Catholic Clergy Abuse: The Continuing Scandal
So more abuse by Catholic Clergy has recently come to light. In Wisconsin, a priest repeatedly abused over 200 boys at a school for the deaf over at least 25 years. Despite numerous reports, the church heirarchy including the Vatican failed to defrock him. That offender has thankfully victimized no more boys since his death in 1998. An Irish inquiry has unveiled "'endemic' rape and abuse" at reform schools and orphanages run by Catholic clergy. And in Germany more accusations are coming to light.
As might be reasonable for the man in charge of discipline within the Catholic Church at the time of most of the reported abuse, the now-Pope is under a great deal of fire. He has made a public apology to the Irish victims, but I agree with the many who say it falls short. For one, it makes no commitment to stop harboring abusers within the church and stop passing them to new locales for fresh victims. Second, it denies any responsibility for this worldwide problem at the highest levels of the Church. The one issuing decrees that both perpetrator and victim keep sexual abuse secret. I wonder if the Pope is making a grand pun, making apology in the sense of supporting a religious argument, in this case to shield abusers from investigation and punishment.
Two of the most moving commentaries on the issue I have read are:
John Cory: A Personal Issue, The Catholic Church Scandal -- trigger warning: frank and graphic description of sexual abuse.
Sinead O'Connor: The Pope's Apology for Irish Sex Abuse Seems Hollow
One thing is for sure: I will continue to avoid setting foot in a Catholic Church as much as possible (I may be obligated for weddings, but may decline to attend such ceremonies). If I ever start believing in Christianity again, I sure as hell am not returning to the Catholics. After years of saying I'm planning to, I am finally going to tender my written resignation to the Church. Any organization that justifies child abuse has no right to tell me I'm going to hell because I won't play with them anymore.
As might be reasonable for the man in charge of discipline within the Catholic Church at the time of most of the reported abuse, the now-Pope is under a great deal of fire. He has made a public apology to the Irish victims, but I agree with the many who say it falls short. For one, it makes no commitment to stop harboring abusers within the church and stop passing them to new locales for fresh victims. Second, it denies any responsibility for this worldwide problem at the highest levels of the Church. The one issuing decrees that both perpetrator and victim keep sexual abuse secret. I wonder if the Pope is making a grand pun, making apology in the sense of supporting a religious argument, in this case to shield abusers from investigation and punishment.
Two of the most moving commentaries on the issue I have read are:
John Cory: A Personal Issue, The Catholic Church Scandal -- trigger warning: frank and graphic description of sexual abuse.
Sinead O'Connor: The Pope's Apology for Irish Sex Abuse Seems Hollow
One thing is for sure: I will continue to avoid setting foot in a Catholic Church as much as possible (I may be obligated for weddings, but may decline to attend such ceremonies). If I ever start believing in Christianity again, I sure as hell am not returning to the Catholics. After years of saying I'm planning to, I am finally going to tender my written resignation to the Church. Any organization that justifies child abuse has no right to tell me I'm going to hell because I won't play with them anymore.