A Reflection on Accusations

Do not receive an accusation against a priest except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 1 St. Timothy 5:19

A reflection by Fr Josiah Trenham: This morning in my devotional reading I read this verse. It is in St. Paul’s letter to Bishop St. Timothy. It is episcopal advice. It strikes me, however, as relevant to the faithful laity also. To accuse a priest of anything is a very, very serious matter. A priest is not accountable to the laity, but the laity are accountable to the priest. The priest is accoutable to his bishop. This is expressed by the fact that the priest is called “Father” by his flock.

We live in crazy days. Days when accusations are freely made against all sorts of people in authority without hesitation or care. If there is a scandal certainly an accusation should be made, with witnesses, to a bishop (in this passage St. Timothy). But this is a far cry from what often exists in our churches these days when anger and arrogance in the hearts of the faithful toward our spiritual fathers rules the day far too often, and instead of the priest judging and ruling the people, the people try to judge and rule the priest. There is no fear of God restraining the faithful from speaking against their own spiritual fathers. This is a frightful thing and the gravity of such is expressed in this verse from St. Paul. May the Lord help us all to use love to cover a multitude of sins, especially if the sins are found in our fathers. And may the Lord also give us the fear of Him … in speaking against His servants the priests and bishops.