Media reaction to the John Jay Report on "The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests. 1950-2010" has centered on what the New York Times deemed the "Woodstock defense," that is, blaming the libertine spirit of the bohemian music and peace meeting in 1969.
Let it be known that any insult to the hallowed Woodstock days puts gray-haired hippies up in arms. We wore the peace sign, sang "Kumbaya My Lord" to simplistic guitar music and cheered on peacenik confreres who disrupted the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention. But the only thing most of us violated was good taste. (Orange shag carpeting anyone?)
Unfortunately by arguing about Woodstock, many miss the gist of the report, which is that the number of cases of child sexual abuse by clerics declined dramatically starting in the mid-80s. Cases dropped as education in seminaries increased and as dioceses began to implement safe environment plans and protocols for interaction between adults and children. It also helped that some priests in well publicized abuse cases wound up doing time. The John Jay report notes that as abuse went into decline in American society, statistics show that the numbers of abusers dropped more quickly in the church than elsewhere. Educating priests-in-training and volunteers and teachers on the job, and publicizing crimes by priests who went to jail were dramatic wake-up calls, even for people who didn't recognize criminal behavior instinctively.
Last year in the U.S. Catholic Church of 68.2 million members, there were seven credible accusations of abuse of a minor by a priest. There should not be any, and punishment for abusers should be swift. Even in the worst days of abuse, however, it was an estimated four percent of priests who abused. Obviously there should have been no abuse, but it is unfair to ignore the fact that abusers constituted a small percentage of priests. When it comes to abusers smearing the reputations of dedicated, clean-living clerics, never has so much damage been done by so few.
The John Jay report rightly criticized the church's lack of transparency and pointed out that when the church dealt with an abuser, it kept its actions a secret. It is understandable, given the ignorance about sex abuse in society until the very late 20th century. Just a couple decades ago, and even perhaps more recently, if one parent discovered the other sexually abusing a child at home (where most abuse happens), he or she didn't discuss it at the PTA or go to the police. They might have tried to get spiritual or emotional help secretly for the perpetrator and the victim, though the crime is so shameful as to be paralyzing. A bishop told me a few years ago that one of the scandals in this matter was that bishops weren't even speaking with one another. No one at a bishops' meeting was apt to ask: "Hey Joe, any of your priests abuse kids?"
The silence is broken now. This is good. People, including well-trained children, speak up and speak out. Bishops notify the police when there is a credible accusation. Children are taught to tell parents and teachers when someone's familiarity makes then uncomfortable. Everyone knows that "Keep your hands to yourself" has meaning even after kindergarten.
The gray-haired hippies, who are now retiring from proper jobs in areas such as education, law, medicine, and public service, agree. They reflect nostalgically on Woodstock. They look wistful when they hear the strains of "Where have all the flowers gone?" and they smile for "Puff, the magic dragon." The Catholic hippies might even hum the sing-songy "Sons of God, hear his holy Word...." Woodstock evokes memories of wise or unwise passion. It doesn't, however, equate to sexual abuse of a child.
Sexual abuse of a child is an intolerable aberration for which there is no excuse. For those who ever thought it was not harmful or even, incredibly, thought it was acceptable, education and prison time sent a message. But it had nothing to do with wearing love beads and tie-dyed shirts.
Follow Sister Mary Ann Walsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/USCCB
Gosh! There's a thing now. How is it explained then how all these 'incommunicado' bishops were responding to abusing clergy EXACTLY the same way - by moving the abusers on to another parish or diocese! Neither did ANY of these 'incommunicado' bishops even bother to call in help for the victims, nor did they call 911.
Strange!
And not only were there 'incommunicado' bishops in America but it appears there were 'incommunicado' bishops in Canada, in Ireland, in the UK, in Australia, in Austria, in Germany! As in all of these place 'incommunicado' bishops were moving abusing clergy on to new parishes and dioceses!
None of these 'incommunicado' bishops worldwide intervened on behalf of the child - None of these 'incommunicado' bishops asked themselves: 'What would Jesus do?'
She says, "Even in the worst days of abuse, however, it was an estimated four percent of priests who abused."
Here's the truth:
When they calculated the total number of priests, they added in ones that had only been a priest for a year or two in the 50 year study. The honest way to do the analysis would have been to only include priests that were there for the entire time. If those were the only ones that were included, the number jumps to a whopping 10%.
It gets worse than that, when you consider:
1) this was not an investigation. All of the information from the report was voluntary, and depended on the honesty of Catholic bishops, who are now known to be completely dishonest.
2) three percent (3%) of diocese refused to report, which included the worst. One was Roger Mahony in Los Angeles, who then had to pay a landmark settlement to over 500 victims four years after the report
3) most victims don't come forward. This is the most sinister part, and Catholics know it. Children that were raped by priests grow up in shame, and don't want people to know, especially since they know they will be accused of lying by the Catholic congregation. Child abuse psychologists estimate fewer than one in three will come forward
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, you should be ashamed of yourself, and God will be shamed of you.
The study is bogus. Of course, Jimmy Hendricks and Janis Joplin aren't responsible. But many bishops were who have skated on this issue. Where is the real transparency? Where is the real accountability? Shame on you.
"People, including well-trained children, speak up and speak out. Bishops notify the police when there is a credible accusation. Children tell parents and teachers when someone's familiarity make them uncomfortable. Everyone knows that the rule "Keep your hands to yourself" has meaning even after kindergarten."
I lived through the sixties sexual revolution. I read the John Jay Report. You may as well save your writing skills for something else, and stop trying to smooth over the sex abuse within the church which is still very much happening, including the cover up by the bishops.
We may be from the sixties, but we sure are not stupid. The truth is being exposed slowly but surely.
Judy Jones, SNAP