Remembering Two Heroes Of September 11, 2001: Father Mychal Judge & Betty Ann Ong
Some 3,017 people died in New York, at the Pentagon and in a farm field in western Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, and save for the hijackers all were heroes in their own way. But Father Mychal Judge and Betty Ann Ong merit special mention.
New York Fire Department Chaplain Mychal Judge, or Father Mike, as everyone called the beloved Benedictine, was uptown at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, where he ministered to the wealthy and homeless alike, when the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on that gloriously beautiful morning. He donned his FDNY chaplain’s uniform and rushed to the towers, where he briefly paused to pray with Mayor Giuliani before running over to a firefighter and a woman who had fallen on the firefighter after jumping from the North Tower.
Father Mike had removed his fireman’s helmet to administer the last rites and was anointing Firefighter Danny Suhr and the woman with holy water when he was struck in the back of the head and mortally wounded by a chunk of falling debris.
You may not realize that you knew who Father Mike was until you reflect on the image above. Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton’s photograph, one of the most gripping images to come out of that horrific day, is a modern day Pietá. Yes, that’s Father Mike on the makeshift gurney.
You also probably didn’t know that Father Mike was an acknowledged homosexual. And so beloved that his death certificate bears the number 00001 – the first official World Trade Center casualty.
The collision between religious orthodoxy and social reality can be ugly, but the mess the Roman Catholic Church has made of its two biggest 21st century controversies — pedophile priests and homosexual priests — is enough to make Job spin in his grave.
You see, as inspiring as Father Mike’s life may have been, not to mention his bravery on 9/11, he would not have been welcome in today’s church, which according to its policy believes that gays “have no social value” and, moreover, “no moral virtue.”
That truly is a sin.
Ong, who was born to Chinese-American parents in San Francisco’s Chinatown in 1956, began her career as an American Airlines flight attendant in 1987. Her professionalism and hard work later earned her the position of a purser, or head flight attendant.
Ong had a knack for making people feel comfortable and putting them at ease. Her love for children and senior citizens made her an ideal purser, and she often gave away trinkets from her travels to children in her Boston neighborhood.
On 9/11, Ong assigned herself to AA Flight 11 at Boston’s Logan International Airport so she could return to Los Angeles and then go on vacation to Hawaii with her sister. During the hijacking, Ong called in to the American Airlines emergency center and alerted a supervisor that the aircraft had been hijacked.
The call was the first indication that something was seriously amiss on that September morning, and eventually led to the shutdown of all flights nationwide and diversion of incoming flights from Europe to Canada.
Along with fellow flight attendant Madeline Amy Sweeney, she relayed seat numbers of the hijackers. She reported that none of the crew could open the cockpit door, that two flight attendants and a passenger had been injured, and one of the hijackers had sprayed mace in the first class cabin.
The call lasted 23 minutes. It was terminated when the Boeing 767 crashed into the North Tower.
May Father Mike and Betty Ann Ong rest in peace.
7 Responses to “Remembering Two Heroes Of September 11, 2001: Father Mychal Judge & Betty Ann Ong”
You are incorrect about Father Mike. If the Catholic Church considered him what you say they considered him, he would not have remained a priest. He would have been removed.
Any homosexual can be a Catholic, just like Father Mike. All they have to do is remain celibate, follow the Catholic Church’s authority regarding becoming a Catholic and remaining Catholic.
It is wrong to say that the Catholic Church believes that “gays” have no moral value, because Christianity tells us that we all have value. The Catholic Church does not believe that any person has “no” moral value or that any person is valueless. It is wrong to say these things.
Homosexual sexual acts are sin according to the Catholic Church and much of Christianity, but it is but one brand of sin. A heterosexual sexual act outside of wedlock or even within wedlock if done with the intent of preventing conception is also a sin, according to Catholic teachings. (You may have to verify the specific details of sexual sin with a Catholic priest because I am not a Catholic)
Christianity teaches us that we must constantly seek redemption from God for our ongoing sin , but that does not mean that you can live life by not even trying to follow God’s Law and expect to receive the benefits of Christianity. It means that no matter how hard you try, the likelihood is going to be pretty high that you will sin during your life. Especially if you don’t even know what sin is. Because of this God’s son laid his life down to forgive all of our failures should we seek to be forgiven. In this Christians have faith. It is as simple as that.
Christians are not above reproach in anything, but you should learn more about the Catholic faith before making such comments about Catholics.
Allen:
First of all, Father Mike was untouchable by the church, which knows where it’s political bread is buttered. To remove Father Mike would have caused an enormous uproar.
Second of all, while I try to appreciate your . . . uh, charitable approach to the church on homosexuality, the record is otherwise and that record is vast.
Shaun you are just going to have to post that record, because I do not believe it.
No priest is above the Church and any priest can be removed. I do not believe that the Vatican is frightened of anything.
If father Mike was sexually active and the Vatican knew about it, he would have been punished. The reason is that he would have then been in what is called mortal sin. There is some question as to the validity of a priest in mortal sin. The Vatican would not take the chance of father Mike’s authority to administer the sacraments being void. To many souls are at risk.
If you want to know exactly what the Catholic church believes, go to your favorite book outlet and buy and copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, ISBN 0-385-47967-0, read it and then you will know what they believe. It’s no big deal.
Whatever side you want to be on, you can write far more effective articles if you base them in fact.
Allen:
Let’s continue to disagree at another time and in another context. This post is about people who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.
Shaun-
…yeah lots of people made the sacrifice, but why is the Catholic Church’s position on homosexuality relevent?
It’s not so, Please explain.
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Came late to this thread, but what I get out of this very appropriate, relevant and touching 9/11 story is that tragedy spares no one and that every human being can and will act in an extraordinarily heroic and humane manner, regardless of his or her gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, etc., etc.