.  I was drug to homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think.  They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroine; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.

                                                          Submitted by concerned citizen

My family & I are new to St. Ignatius, and we are really finding it to be exactly what we need. While growing up in Baltimore County (St. Clement Mary Hoffbauer(me) and St. Stephen’s (my wife)), I appreciate the ‘old school’ approach to Mass. While living in Harford County the last 13 years, my wife & I have struggled to find a community we can relate to. I believe we have found this in St. Ignatius. The people are very friendly and Mass is what I remember it to be – respectful, reverent and time to connect with the spriritual side – not some broadway show or hotel lobby event.

In short, I just wanted to say ‘Thank you’ for making a family new to your community feel so welcome.

I just finished reading a local support group newsletter, in which a mom retells the horrible story of her son’s death.  His friends knew he was in trouble after using drugs illegally, but instead of seeking medical help for him, they drove him home and didn’t tell anyone about his condition.  He passed away shortly after arriving at home.  His parents and friends now must live with the pain stemming from this sad consequence of some very bad decisions. 

Unfortunatly, this is not the first such story I’ve come across.  Whether it’s fear of getting into trouble with the law, or fear of breaking some sort of code of silence, failure to seek medical care for a friend who has used too much alcohol or other substance is very very risky.  I doubt that young people realize the tremendous implications their decisions may carry when they drop off a messed up buddy at home.  For that matter, I doubt that young people consider who they are with when they are misusing substances.  There is most probably no thought process that includes “If I become incapacitated and vulnerable, and my breathing becomes dangerously slow, I am sure that P-Dog and Snake will get me to the local emergency room before it is too late.”  And even if there was such a thought process, P-Dog and Snake would probably be too messed up to take appropriate action even if they did have the desire to help their friend get medical care. 

So, what’s my point?  I’m not sure.  The horrors of addiction cause so much heartache for families.  I guess this story just struck me as the terrible icing on the awful cake.  Inaction, putting potential problems for oneself above the life of another human being…often that of a friend…..it’s just all so very very sad.  And I think that as a parish community we need to pray very hard for those who are suffering from addiction and be supportive of families who are dealing with its effects.  Because truly, there but for some chance circumstances, go all of us.