His hands were not dirty
though he offered them to the server
that they might be washed
in that ritual of hypocrisy,
an outward sign
of an inner need
where no one,
least of of all himself,
knew the depth
of the dirt within,
nor the extent of its torture
for those he prayed upon.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Note: Lavabo (sink, washing) and lavo: refers to laundry and other forms of washing, including ritual washing, hence the priest’s lavo at eucharist.
Paul, pvcann.com
Filed under Free Verse, life, poem, religion
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write me a poem
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Good afternoon, i like the poem, i wish you a great day❤️
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Thank you so much, hope you have a great day too.
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Yes its early morning here🤗🤗
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It’s mid afternoon here 🙂
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Great parallel encapsulated in the central theme, expressed with succinct metaphors. Wonderful poem.
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Deep
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Many thanks Ruth 🙂 Yes, and dark.
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Oh wow! this gave me chills! Powerfully expressed.
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Thank you for sharing your feeling Dawn, yes, very current too, no one is perfect, but …
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You nailed the hypocrisy with breathtaking accuracy. I believe this issue has nothing to do with celibacy.
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No absolutely not, the research is showing that there are no easy answers, except that it does relate back to attachment theory of course, so the lack of modelling early for love and security, but also the use of power.
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I’d agree with power.
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Yes, the abuse thereof is the fundamental fracture. But the root is developmental. If only it could be successfully dealt with, but how to encourage every parent.
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It’s a complex area.
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It sure is.
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A poem with a punch. Are they ever going to really clean house? like MacBeth “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?”
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Yes, the MacBeth ref fits so well. No, I have a hunch it will be ongoing until they deal with the root causes. What is staggering is the extent.
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Profound during Lent with its symbolic ritual of washing somebody else’s feet.
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Absolutely, the betrayal is deeper.
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Very deep !!
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Yes, and dark too, thank you for reflecting on this. 🙂
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Very well written! My mother-in-law — years ago — saw a local priest coming out of some woods with a boy.
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That it is almost endemic is of concern, but the research is showing a need to deal with formative early childhood stuff. Not sure how they’re going to do that. I wait with baited breath.
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Perfect, as always. Have a blessed weekend 🙂
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I hope the same for you too, may it be productive. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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My pleasure. 🙂
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🙂
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Is there any possibility for him to change?
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Yes, absolutely. There is good evidence to show that when the person admits their fault it is so much easier to therapeutically work with them.
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sanctimonious hypocrites, well written Paul!
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Thanks so much Kate 🙂 Yes, hiding behind and abusing people and position.
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watched “Spotlight” last night, a movie of the true Boston investigation into just how deep and high the abuse runs … it’s systemic, the big wigs knew all along and solicitors raked off 30% of the miserly payments the church made to silent the hundreds of victims that did come forward. Now it’s into the thousands and still being covered up … and happening RIght NOW by priests that you know! Pedophilia is openly supported and encouraged by the establishment ….
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Yes one of ours is to be sentenced this week. I will say I am heartened by the post commission requirements that we are all responding to (with the exception of the stalling of the Catholic Church) it has now made it so difficult to get in. Nothing is perfect in society and humanity can and will subvert either for good or ill. Yes, the US has the most staggering figures to date, followed by the UK with Canada and Australia lesser so (only by virtue of our total population, though per capita the signs were that we were on the same percentile statistically. The other major problem here has been the feeling of the survivor community, that they are not really being heard, few were wanting to engage with the commission, and fewer were wanting any form of responsibility for perpetrators because that would not have helped them. The Pell case certainly demonstrates that there is a real blindness by the generation represented in the echelon in the former Howard govt and their support for him and previously for Hollingsworth. But I certainly agree with the psychological research, that it’s foundation is in attachment or rather, non-attachment, and we as a society really need to be doing something critical in that area beyond shutting the door. I live in hope.
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the violated need to be heard and believed … then a formal sincere apology!
I volunteered in MH when the commission was on and some people needed six months admission each time they were called up … they were not well enough to catch the plane to report … the general public have no idea of how deep the damage is, they just see psychotic adults and don’t get they were young violated kids who thought god was calling! Their sexuality, safety and spirituality were all violated in the most heinous manner.
The fact that the RCs are still trying to avoid the issue clearly demonstrates how completely corrupt their system is!
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Yes, not good. The groups I work with here are opposed to any participation, they believe it is just a circus and many chose to protect themselves from the retraumatising it brings. We’ve estimated that maybe only a third came forward, but that’s pure guess work.
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doubt even a third came forward, glad you can help them
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Well it is guess work based on report history only. I know members of the general public who were shocked but also just overwhelmed with the data coming out.
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most I knew buried their head and didn’t want to know ..
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i hate that.
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me too and I can never understand why …
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Well, we wouldn’t bury our heads.
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no not in our make up at any level!
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No
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Not sure I really can help, they are so damaged, tragic
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but you have to try …
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Yes, very much so, they were ignored as children, we must no longer ignore people.
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nobody should be ignored … I dread it when others treat me like a pane of glass!
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Yes, horrible
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Chilling!
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Yes, very, thank you VJ
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an act of indifference injures deeply – i am reading between the lines, hope I am not wrong – if i am apologies, your words touched a nerve, such food writing Paul
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Yes, indifference to those he hurts, to himself and to his vocation too. Thing is you can’t really lie to yourself for too long though.
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we try, but truth cannot be hidden, you are right
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Yes, it comes out, somewhere, somehow. Thank you so much for reflecting and responding Gina.
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So many levels to this sad sad poem. Honestly, it makes me nauseas to think of the abuse. A world wide problem. It makes me even sicker to hear leaders say, “We pray for the victims” and then continue on with excuses. Sigh.. Thus ends my rage for today…
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Yes, until tomorrow. I was captivated by the idea of trying to show the hypocrisy and took the plunge. Thank you for your response.
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Wow that is powerful
>
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Yes, such a hard subject.
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