There are those moments when you always remember when you
hear the news. The first one that I
remember is the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I was being driven home from school by my
brother. There was also the first moon landing. I was listening to the radio in bed laid low
by some bug or other. I’m sure you all
have your own memorable moments in your life.
I experienced another moment which I am sure will be added
to that category on Saturday. I picked
up a copy of the Saturday Globe and Mail as is my routine. There at the top of the front page was the
headline: Jean Vanier Implicated in sexual abuse of women. The founder of the L’Arche movement with
the saintly appearance and life and work came crashing down to earth from that
very high pedestal which the world had placed him. I read the account of this tragic fall to
earth and the devastating effect that Jean Vanier’s action had on women under
his spiritual influence. It was an
account which literally brought tears to my eyes.
My personal connection and introduction to L’Arche happened
when I sent a reading week in my theological studies at Huron University
College. I was invited to spend the time
in residence at L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. My time there was a memorable one in which I
had to opportunity to live and worship with the core members of the community
and the staff. I was and am profoundly
moved by a place where all are people are treated as deserving of respect and
are given the opportunity to live lives in which their humanity is fully
recognized and lived out as fully as possible.
The profound good that was evident in that community has
been multiplied many times over in the many L’Arche communities in many different
countries. The profound good that was
begun and carried on by Jean Vanier in his writing and public speaking was acknowledged
in many awards and honours including the Order of Canada and the naming of
public buildings and general recognition and acclaim that was given by so many
different sources, secular and religious.
And yet, here we have the other, darker side of that person
revealed in devastating detail. We can
only wonder how a man who did such good in the world that benefited so many also
do the terrible acts which caused such harm?
This is a case which is more than someone believing the
honours that were given him. Here is
someone who attained saint-like status in the world and was tempted to believe
that he was a saint and consequently could do no wrong. He is reported to have said, “But Jesus and
myself, this is not two, but we are one.”
There is the implication that Jean Vanier was led astray by a “spiritual
father “, Pere Thomas Phillippe. Jean
Vanier has died so he is no longer ale to give his account of events so we have
to depend on the conclusions of the independent report commissioned by the
L’Arche Foundation.
To look at what led to this most unfortunate situation we
can see a man who became identified with God in the person of Jesus
Christ. In Jungian terms his ego became
undifferentiated from the Image of God, the Self which is part of
everyone. It is a case in which the
person believes that God is in service of the person and not the person in service
of God. When this happens, the
consequences can be devastating as it was and is in this case.
The reality of who Jean Vanier apparently was should not
take away from the great good that was begun by him and continues in the many
L’Arche communities. However, it is also
a warning that when we place someone on a pedestal, we may find that it is too
high for the person to remained grounded in the world as a child of God.
Blessing on your journey.
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