Details

Through these extraordinarily well-researched and expertly delivered lectures, you will gain unique insight into the issues that have rocked our Church. But you will also discover a powerful source of hope and renewal  Saint Francis, and his powerfully effective response to scandal. Your exceptionally qualified guide is Fr. Pat McCloskey, O.F.M., author and editor of St. Anthony Messenger. His lectures are illuminating, and his free 45-page written guide, complete with detailed outlines, reflection questions, and recommended published and web sources, is an essential resource.

Acts of the Apostles and other New Testament writings tell us that the Church's members sinned even before Jesus' death and resurrection.

In every century since the beginning of Christianity, the sins of the Church's members have been a source of scandal and have undermined its proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus responded to Peter's denial by urging him, "Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep."

In this unique and informative series, you will see how Francis dealt with scandal in his own day and how his approach may help listeners deal with the Roman Catholic Church’s biggest current scandal, the sexual abuse of minors by priests. Although emphasis in this series is on the United States, this has proven to be a major crisis in many other countries.

In the early 13th century, St. Francis of Assisi was well acquainted with sin among the Church's members, clerical and lay. Francis' bedrock belief in the Incarnation of Jesus, celebrated especially in the Church's Eucharist but in the other six sacraments as well, led him to find a way to speak truth to power while remaining a committed member of the Catholic Church.

Comparing the early 13th and the early 21st centuries, the crises facing the Catholic Church are very different, but the spirit that Francis brought to the challenges in his day can aid us in dealing with the current crisis.

From this course, you will learn to use the love and guidance of St. Francis in your own response to these scandals as well as more fully appreciate how the strength of our rich tradition has helped carry us through such events to a place of hope and optimism for the future of our Church.

With this series, you will be able to enjoy a rich collection of readings, outlines and study questions prepared by Fr. McCloskey to help you gain an insider’s perspective of these events.

Learn about downloadable programs.

With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed Electronic Study Guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this Electronic Study Guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this Electronic Study Guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link, or type it into your browser, to access the file.

About Your Presenter

Pat McCloskey, O.F.M., M.A., has been a priest for 36 years and is the Franciscan Editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine, the author of three of its monthly columns and editor of four other St. Anthony Messenger Press publications. He has most recently written Ask a Franciscan: Answers to Catholic Questions (St. Anthony Messenger Press) and is the author of five previous books.

Fr. McCloskey holds a master's of divinity (St. Leonard College), an M.A. in theology (University of Dayton) and an M.A. in Franciscan studies (St. Bonaventure University). He has audited two courses at the Gregorian University in Rome.

He has as edited several books, including three editions each of Saint of the Day and Believing in Jesus (both by St. Anthony Messenger Press). For five and a half years he served as director of communications at the international headquarters of the Order of Friars Minor (1986-92). He taught religion at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati for 16 years full-time, including seven years as chaplain, and another three years part-time.

After serving as associate editor of St. Anthony Messenger (June 1999-May 2002), Fr. Pat became its editor-in-chief (June 2002-December 2010). In the latter position, he coordinated the magazine's articles and editorials, including its coverage of the clergy sex-abuse crisis. For St. Anthony Messenger's June 2003 special issue, "Crisis in the Church: Our Search for Healing," he wrote the introductory article, "Honesty Comes Before Healing."

As a member of the Order of Friars Minor, he belongs to St. John the Baptist Province, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was ordained a priest in 1975.

Topic Titles

• Current Challenge to Faith
• Clergy Sexual Abuse I (1985-2001)
• US Response to Clergy Sexual Abuse II (2002-2011)
• Responses by Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI (1978-2011)
• Apostasy During Roman Persecution and the Donatist Crisis
• How St. Francis Dealt with a Sinful Church
• How Followers of St. Francis Deal with a Sinful Church
• Is the Church Necessary if I Have Jesus?
• Faith: Grow it or Lose It
• Help from Scripture and the Liturgy
• Our Search for Healing
• The Challenge Ahead