Recently, I became aware of a man who is known to me through family and friends and who is physically violent and mentally unstable. The latter isn’t usually an issue, but the former is. I mean, after all, I have schizoaffective disorder, which is basically schizophrenia and bipolar disorder combined. I am well-medicated, and I have attended Mass with no problems over the past four years.
No, I am not a threat by any means. However, I strongly feel that he is. He’s gone to other churches and has verbally and physically accosted people. There’s nothing that I can do about that, but there is something that I can do today.
Today, armed with a photograph of the man, I approached both the main priest and our deacon. I was able to show them his picture and alert them to the possibility that he would act out against other people and might even threaten the safety of the clergy who administer Communion.
I will not stand idle in this matter, because this man regularly attends Sunday Mass and I don’t want anything to happen to the clergy nor my fellow parishioners.
Over the past few months, he’s assaulted numerous people and even got someone arrested by making false accusations. The person who got arrested is an acquaintance and he had a spotless record up until this point. I can’t get into the details until the matter is resolved in the legal system.
For reasons of legality, I am not publishing his photograph, but the right people know what and who to look for.
It is clear to me that he is a danger to everyone around him. I can’t help everyone, nor do I want to, but I care about the people of my parish. I do not want to see him act out towards anyone at all, especially the clergy, but also the people.
Anyway, they’ve both been made aware. Tomorrow, a visiting priest will be saying Mass and he is elderly and was brought out of retirement because of our diocese’s priest shortage. I haven’t met this priest, but he is elderly and as such, he is vulnerable. I will not just sit there and take no action.
Fortunately, as I wrote earlier, I’ve made the right people aware and they will keep an eye on him.
Again, I feel that everyone should be welcome at church. Sometimes that means welcoming child predators and shunning bloggers if you’re a Mormon. But as Catholics, we should welcome one and all, even those with mental health issues.
Yes, everyone is welcome, but there are limits. If a person is a physical threat and that person has committed violent acts, then that person needs to be removed for the safety of all. This man fits that description.
Hopefully, this man will not attend Mass tomorrow. But if he does, it’s my sincere hope that he behaves and does not verbally or physically threaten anyone, especially a vulnerable, elderly priest. God can only do so much, even in church.
Unfortunately, God allows evil things to happen and I will not stay silent and allow an evil person to do evil things in my parish. I did what I had to do.