The Catholic Church is diseased right now. Amid the mounting global scandal over pedophilia, it's suffering from epidemic proportions of denial and enabling. It seems to care more about protecting its own image and interests than the faithful innocents it's been called to serve under God. Perched atop this mess is Pope Benedict XVI. And if it is ultimately proven that he was negligent in turning a blind eye to years of sexual abuse by priests under his charge -- when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and as head of the oversight body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, from 1981 to 2005 -- then he must step down or be removed from the papacy. The corner office of the Vatican is certainly no place for sexual abuse cover-ups.
There are now unconscionable abuse cases arising out of Ireland, Germany, Minneapolis, and Wisconsin, where over 200 deaf boys were sexually molested over a span of perhaps 25 years by then-Father Lawrence C. Murphy. The charges are beyond shocking, and the acts they describe are heinous. And these are just the cases made public and over the last few weeks. To be sure, this is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
Despite being plagued by years of sexual scandal, the Church remains cavalier in its denial and arrogant defense of itself and of its failed self-policing mechanisms. It acts as if it's above the law and shrouds itself in secrecy, and its predatory monsters are afforded leniency and forgiveness no other common criminal would receive. For example, Murphy, in a letter to the CDF, begged, "I am seventy-two years of age, your Eminence, and am in poor health. I have just recently suffered another stroke which has left me in a weakened state. I have followed all the directives of both Archbishop Cousins and now Archbishop Weakland. I have repented of any of my past transgressions, and have been living peaceably in northern Wisconsin for twenty-four years. I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood. I ask your kind assistance in this matter." He died in 1998, still a priest. After his death, Archbishop Weakland appealed to the Vatican to close the case: "This Discastery commends Father Murphy to the mercy of God. And shares with you the hope that the Church will be spared any undue publicity from this matter."
What's infuriating here was Murphy's unbridled arrogance; after sexually violating over 200 young boys, he felt confident enough in the Church's tolerance of these despicable crimes to ask to live out his years with the "dignity of my priesthood." Were the 200 boys left with any dignity? And it's nice to know that the Church apparently cared more about bad PR than deaf kids being attacked by this "dignified priest." As an aside, rule number one of effective PR is this: first admit the problem, then describe the aggressive measures being taken to fix the problem, and then assure that the problem won't ever happen again. That's what the Church should be doing if it's truly concerned about PR.
Upsetting as well is the excuse-making and bait-and-switching coming from the lay community. Case in point: William McGurn's op-ed piece in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal in which he writes that Jeff Anderson, a victims' lawyer in the Milwaukee abuse case, has a history of suing the Church in other abuses cases: "[I]t's hard to think of anyone with a greater financial interest in promoting the public narrative of a church that takes zero action against abuser priests, with Pope Benedict XVI personally culpable." McGurn clearly finds it more relevant to assassinate the character of the lawyer in this abuse case rather than be outraged over the abuses, and the abusers, themselves. His position is symbolic of the overall unwillingness of the Church, and its supporters, to directly address its sexual abuse problem while blaming others.
There's also this preposterous notion that priests will not molest little children if we simply allowed them to marry and have opposite-sex relationships. The ridiculousness of this supposition is just another example of the colossal denial in religious circles. Let's be very clear about one thing: heterosexual marriage does not cure homosexuality and pedophilia. Our prisons are filled with lots of "normal" married folk who just also happen to sexually abuse children. We've got to stop looking for reasons to justify and excuse this vile behavior and instead focus on implementing real reforms that will identify, prosecute and punish the abusers.
Perhaps most infuriating is how Church officials have vociferously defended the Pope, who they claim has been a harsh and outspoken critic of the "filth" that infests the Church, citing him as an architect and promoter of reform. But it's gonna take a helluva lot more than mere words or public outcries from the Holy See to end the rampant molestation of children by its priests. We can no longer live with the double-standard that currently exists and which protects priests from punishment for their disgusting crimes and does so in a shameful covert cover-up manner. Repentance, demotions to desk duty, and other meaningless slaps on the wrist are inexcusable. These undeserved courtesies are an outrageous insult to victims, and do nothing but perpetuate the circle of horrific abuse. One thing must change immediately: whether your white collar comes from JC Penney or the Vatican, if you sexually abuse children, you should rot in jail. Period.
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Kim Michele Richardson: NUN ABUSE: A Survivor's Message for the Vatican
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And where did this idea of celibacy come from? Peter could not even be a pope or priest today because he was married, as were many of the apostles.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; ...."
The Catholic Church has its legitimacy from the unbroken line of Apostolic succession. Except for the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Coptic Churches no other Christian Churches can claim this.
Yeah, poor Pee Wee. At least he was caught just touching himself....
Over the last 100 years, their grip on power has been taken away, on finger at a time and their grip is still strong thanks to basic human fear and superstition; human frailties that the powerful do not hesitate to exploit.
Thanks to the internet, those in power now can no longer hide their actions or inactions.
I welcome the day when reason and logic become "God" and churches must close their doors for good as these backward thinking organizations are no longer needed .
That really would take Armageddon. The good news is that the new arms reduction treaty still leaves enough missiles operational for multiple Armageddons.
It has been thru persecution after persecution. It still stands. Why? Because it's wellspring is Divine.
You know what else has been around for a long time? Poo. Yes, ever since little critters have been eating, that eating has been followed by poo. And you know what poo is? Poo is time-tested. It is unstoppable, inevitable, irrefutable, and you sure know when poo is around. Yes, poo is the sh*t.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything
that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or
more are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them." -- Matthew 18: 19-20
The priests who committed these crimes were homosexuals who prefer young men as their partners. Allowing priests to marry would not do anything to solve the problem of homosexual activity, now would it?
The reason the Catholic Church is attacked is because it--despite some very human failings--continues to stand firm against abortion and homosexuality.
If you want to fire someone for promoting homosexual activity with young boys, why not fire Kevin Jennings...the safe school czar who advocates for homosexual activity between men and boys and gives literature on how to do it safely?
That's a very bold statement to be making, where's your proof and Bill Donohue's mouth doesn't count.
they were by definition not heterosexual.
Strange facts from Roman Catholic history:
The Cadaver Synod [Synodus Horrenda] occurred sometime in January 897… The defendant on trial was Formosus, an elderly pope who after a reign of five years had died April 4, 896…
No trial transcript of the Cadaver Synod exists. Nonetheless, it is reasonably clear what happened… Stephen VII personally presided over the proceeding… The trial began when the disinterred corpse of Formosus was carried into the courtroom. On Stephen VII's orders the putrescent corpse… had been dressed in full pontifical vestments. The dead body was then propped up in a chair behind which stood a teenage deacon…whose unenviable responsibility was to defend Formosus by speaking in his behalf. Formosus was accused of (1) perjury, (2) coveting the papacy, and (3) violating church canons when he was elected pope.
When the grotesque farce concluded, Formosus was convicted on all counts by the court. The sentence imposed by Stephen VII was that all Formosus's acts and ordinations as pope be invalidated, that the three fingers of Formosus's right hand used to give papal blessings be hacked off, and that the body be stripped of its papal vestments, clad in the cheap garments of a lay person, and buried in a common grave. The sentence was rigorously executed. (The body was shortly exhumed and thrown into the Tiber, but a monk pulled it out of the river.)
www.lawsch.uga.edu/academics/...more/his31_cadaver.html
There are many things humanly wrong with the church, but the Church is more than just a human institution. And here in South East Asia, she is growing, strong, reverent and faithful, despite having no delusions about the sins and weaknesses of clergy and laity alike. We too have unfaithful priests and scandals. But so many in the western world sound like a senseless mob shouting "Crucify him" with regards to Pope Benedict. And we know how history judged that particular crowd.
Most people here in Asia are tired of the general lack of respect, civility and decency shown to the pope and the Church, when so much of what is wrong with the church in your dioceses is what is wrong with your secular culture to start with. Yet it's much easier to attack a demonised church and pope because it distracts you from confronting the demons in your own life. The church is not governed just by 'Peter' but by the Holy Spirit. Benedict is our father too. Disagree if u must but do it with honor and respect for truth.
I am NOT Catholic, but one whose abuse history brings me in constant contact with those abused by priests. I hear of the impact, understand the correlations to my family history of incest, and understand that the solution, ultimately, lies in abandoning the family/clerical lies for healthier emotional environments - elsewhere.
Regardless of the differences of our cultures, turning a blind eye to protect the parties that participated in the abuse rather than trying to protect past and future victims is undoubtedly wrong.
The Vatican is not a state, and therefore the pope is not its head.
I think he's had too much of that as it is.
However, there’s always a chance to “fire” him as a head of the Roman Catholic Church. You can do that personally: by apostasy; or collectively: by establishing a new Reformation move (that would be tougher but more efficient, I guess;).
NEW LA ARCHBISHOP APPOINTED
And another message to the US to shut up
This new appointment is a clear sign to US Catholics that nothing is going to change, but punishment may be swift. It ramps up the volume from the original message sent when Cardinal Levada (former San Diego Archbishop) was appointed to head Defender of the Faith (Ratzinger's hold stomping ground) was the first message to US.
Jose Gomez has just been named the new Archbishop of LA, replacing Cardinal Mahony (retired 2/2010). Previously, he served as Archbishop of San Antonia. He's Mexican by birth, became US citizen. He received multiple degrees from Navarre in Rome. To be blunt, he's a 'Company Man.' Latino Gomez to Lead LA Diocese - NYTimes.com
He's well known for his immigration views, but he's strong on maintaining the status quo, disbanding opposing platforms within the church. See in generalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Horacio_G%C3%B3mez
floodberg,
why should you care? If you are Catholic and angry, join some other church or no church at all.
It is a free country. No one has a gun to your head to stay in any church or house of worship. We are free to hold religious freedom with a lot of value or no value. Freedom of religious choice is an American option.
If non-Catholic, why should it bother you what the Los Angeles archdiocese does? According to another report, Gomez was popular with the people in San Antonio. I am sure Catholics will like him, judging by what they have done before in San Antonio and by what many feel capable of doing with him as bishop.
It is all right to think rightly or wrongly about Gomez, but keep in mind, you are only thinking for yourself, not most Catholics.
Clearly I don't think for anyone, I just present information an links, and my profile is open, you're welcome to look over all my postings and criticize them all.
You, on the other hand, have your profile and comments closed. Afraid of a little scrutiny?