The Passion of the Sam
Readers might be interested to read a letter to the editor in today’s Troy Record (a paper that, we should point out, has not carried the story of a second victim having come forward in the 1990s, and has not reported on SNAP’s reasoned, logical plea for compassion for victims).
Here’s the link: http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/11/02/opinion/doc4aedd93381504327326491.txt
The author actually goes so far as to compare Sam Rodino to Jesus Christ. This comparison will surely please Mr. Rodino, as he routinely compared himself to Christ several years ago after viewing the movie, The Passion of the Christ. With a paranoia that can only be described as Nixonian, Mr. Rodino compared himself to Jesus, and his “enemies” (aka students that disagreed with him) to the mob and Roman authorities.
Below is the text of the letter, courtesy of the Troy Record, Monday, November 2nd 2009 edition:
For The Record
Will proudly bear witness
The Passion of Sam Rodino. I met Father Salvadore Rodino more than 14 years ago at a Mass at St. Bonaventure’s Church in Speigletown. I had been baptized Catholic, but only had attended Masses for weddings and funerals as I grew up. At 25 years old, I was at a point in life where I was ready to leave my childhood behind, and become a man. Not a man in the sense of “being over 18” made me a man, but more in the sense of responsibility and doing the right things to help the world around me. I was dating a girl who brought me to my first Mass at St. Bonaventure’s who is now my wife of 13 years. After meeting “Sam,” I was awestruck at a man who truly fit the mold of pastoral strength and guidance. His aura was one of an unconcealed personality that shone with a vibrant love of serving God. After attending a couple of more masses and having heartfelt conversations with Father Rodino, he directed me on my path to adulthood. In a year, I not only got engaged, but made my First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, and celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage as well. Over the years, his word and homily’s were celebrated and lived by many devoted parishioners who grew to love and adore him, both as a person and a priest.
Now, as the Catholic Church approaches the season of Advent, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the accusations and reports surrounding Father Rodino seem to mirror the death of Jesus, the Passion. One of the most respected priests in the entire Diocese, Father Salvatore Rodino and his reputation are under attack, and he now has to carry a cross he didn’t ask for, a stigma that will stick regardless of an investigation’s outcome.
At the same time, the media, which carries the same power as a Roman Army, uses the sharp pointed tips of their misguided information to poke and jab at him, scarring him with undeserving marks of an innocent man.
Even our own Diocese, like Apostle Peter, with its cold sounding letter to the Masses, is in a sense, denying Father Rodino.
What are we to do as Parishioners, as followers of both past and present, of his? Of course many of us are angry, frustrated, maybe confused. During a time of economic woes, threats of wide spread disease, and political miscalculations, faith and prayer will be what sets our hearts in the right direction. When asked what we truly feel, we will not deny or yell “crucify,” but we should stand firm behind Father Rodino, as his friends and his disciples.
For the man that guided me into adulthood and helped me find responsibility and faith; the man that married my wife and I and baptized all three of our children; I pray for him in my heart, yet publicly I will proudly bear witness to his character and faith without regard to what is thought of me. It’s what he would do for us.
Jim Baldwin
Troy
Comments
Mr. Baldwin presents us with an interesting opinion. But here is my counter:
What we all seem to forget is that our priests are men. They are just men. They are prone to faults and missteps. While faults humanize us all, we also place priests on a pedestal and hold them to higher expectations. When they fall off the pedestal, the drop is resounding and astonishing.
Mr. Rodino is a perfect example of this. We held him to a higher standard and when he fell off the pedestal it was a dramatic fall.
Understandably many, like Mr. Baldwin, are holding on to their memories and claiming “crucifixion” to explain away their astonishment. But he forgets that Mr. Rodino is just a man and men fall from pedestals and from grace sometimes. It’s fine to remember, but we must all accept the truth of current circumstances and find peace with it.
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