Did St. Paul Foresee Scandals in the Church?

In the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 20, Saint Paul speaks to the presbyters of his day (the forerunners of present-day priests) saying this: 

“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the whole Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.”  (Acts 20:29-30)

Presbyters and priests throughout history have heard these words of Saint Paul via the Scriptures and found that they are the truth in different ways.  Could historical figures such as Arius, or Martin Luther, for that matter, be considered the savage wolves of their day?  That could be an interpretation of Saint Paul’s words, since these figures came from among the presbyters (priests) of their own day and did not spare the flock.  But what about today?  It seems the present-day savage wolf is taking a new form, i.e., one that has taken to sexually abusing members of the flock!

How did the presbyters of St. Paul’s day respond to his prophecy?  We read the following a few lines later in the Acts of the Apostle:

“When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with all of them.  They were weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again.”  (Acts 20:36-37)

How should we respond to our sexual abuse crisis?  Saint Paul responded to his weeping presbyters (we are weeping and are deeply distressed too) by kneeling down and praying with them!  How many of us have considered kneeling and praying for and with our priests?  Prayers for the faithful priests; prayers for the sinning priests; prayers for the bishops; prayers for the pope!  It is a stressful time for all ordained priests.  Evil forces are at work.  Let’s set our sights on a purging … not simply a purging of the sinning priests, but a purging of all sin and of the Devil.  But stay above the fray; let’s not lose our precious faith.  We are held by the embrace of our Creator God and he will not abandon us if we pray.  Amen!