Martyred bishop should be patron saint of abuse victims

Agence France-Presse ^ | 1/6/2013

[Dr. Thorne]

A Dutch Catholic bishop burned alive in 1937 by Japanese troops for protecting Chinese girls from rape may become the patron saint of sex abuse victims worldwide.

Frans Wiertz, who is bishop of Roermond in the southeastern Netherlands, has sent a dossier to the Vatican requesting martyred bishop Frans Schraven be beatified, one step away from becoming a saint, the bishopric said on its website on Monday.

Bishop Wiertz "suggests that he be considered as the patron saint of victims of sexual abuse", it said.

[Dr. Thorne]

The irony is thick.

[Alex Murphy]

A Dutch Catholic bishop burned alive in 1937 by Japanese troops for protecting Chinese girls from rape may become the patron saint of sex abuse victims worldwide. Frans Wiertz, who is bishop of Roermond in the southeastern Netherlands, has sent a dossier to the Vatican requesting martyred bishop Frans Schraven be beatified, one step away from becoming a saint, the bishopric said on its website on Monday. Bishop Wiertz "suggests that he be considered as the patron saint of victims of sexual abuse", it said

PFL

[Salvation]

http://saints.sqpn.com/patron-saints-of-family-matters/

[alexander_busek]

My skepticism in theological disputes aside, I find the self-sacrifice of many Christian saints simply amazing.

Regards,

[livius]

Actually, the Japanese burned not only the bishop but 8 priests as well because they refused to hand over the girls.

I think the Dutch bishop proposing this wants to make amends for the fact that the Lowlands had such a horrible track record in the 1970s or so. They had some very liberal bishops, mostly Paul VI appointees, who essentially destroyed the Church in those countries. Sadly, before Vatican II, there had been many saints from Belgium, Holland, etc. Look at Fr. Damien of Molokai.

[mlizzy]

Those who have been violated by religious have a difficult road ahead of them. If I was a victim of clergy abuse, my skin would hurt (all over again), every time commentary of this nature was posted. These victims don’t need “reminders” from you. They need prayers.