Some have asked why I haven't and if I intend to post on the news of the last couple of weeks regards the sexual abuse of children by clergy in Ireland and Germany. I haven't posted on this topic, in part, because there is such a steady stream of information that I'm unable to keep up with it - and I know that other sources online do a much better job of keeping this information up to date. I've also been disinclined to write about this topic because it's difficult to know where the spin begins and ends - and all voices speaking to this issue have an agenda, some more and some less noble than others.
From what I've read it's clear that a cloud of institutional self-protection continues to shade if not obscure what transparency the Church may have achieved in the last 10 years. On the one hand, the pope's meeting with the Irish episcopate and his recent letter to the Church of Ireland are certainly steps forward in this sad, tragic, international story. One has to wonder why the Vatican's plans for an Apostolic Visitation of the Irish Church had no American counterpart. Too many questions continue to hang in the air and the credibility of the Church suffers because of it.
John Allen, National Catholic Reporter Rome correspondent, writes a "Memo to Munich: Get It Out Now!"
Whatever the truth may be, it's far better for the pope, and the church, to get it out now. The alternative is death by a thousand cuts, not to mention the constant anxiety bred by fear that the next damaging revelation may be just around the corner.Jesuit James Martin's piece over at Huffington Post (H/T to Todd at Catholic Sensibility), How Could It Happen? Tracing the Causes of Sexual Abuse by the Clergy, looks at the current news through the lens of the report of the National Review Board and its responses to two questions:
True friends of the pope, both in Rome and in Munich, ought to be pressing for full disclosure. The Munich archdiocese could publish a comprehensive list of every priest, diocesan and religious, who served in the archdiocese between May 1977 and February 1982, along with whatever information church officials had at the time about any accusations against them, and what was done. Church officials in Munich could invite responsible journalists or investigators to examine the records independently, obviously with the understanding that in the case of false or unproven allegations, confidentiality of the parties would be preserved. The idea would be to reassure public opinion that the church isn't holding anything back, that this is indeed complete transparency
1) How could so many priests have been abusive?Martin takes the summary points of the Board's report and comments on them, adding four of his own points to the mix, too.
2) Why did church leaders respond to the problem so poorly for so many years?
The report is not new but Martin's commentary here is timely and some may find it helpful.
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Thank you and bless you for this post. Please know that you and your brother priests who serve with great integrity are in my prayers for comfort and grace as these horrific stories continue to be reported.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I've also decided to hold off blogging about this for many of the same reasons you cite, but also to let it unfold a bit more so I can view it through the lens of sociology and history.
In the mid80s, Dominican Father Thomas Doyle spoke to the American bishops and warned them of the coming problems. As a result, I think my own archdiocese was ready to tackle the ugly problem a year or two later.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me sad these days is that more than 20 years have passed since Fr. Doyle's warnings. Twenty years.
I'm convinced that a root problem is the lack of genuine incorporation of ALL of the Body of Christ in ministry and governance. For too long, the laity has been "protected," women have been feared, and sexuality was less than holy.
If we really believed and acted as the Body of Christ, if we really were mutual disciples of the servant Jesus, how different we might be and what a change might happen in the world.
Father my heart is heavy each day that more news and more cover ups are revealed.....I cannot stop being a Catholic, it is who I am but being a Catholic I carry the pride of my church and the saints as well as the shame of the horrible abuse to these innocent children and the cover up is even more devastating.....what to do Father, I don't know....my stomach has to settle first.....:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteI have used this quote, found on a blog post at Blue Eyed Ennis, which I had read before but forgotten and at this point have now used all over the internet:
ReplyDelete"To be connected with the church is to be associated with scoundrels, warmongers, fakes, child-molesters, murderers, adulterers and hypocrites of every description.
It also, at the same time, identifies you with saints and the finest persons of heroic soul of every time, country, race, and gender.
To be a member of the church is to carry the mantle of both the worst sin and the finest heroism of soul because the church always looks exactly as it looked at the original crucifixion, God hung among thieves". – Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing
It is on all of our minds and heavy upon our hearts. Today I was at Passion Sunday liturgy, there had to be 1000 people present. I watched the numerous children head out for Childrens Liturgy of the Word and while I know that they are safe, my heart still broke for all who were not safe.
I know so many priests and they are for the most part good men. I cannot imagine any of them in this mess, but having come from a family with this issue, I also understand how complicated it is.
God have mercy on us all. Peace and prayers to all.
I meant to add that I used to be friends with two former Dominican priests who would speak of Tom Doyle and what he had tried to do... and that tragedy would surely come as a result.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I have blogged on the topic but to no avail. I have signed petitions, belonged to reforming groups...
ReplyDeleteYes, Fr. Doyle raised the issue in the 1980s and then in 2002 the Boston scandal became humongous -- it went on ad nauseam. Articles everywhere.
The whole topic continues today in the same vein. Again ad nauseam.
In a democratic society, we would simply not re-elect someone who has behaved like a pedophile priest or a bishop protecting his priests rather than the children.
But in the Catholic church, it is not a democracy. We are stuck with the bad priests, the bad bishops and all those below and above and in-between.
Why blogging? To say what? The same themes again and again. There is nothing new.
The news will be the day the Catholic hierarchy takes note of the signs of the times and, moved by the Holy Spirit, will start changing what needs to be changed.
Until then, many of us will keep feeling sick to our stomach when we open our newspapers or read them online.
What is extraordinary, remarkable, is that people's faith goes on. That's where the miracle is. In spite of the lamentable behavior of too many 'few bad apples.'
Right on Claire!
ReplyDeleteFran, Ron Rolheiser's quote really captures what many of us feel right now...thank you for bringing it to light again.
ReplyDeleteOne observation...I wonder why it is that only women have commented on this post?
Where is my comment from yesterday? Re: your talk in 2002, SRO crowd, where has the SRO crowd gone? We could use them now, etc.
ReplyDeleteRosemary
I have not received that comment.
ReplyDeleteHello CP. It looks like there may have been a problem with the blog. I posted this yesterday. It may have been lost. Thanks
ReplyDelete--------------------------------
I’m 56 years old. I don’t believe this story has an end in my lifetime. It will continue, as abuse victims become old enough to speak out.
I have marched with survivors, protested in front of cathedrals, worked with a reform group, written letters to my congressmen to change the statute of limitations for sex crimes, and worked with my local parish council. I have learned as Catholics we are powerless.
What is happening in Europe today is an exact duplicate of what happened in Louisiana in the 80s and in Boston in 2002.
John Allen’s article could just as well have been. “Memo to Boston, Get it Out Now”. Cardinal O’Malley still knows of credible allegations that have not been made public. He says he will make them public, but no action.
We all know this is a worldwide problem that has been going on for a very long time. It is not a few “bad apples”. It is a cancer that is destroying the church that Jesus founded.
Like many others, I am physically sick about 1) the actions and inactions of the leaders of my church, and all others who knew, 2) how they failed to protect innocent children (even deaf boys), 3) how they treated Survivors, and 4) how they covered up and are not holding themselves accountable.
I still have faith in God. However, I have no faith in the self-selected celibate men in leadership positions. I doubt that will ever return.
It is impossible to credibly preach justice and morality, if you act unjustly and immorally. I agree with Claire. What else is there to say? The future of this church is up to the Holy Spirit. Deliver us from evil.
Michael: Thanks for resending - I hadn't received your first comment - which happened with another reader yesterday, too, so I think there was a problem. I think things are back to normal.
ReplyDeleteI took the time today to read the source documents for the New York Times story in the Murphy case out of Milwaukee.
ReplyDeleteTook the wind out of me.
From the documents you can see that then-Cardinal Ratzinger's error in the Murphy case was the many months delay responding to Archbishop Weakland's first letter. A trial was proceeding at the time of the priest's death.
But, the documents also show clearly how bishops in the '60s and '70s totally did not get how horrible this all was.
So many boys were abused over so many years -- and the '70s-era archbishop of Milwaukee let this priest simply walk away.
I will try again to convey the thoughts I expressed in a comment which got lost in cyberspace!
ReplyDeleteAbout this time of year in 2002 you gave a superb talk in the wake of the Boston Globe revelations. As I recall, there was a large standing room only crowd (not 3,000 as was the crowd that just came to hear the Archbishop of Vienna!) but large nonetheless. At that time (eight years ago) people were outraged, heartsick, etc. Where in the intervening eight years has the large standing room only crowd of outraged, heartsick people gone?
Will the people who came to listen to the Archbishop of Vienna or those who listened to Rev. Diarmuid Martin's Palm Sunday homily fall by the wayside as most of the listeners at your talk seem to have done?
As some people have commented, they have been active in reform efforts through the years, and some continue to be involved. Why don't the vast majority of Catholics get involved in trying to bring about the much needed changes our Church so desperately needs?
One of the quotes in the Boston Globe of Cardinal Sean O'Malley's talk to his priests at the Chrism Mass on Tuesday was, "God is trying to get our attention." I could not agree more. How much longer must God cry out before we all listen? And not only listen, but do something.
The hierarchs have held sway and have done a miserable job of handling this worldwide abuse crisis. It is time for the laity to demand changes in the governance of our church. A recent article I read said the bishops are thinking of calling a Synod of Bishops. In my opinion, it should not be a Synod of Bishops, but a Synod of bishops, priests, religious, laity, survivors, experts (most of all Tom Doyle.) Only when the bishops are willing to listen to the sensus fidelium will there be any chance of healing this very broken Church.
I realize I have rambled on, but I am very discouraged - with our leadership and with our laity. In one of your posts you spoke of betrayal. I feel very much betrayed.
Rosemary