The statements from the Archdiocese of Seattle and from Father John Cornelius have come out and Fr. John is now longer going to be with us. The matter is at an end as far as the public is concerned, but the aftermath will be with us, the parishioners of Perpetual Help and Immaculate Conception, for some time.
What is lost in all of this is the tragedy and loss for Fr. John personally and the tragedy and loss for us also. He has lost his reputation, the opportunity to minister (which he dearly loved), the opportunity to preach, to teach and to interact with the people of Everett. He has lost his position, his livelihood and his dreams.
It is our tragedy and loss also. Many times I sat in the pew at Perpetual Help as Fr. John wandered down the aisles during his sermon. I didn’t dare dose off because I was one of the people whose name he would use in the sermon. I saw his special gifts when he was the celebrant at a funeral mass and he consoled the mourners in his special way. I saw his special way with people, especially with the newcomers at church. This was a unique person who was, in some ways, larger than life. He had many gifts and talents, yet there was, apparently, a fatal flaw that brought everything crashing down and now it’s over.
Shakespeare says that “the evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.” That is the greatest tragedy of all.
Everett
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