Guilty by Association...

It is very uneasy to know how hypocritical we have become especially towards those in the public eye. For example Police Officers, Doctors, Lawyers and even God. We are quicker than a bullet to say something negative about all three of these professions. They're labeled as crooks, criminals, thieves and abusers of power. But ironically, we all look to them in our time of need. If you were mugged or your house was broken into who would you call?.... the Police. If you or a family member were sick who would you call?.... a Doctor. When you need legal advise or representation who would you call?... a Lawyer. And when things are great and life is treating you good or when you're out with your friends laughing, joking and enjoying life, how often does God cross your mind? But the second your in a pinch or get bad news about someone or something; all of a sudden your begging for Gods help and intervention. You even start bargaining with him just as long as He can help you out. It seems that until we are in need of someone we could care less for them or their well being. We take for granted how important these individuals are and the tremendous sacrifices they make just to be there to help us out in our time of need. Msgr. Wallace Harris is no different. False and horrific allegations have been made against him and because he is a servant of God, a Catholic Priest to be exact, he has been deemed guilt... Guilty by association.

I have had the misfortune of only having Msgr. Harris for the first two out of four years I attended the Prep. But those years have been the most influential years of my life. Although the Priesthood wasn't Gods calling for me, Msgr. Harris gave me the tools needed to succeed as a individual and as a proud Christian. He taught me discipline, hard work and persistence while still having empathy, morals, respect and faith in God. I say this to you with my hand over my heart that these are the same values I carry and use every single day of my life. I am a proud husband and father and I teach these very same values to my own children.

Let's call a spade a spade. It would be unrealistic to say that there are no bad people in the world and everybody is innocent. Truth of the matter is that there are plenty of bad people in every single race, creed, culture, group, committee, organization, etc. But it is unfair and unjust to label everyone negatively because of a few bad seeds. Such is the case with Msgr. Harris. The Lord said "Blessed are those who have not seen but still believe". If you knew him like the thousands of us do, you would know that there is no way possible that this man would be capable of committing any of the alleged actions. It's not in his makeup. So please view this matter and more importantly him, with a open mind. Let the testimonials of the thousands of people who have been lucky enough and blessed to know this man be the proof everyone needs to know that he is innocent. He is just another victim of a individual who is in the public eye.....

Victor Popovic
Cathedral Prep Class of '91