Betrayed
By Jon
Coyne
One
definition of the word betrayed is, “To divulge in a
breach of confidence”. Sadly, Dr. Jean Garton was recently
betrayed. For anyone who does not know Dr. Garton, she was
the tireless leader of Lutherans for Life for many years.
She is completing her second, six year term on the LCMS
Board of Directors (BOD). Dr. Garton is a caring,
confessional Lutheran, and an eloquent advocate for the
rights of unborn children. While we may never know the
sordid details of this betrayal, we can clearly see where
the betrayal begins and where it ends.
An
Ugly Ending
On
Thursday, February 23, 2006, the Rev. Jack Cascione, a former
pastor in the LCMS posted a private communication from Dr.
Garton to LCMS Secretary and BOD member, the Rev. Dr. Ray
Hartwig. For those people who do not know Pastor Cascione,
he was once a pastor in the LCMS. Recently his congregation
in Michigan decided to leave the LCMS. Pastor Cascione chose
to remain at the congregation and therefore could no longer
be on the clergy roster of the LCMS. By staying with this
congregation, he gave his tacit approval to their claims
that the LCMS was no longer confessing the truth about Jesus
Christ. Pastor Cascione therefore has no business receiving
or sending out a private communication from one LCMS Board
Member to another.
This is not
the first time that Pastor Cascione has decided he should
share private information with the world. Over the past 2-3
months, Pastor Cascione has shared numerous things about the
BOD and the current lawsuit against the Synod, President
Kieschnick and First Vice President Diekelmann. Some of the
things Pastor Cascione has posted have been accurate. Some
have not been accurate. All of them are things that were not
public prior to being posted by Pastor Cascione. It is
disconcerting that a former
Pastor of the LCMS has information about the Board of
Directors long before it becomes public.
This leads
us to one of two conclusions about the purported
communication from Dr. Garton. If Pastor Cascione has not
confirmed with Dr. Garton that this was her communication,
then he has broken the 8th commandment by his
decision to either create or pass on to others a blatant
lie. Note: another definition of betrayed is, “To lead
astray; deceive”. While I find this option difficult to
believe the next option is equally unsavory. If Pastor
Cascione did check with Dr. Garton and/or someone else who
could verify the content, then he is unethical to share what
is clearly a private communication between one Board member
and the Secretary of Synod, the Rev. Dr. Ray Hartwig. In
either case, Pastor Cascione is beyond the ecclesiastical
supervision of the LCMS and must answer to God for his
behavior. For this, I pray that he will repent of his
betrayal of Dr. Garton.
Beginning
the Betrayal
Lest we
begin to think that Pastor Cascione is the only person who
is responsible for the betrayal of Dr. Garton, we need to
consider that this note was sent to Pastor Hartwig. We also
need to consider that without the original communication,
other people could have been copied with this communication.
It is not clear whether this note was in the form of a paper
letter or an electronic communication. What is clear is that
Pastor Hartwig was the intended recipient and there is no
expressed or implied statement that this communication
should be shared with anyone. What is also clear is that
there are statements in the note which are inconsistent with
the minutes of the BOD. Considering the content of the note,
it seems reasonable that if the note is accurate, then
Pastor Cascione has also betrayed the entire BOD by sharing
information that was not in the minutes, or in other words
was part of an executive session of the BOD.
We are left
without the path that led from the reception of Dr.
Garton’s communication to Pastor Cascione’s public
disclosure. Either Pastor Hartwig or a member of the BOD
bears responsibility for the fact that this private note
became public. There are two parts to this responsibility:
1) If the communication was stolen, then we have to be
concerned about the internal controls for the BOD. Pastor
Hartwig, as Secretary of Synod has a sworn responsibility to
keep private things of the BOD out of the public view. 2) If
the communication was not stolen, then we know someone on
the BOD did not keep this communication confidential. This
person should have the integrity to publicly repent and/or
resign.
Forgiveness
is Divine
As Lutheran
Christians we confess “if we confess our sin, God who is
merciful and just will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.” As a pastor there are times
when people are harmed by things that I did not consciously
mean to cause hurt. In those cases, I have apologized for my
part in the problem. At least one person, Pastor Cascione,
consciously decided to betray Dr. Garton. Others may have
participated in this betrayal deliberately or inadvertently.
All are forgiven at the foot of the cross if only they are
willing to apologize and repent of their behavior. Let us
pray that there is reconciliation and healing for all who
were involved in this regrettable betrayal of Dr. Garton.
The more complete the explanation is of this travesty, the
quicker a sense of integrity may be restored to the Board of
Directors.
