A reader left a comment on my recent post on the continuing fallout from the Murphy Report in Ireland on the Diocese of Dublin. While acknowledging that the abuse and the cover ups in the Roman Catholic Church are terrible, the author of the comment - that will not be published because it is anonymous - tries to (1) give Pope Benedict a pass by saying he has been more forthcoming that John Paul II and (2) launching into a review of sex abuse issues in Anglican churches in Canada. The false piety of the Catholic hierarchy sickens me and I wish would be apologists for Benedict XVI would open their eyes. To say that he is better than the un-saintly John Paul II does not excuse his continuing failures to remove bishops, archbishops and cardinals who were involved in enabling and/or covering up the abuse of minors.*
The bottom line is that sexual abuse of minors is inexcusable anywhere and in all denominations, but in my view the Catholic Church deserves special scrutiny for several reasons. First, the abuse seems to have been endemic world wide - case are pending literally around the globe. Second, the efforts of cover up and refusal to settle with abuse victims has often victimize those abused by priests a second time. Third, rather than wait for offered resignations, the Popes should have immediately removed bishops implicated in cover ups. In the present case in Ireland, if Benedict XVI was serious about cleaning up the Church, he would have immediately fired the five bishops named in the Murphy Report. Instead, we have seen more deference to those guilty of malfeasance than one would see in any other type of institution.
*The bottom line is that sexual abuse of minors is inexcusable anywhere and in all denominations, but in my view the Catholic Church deserves special scrutiny for several reasons. First, the abuse seems to have been endemic world wide - case are pending literally around the globe. Second, the efforts of cover up and refusal to settle with abuse victims has often victimize those abused by priests a second time. Third, rather than wait for offered resignations, the Popes should have immediately removed bishops implicated in cover ups. In the present case in Ireland, if Benedict XVI was serious about cleaning up the Church, he would have immediately fired the five bishops named in the Murphy Report. Instead, we have seen more deference to those guilty of malfeasance than one would see in any other type of institution.
Another truth is that the Catholic Church continues to marginalize women and gays and rejects modern knowledge. Its anti-birth control positions for example only serve to spread disease and have children born into situations where they suffer starvation and sometimes abuse. If as an institution the Church is going to play holier than thou, then, by God, hold it to the higher standard that it pretends to demand of everyone else. Like so many issues, it is the hypocrisy and callousness of members of the hierarchy that is so disgusting.
No comments:
Post a Comment