U.S. Catholics' satisfaction with bishops leaped from 51 to 70 percent in the last decade, according to the Pew Forum. That's impressive, though it is hard to imagine a lower point than 2002, when Catholics saw a flood of news on clerical sexual abuse of minors. To copy Queen Elizabeth's description of 1992, when one of her sons divorced and Windsor Castle erupted in flames, 2002 was the church's Annus Horribilis.
Causes of the uptick may be many: steadfastness, action in a crisis and the bishops' courage to walk forth when they probably would have preferred to hide in a hole. Steadfastness in troubled times means serious leadership.
The Pew Forum measured current satisfaction with bishops against feelings a decade ago when the bishops faced the fact that sexual abuse of minors by clergy was a horrific reality in the church. The news had been simmering but broke out big time in Boston in January 2002. Six months later a few thousand media showed up at the bishops' June meeting in Dallas to see how the bishops would fix the problem.
To their credit, the bishops acted. They developed the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a 17-article promise to forthrightly confront child sexual abuse. They set up review boards comprised primarily of lay people to evaluate reported cases. They launched a massive educational campaign for professional staff and volunteers who work with minors and educated the minors themselves on appropriate interaction between themselves and adults. They established a compliance audit system for the Charter.
Today, as the Boy Scouts, Penn State and public and private schools address sexual abuse of minors in their ranks, people hear them promise to do what the church has already been doing for 10 years. They include enforcing prevention strategies, such as not allowing minors to be alone with adults on outings; conducting background checks to eliminate unsavory characters attracted to youth; and educating children and adults about principles of healthy interaction, including the kindergarten rule: keep your hands to yourself.
With media reports of sexual abuse in youth groups and in public and private schools, Catholics saw that abuse is a tragic human problem, but not one rooted in clerical celibacy or Catholicism. They saw that sexual abuse of minors crosses all levels of society and exists more often in the home than outside it. All of which started to calm their earlier justifiable rage at "the bishops."
The bishops' facing the problem led to Catholics' increased confidence. People find reassurance in results too, and, though any instance of abuse is reprehensible, there is hope in the fact that in the last audit period (2011) there were only seven accusations of minors molested by clerics deemed credible by law enforcement -- that in a church of 77.7 million U.S. Catholics. That's enough reason to make the satisfaction rate soar.
Other factors fed the uptick. Though shamed by the scandal, bishops remained bishops. They faced financial crises squarely, confirmed youth in parishes, led dioceses in prayer and held the line on church teaching in the public square. They now maintain the high satisfaction rate despite seeming to be the sole voice for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the nation.
The bishops have other positions that seem to please no one. For example, they still want universal health care -- they've sought it for decades -- with particular concern for the plight of the poor and protection of innocent and fragile lives. Ironically, though their quite broad positions would protect so many, their positions right now please so few.
The bishops may take some satisfaction in an approval rating of 70 percent, but raising poll numbers was never their goal. The year 2012 still presents challenges, especially in the area of sexual abuse, which demands constant vigilance and transparency. Pew numbers show, however, that people are with the bishops, which ought to be a measure of comfort in still trying times.
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There is a mass exodus out of Roman Catholicism in our day which the "powers that be" are both oblivious and indifferent to. Many like myself, have renounced the religion of Rome to embrace wholeheartedly the religion of Christ!
Since the Roman Catholic Clergy Abuse Scandal broke in 2002 many have sought to explain why the abuse of children is so prevalent and pervasive within the ranks of the priesthood. Perhaps you are familiar with some of the arguments that have been advanced, with one notable exception which I offer for your consideration now.
In his timely commentary entitled: 'The Root Causes for the Catholic Scandals and Sovereignty of God', Richard Bennett, former Roman Catholic priest examines the scandal in the context of Roman Catholic theology/doctrine and in the light of Scripture. Mr. Bennett has taken great care to present the material in a sensitive and compassionate spirit and with a heartfelt desire to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15)
By way of a caveat . . it must be understood, however, that in the process of declaring the truth, one must out of necessity denounce that which is false, and as such, this article will invariably challenge your beliefs and disturb your comfort zone.
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They did so because a legal and financial gun was put to their heads. Still today the main perpatrators are sitting in Rome. The scandal in Ireland has made the once proud Catholic nation now a place where Catholicism is collapsing. Scandals in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Germany are still being uncovered.
The magicians no longer hold any magic. People see them for what they are.
As for the approval numbers--the percentage is meaningless unless you understand the sampling.
Can we say PROPAGANDA PIECE?
www.indietheology.com
Still, in the tradition the consecration rites still contain the ancient requirement that the people approve the choice of the bishop. The RIGHT IS IN THE RITE. When we start seeing Catholics standing up and saying, "NO, NOT ACCEPTABLE", might see some changes. Right now they are not willing to even do that.
Sad since the Church reveres martyrs and no one's head will be chopped for saying, "NO MAS, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."
So, 70% approve of the Bishops' leadership, but 83% are satisfied with the leadership of the nuns.
But this does not translate - as the sister implies - into support for the bishops' politics.
Only 64% of Catholics have heard of the bishops' position on contraception, and of those only 56% agree, and 36% disagree.
51% of Catholics say that Barack Obama best represents their views on abortion and gay rights.
51% of Catholic voters who have heard of the bishops' contraceptive protests support Obama, and 37% Romney.
So Sister Walsh has reported the flattering number, but omitted the unflattering ones.
Too bad the Ninth Commandment doesn't say "thou shalt not omit statistics".
At least that is what the good nuns taught me.
Your religion is speeding toward extinction. The world's caught on to the con, they're tired of the lies and rape and murder. And good riddance, I say.