Mark Joseph Williams

Special Advisor, Forensic Clinician, Executive Coach, Advocate for marginalized in our midst especially those sexually abused, exploited, subject to violence.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

Interplay between the Vatican and this Administration? Not only about the dignity of the immigrant Laura says JD... this newbie Catholic needs to keep Matthew 25 on his nightstand and fall asleep each night asking this question of his faith ... "What am I doing in my life to embrace the stranger in our midst?" And perhaps take, as someone married to an Indian American, the Supreme Court ruling re Birthright citizenship as well notwithstanding 3 mind boggling dissents from 2 Roman Catholics and one Protestant Christian educated at a private Catholic high school. Mr. VP, Pope Leo does get it right. It is about the Cross, the humanity dignity of all our brothers and sisters near and far.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

What is beyond mind boggling and beyond the pale is that on its face, the 6 - 3 decision (really 5 - 4 with Kavanaugh's yes but written opinion that Congress could change the 14th Amendment... planting a seed for the future?) is that the 3 dissenters are men of faith - 2 Roman Catholics (Alito and Thomas) and one Protestant Christian (Gorsuch) educated in a private Catholic high school. How do they justify questioning the 14th Amendment with respect to their faith, the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, loving the stranger. Birthright citizenship was principally established as an amendment to combat racism, that we as a Republic should not discriminate, certainly not against our brothers and sisters born on U.S. soil. Yet the majority of this Supreme Court this week also opined on TPC (all Roman Catholics and Gorsuch ) and have allowed (6 - 3 decision) the possibility of 350K Haitians to be deported and Amy Coney Barrett has 2 adopted Haitian children for God sakes. Shameful. Period. Catholic Social Teaching ? Missing in action! Thank God for Sonia Sotomayor's dissent and Elena Kagan's as well reminding the world what Trump actually said about Haitians in America ... "They are poisoning the blood of our country, they are filthy, they come from a shit-hole country , etc..." This majority on our Supreme Court should read one thing only over and over during their summer break: Pope Leo's encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Maybe they will be reminded what the Cross means in their lives, in all our lives.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

+ Barron to date as prelate in Minnesota has not said anything against Trump and this administration re the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in his adoptive state. Shameful. He is too busy visiting the Oval and preaching on Word of Fire and not being pastoral in the true spirit of The Sermon on the Mount. With his gifted intellect , he ought to give a lecture to Trump and thus Religious Liberty Committee re Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. That would demonstrate not only allegiance to Rome but to the entire world seeking peace and God's love.

[Joe Ferullo @ironworker1]

Pope Leo asks cardinals for continued collaboration in governing church, advancing #peace. “We must not resign ourselves to violence. Violence will not have the last word."
#PopeLeo #violence #war #Catholic
https://t.co/xeRb35JzWa via @NCRonline

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

I hope Leo and the Cardinals at the Consistory have discussion about the immigration wins for Trump by a majority Catholic Supreme Court with Samuel Alito writing the majority opinion and indicating that Trump's past comments re Haitians were not overtly racist. In her dissent, Justice Kagan wrote this to remind the world (including the Catholic Church and all faith traditions - as a Jew - in my view what Trump has said: "Haitians in Ohio were eating the pets of their neighbors; Haitians probably have AIDS; Haiti is a shit - hole country which is filthy, dirty, disgusting; Haitian are poisoning the blood of the nation." If Alito and others in the majority, all of whom are Catholic with one Protestant who was educated at a private Catholic high school, do not interpret these statements as racist, then what is? And, Amy Coney Barrett, former Notre Dame law professor has 2 adopted Haitian children for God sakes. Francis and now Leo have spoken loudly about the U. S. treatment of migrants w/o using Trump's name as explicitly as needed. Now is high time for the Cardinals to voice the truth with Leo. Racism exists in many parts of the world and sadly in Leo's native America on the eve of turning 250, the clock is being turned back. One Bread - One Body. God loves all humanity. For God is love. More than ever in my lifetime, the Church must not be silent.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

My youngest of four adult children converted to the Muslim tradition before her marriage to a Pakistani American three years ago. She had been searching for a spiritual fit for several years and found an interior peace with her expanded, prayerful and dare I say progressive Muslim extended family. A half a life ago, at her Roman Catholic confirmation, the then bishop offered in his homily 2 themes to the 113 young persons being confirmed: 1) the immorality of abortion & 2) the immorality of same sex unions. My daughter's confirmation sponsor was like an uncle to her, very close to our family: a devout Catholic gay man. There's nothing more to say other than my daughter never stepped foot in a Catholic liturgy again unless she was invited to a wedding or funeral. This bishop continued addressing these confirmation candidates in our former diocese for about another 3 years until someone on his staff got to him and told him that preaching about the Holy Spirit would be more appropriate and right for the sacrament of Confirmation. I wonder besides my daughter how many of those 112 kids besides herself are not practicing Catholics today nearly 2 decades on.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

As a Roman Catholic sexually abused in the Church, I never gave up on this same Church who hurt me. For all its weaknesses, the Church has always been for social justice and embracing the least among us. Today, I am not so sure after the Supreme Court handed Donald Trump another immigration victory today, that those with temporary protected status, etc. really do not have rights and in essence the mass deportations can continue. The Catholics in the majority: Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett should be ashamed of themselves. Their decision is blatantly racist. Period. The Catholic in the minority, Sonia Sotomayor, verbal dissent of her penned summary will be remembered in history as the truth and beyond any hesitation a model for Catholic Social Justice without mention of religion but clearly implied and what is moral in the eyes of all humanity. This Trumpian Supreme Court 90 percent of the time has bent its knee to the King. I do not see the law prevailing. Rather, the Constitution is being chipped away one decision at a time. Just shameful. Another day will come. And, these Catholic majority Supreme Court judges, if they haven't yet, should read Pope Leo's first encyclical: Magnifica Humanitas... they will be reminded (profoundly) what the faith they were baptized into truly is. One Bread One Body ... start there!

[Joe Tobin @CardinalJWTobin]

Mary, you comforted Elizabeth, the mother of John, by your loving presence. Inspire us to care for one another and to always be ready to help family members, friends and all who are in need.

[Hans Zollner SJ @hans_zollner]

"Japanese citizens who exploit minors in Indonesia will also face prosecution in Japan."
https://t.co/dei1aVqjmK

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

@ReallyAmerican1 History will treat this man with the same disdain he has for everyone near and far. Such an immoral, clueless man with absolutely no integrity and appreciation for the dignity of all humanity. Utterly shameful.

[Joe Tobin @CardinalJWTobin]

“This is the steward, faithful and prudent,whom the Lord set over his household, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time” (Lk 12:42). Lord, teach us to be grateful, responsible, and generous stewards of all God’s gifts.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

I wonder what the pillow talk is between JD Vance and his bride, Usha. The tone of this administration, first and foremost the cruelty that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth is beyond the pale. Russ Douthat knows better as a Roman Catholic to have challenged more forcibly the newly minted Catholic (Mr. Vance) about the Beatitudes and how Jesus Christ carries himself, human and divine. To have a debate re tone is laughable. Period.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

All persons of every stripe, color of skin, ethnic background, faith tradition, sexual preference, young and old, rich and poor...the mosaic that is America, from sea to shining sea ought to take in what Fr. Martin has offered in prayer. As we celebrate 250 years as a Republic, we are more divided than ever yet the resolve of this soil and all who toil on this soil is solid as the granite of Yosemite. We (indeed) shall overcome and we must love, we must be grateful, and we must love as God loves for God is love and loves all in this great country. Cruelty must end. Division must end. Let's give peace a chance in our hearts on our birthday as a nation and beyond.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

The arrogance of JD Vance is astonishing. As a newly minted Roman Catholic who did not go through the Church's OCIA process / journey, nonetheless granted an open door to become a Catholic, this man has attacked 2 popes with his rhetoric ala Donald Trump and continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of what the Gospel truly means - a "good news" for all of humanity. The cover of his new book, Communion, has a photo of a Methodist church not a Catholic one with all due respect to the Methodist tradition. But isn't this a story of conversion? One would think that maybe the cover might have an image of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, maybe the Church he was baptized, confirmed, took Holy Eucharist for the 1st time. Just saying ...

[Joe Tobin @CardinalJWTobin]

“When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well” (Mt 5:38–42). Nonviolence is the way of Jesus.

[Joe Tobin @CardinalJWTobin]

Mary, Queen of Peace, as Pope Leo XIV reminds us, your Son taught us to be peacemakers. Help us to be women and men who fight evil with love.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

Watching Graham Platner being interviewed is refreshing. He is a complex man, all persons are. But I believe his sincerity is real and authentic. No question he has made mistakes, many in fact which he admits to. Imagine that. PTSD is hard, very hard. Donald Trump has never admitted anything about himself that could be questioned. He just stormed off the set of a Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker after she asked direct solid questions. Howard Lutnick sat courtside at MSG for Knicks vs Spurs game 3 ...a man who lied to Congress, the American people, the world really about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The real nugget here about this man Graham from Maine is what he said about his redemption journey: that he was willing to die for our country in combat, that there is nothing he wouldn't do in effect to fight for the people of Maine. Mainer's love that. We all should. In my humble opinion, Susan Collins is toast despite Platner's checkered past. Truth and courage and no BS just resonates, especially at this Trumpian hour.

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

As a clerical abuse survivor, of course the Church still needs this. A 2023 independent commission report in Spain where Pope Leo just met with victims / survivors concluded that some 200K children were abused in the Catholic Church over prior decades. Like me, how are these victims now? How have they dealt with the lasting effects of trauma over the years? How many may have taken their own lives, like some victim friends of mine. Like the Epstein files, cover up is, arguably, the greater sin. As Pope Francis penned in his autobiography, "Hope", released just before his passing: "Covering up adds shame to shame." This issue will always be with us; it is part of the human condition. The Church has made great strides but must always be diligent, never wavering from protecting children, minors and vulnerable adults (including seminarians).Sexual exploitation of any kind must be prevented. As Pope Leo wrote in his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (section 89): ... listening to the victims of spiritual, economic, institutional, sexual and power-based abuse, as well as abuses of conscience, is an integral part of the journey toward justice ... 🙏

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

As a clerical abuse survivor, I am heartened by Pope Leo's willingness to listen to victims / survivors. And, I am encouraged that he will ensure that more action is taken along the synodal road towards healing. Leo has significant experience dealing with abuse while missionary priest and bishop in Peru, encountering abuse in the groups Sodalitium, Neocatechumenal Way, Opus Dei, etc. And as head of the Augustinian Order, Leo handled cases across the world. All said, this issue (still) runs deep within the Church and beyond. Many would like it to go away, enough already. But we are just scratching the surface globally notwithstanding here in the U.S. we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Dallas Charter in 2027. Next week in Rome,at the annual International Safeguarding Conference, I will humbly listen alongside my friend, Hans Zollner, SJ and others across the global Church as we study "culture" and how abuse is addressed by region, exists within the diversity of humanity. Leo got a taste of this in Spain with this meeting, a country where an independent commission report in 2023 concluded that some 200K children were abused in the Catholic Church over previous decades. Shameful. We must carry the truth into the hearts of all victims / survivors. As Leo penned in Magnifica Humanitas (section 89): ... listening to the victims of spiritual, economic, institutional , sexual, and power-based abuse, as well as abuses of conscience, is an integral part of a journey toward justice... 🙏

[Mark Joseph Williams @MarkJWilliams23]

As a clerical abuse survivor in the Roman Catholic Church, I have followed the scourge of abuse that has also affected the SBC faithful. The silence has been deafening. To elect an alleged abuse denier, one who puts abuse, sexual violation and exploitation within the SBC in a "woke" bucket ignores the profound pain of victims / survivors. And to move away from women becoming pastors of congregations is an affront to our sisters in faith. Of course the RC Church has a ways to go on that score but at least there is an increase in women holding prominent roles in the Vatican. But the real issue here w/ SBC is the cover up of abuse and lack of transparency. As Pope Francis penned in his autobiography, "Hope", released soon before his passing: "Covering up adds shame to shame." Spot on! 🙏