Lithuanian Bishops Address Church Scandal, Urge Hope and Accountability

Lithuanian bishops have spoken out about a scandal rocking the Church, urging congregants to look toward hope amidst the turmoil. During solemn Mass for the Feast of the Assumption in Palanga, Bishop Rimantas Norvila of Vilkaviškis invoked the metaphor of roses and thorns, symbolizing the life of the Virgin Mary.

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This week, church people who follow media reports have also experienced thorns: there was indignation and disappointment regarding the opinions of some clergy. However, today I want to direct all our attention and invite you to look more with hope – each of us is responsible for our lives, for our actions, so each of us experiences individual temptations, and each person's sinfulness is different; not everyone is absolutely perfect.

Norvila touched upon the nature of sin and recent events, referring to them as painful "thorns" for the community that have caused significant spiritual distress and shaken the Church's authority. "This week, church people who follow media reports have also experienced thorns: there was indignation and disappointment regarding the opinions of some clergy," he stated. "However, today I want to direct all our attention and invite you to look more with hope – each of us is responsible for our lives, for our actions, and each of us experiences individual temptations, and each person's sinfulness is different; not everyone is absolutely perfect."

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May hope and the depth of faith encourage and strengthen us today. The Church, whose head is the Lord Jesus Christ, loving her with His grace, continues to generously bestow God's graces. Each of us, as children of God and having received the spirit of adoption, can strive for eternal life in our own way and on our own path – regardless of the storms that arise in our lives.

He acknowledged that grave sins naturally provoke public outrage but stressed that this should not overshadow fundamental truths. "May hope and the depth of faith encourage and strengthen us today. The Church, whose head is the Lord Jesus Christ, loving her with His grace, continues to generously bestow God's graces. Each of us, as children of God and having received the spirit of adoption, can strive for eternal life in our own way and on our own path – regardless of the storms that arise in our lives," Norvila said.

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We understand that the accusation has not been made public, but nevertheless, it is an opportunity to stop, listen, and think about those who have been harmed and those who are suffering damage.

Bishop Saulius Bužauskas of Kaunas Archdiocese Basilica also addressed the recent events, calling them an opportunity to pause and consider those who may have been wronged. "We understand that the accusation has not been made public, but nevertheless, it is an opportunity to stop, listen, and think about those who have been harmed and those who are suffering damage," he said. Bužauskas emphasized that the Church's authority or institutional reputation cannot be more important than an injured person. He stressed the need to be attentive to any violence or coercion, ensuring that a person's pain is heard. "If a crime was committed by a priest, priesthood is certainly not a shield against responsibility," he asserted.

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If a crime was committed by a priest, priesthood is certainly not a shield against responsibility.