Is it time for the Roman Catholic church to do more?
The New York Times broke another story this morning that appears to connect Pope Benedict to a troubling priest-abuse case, this time in the U.S.
Top Vatican officials — including the future Pope Benedict XVI — did not defrock a priest who molested as many as 200 deaf boys, even though several American bishops repeatedly warned them that failure to act on the matter could embarrass the church, according to church files newly unearthed as part of a lawsuit.
The internal correspondence from bishops in Wisconsin directly to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future pope, shows that while church officials tussled over whether the priest should be dismissed, their highest priority was protecting the church from scandal.
Many Roman Catholic officials and rank-and-file faithful are impatient with the continued scrutiny from outside the Church.
But the continuing revelations and the truly barbaric nature of the crimes committed by “predator priests” raise urgent questions about the organization’s core values.
Is it true that the Church as an institution was more valuable to top church leaders than the sanctity and safety of vulnerable children?
If an official involved in the process has been elevated to the supposedly infallible position of Pope, what does that say about the institution’s movement toward healing, honesty and reconciliation?
Reading the New York Times article will shock and dismay you. It appears that there are no easy answers and no quick resolutions to this chapter in the Church’s history.
So… Will this Pope be the Catholic church's Nixon? Stay tuned for further developments.
Maybe it's been mentioned before and I just missed it, but can anyone tell me if these priests have ever been prosecuted for violating the law? It seems I never hear or read about them being sent to jail or facing any consequences. Either within the church or the criminal justice system. Anyone?
Most have only been accused. These cases are very hard to prove, we have a whole school system in NYC called the rubber room where teachers who have accusations against them including sexual abuse are sent and collect their pay but face no criminal prosecution. Maybe the Church needs a place like that? There is no reason that these cases could not go to the law if there was a case.Many Catholics including myself would like to see a strong legal and criminal response to sort out fact from fiction. We would only ask and in fact demand that Catholic priest allegations are handled no differently than allegations against teachers, nurses, youth leaders whatever, molestation is molestation and horrible wherever it occurs. If a Bishop or a School principle has covered up abuse they need to be prosecuted.The position of the Pope we believe is infallible in its teaching of Church Doctrine, the human who occupies that position is fallible and sinful.
Warren, This was the best story I could find regarding who has gone to prison:http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0321/p01s04-ussc.html
Paul,Thanks for the article. Very insightful. Especially about the "Aura of Goodness" issue.
Somewhat off-topic but I can't help realizing that most of the NYTimes coverage from Germany has been written by Nicholas Kulish..who was born a couple doors down the street from me in Alexandria VA. Of course at the time I was 33 and now he's the Times bureau chief in Berlin…time certainly does go by doesnt it??
Thanks, Paul.Though I think the biggest reason, by far, is statute of limitations issues. Most of the cases we've heard about in the last 10-15 years were decades old–and the incidents happened at a time when such things weren't talked about, let alone made public. Even when the statute of limitations issues weren't an issue, it's tough to get a conviction based on old accusations.
Mervel,Priests are getting the same treatment as anyone else. That's if society allowed the unions of nurses and teachers to handle it internally.With all do respect, the reaction and subsequent cover up at the Vatican is proof enough that this is a huge problem in the church.I think it's probably more of a case of society's norms changing and Rome lagging behind.In the early days of the church, it was common practice to have a "boy" or two.It isn't anymore, yet the church has refused to evolve to meet the times in this regard.
There have been two mistakes in this whole mess.One, anyone abused should have gone to the police with the complaint.Two, when anyone went to the Church and complained, the person or persons in the Church should have told them to go to the police.I went to Catholic grade school and high school and never had a problem, nor did I ever hear of anyone having a sexual problem with a priest or a nun.I have no idea what happened or why.To the extent there has been and still is a problem, my above points should have been followed.
I don't deny it is a huge problem for the Catholic Church I hope I didn't give that impression. But what is a cover up in this regard? You have people coming with accusations and rumors to a Bishop about a priest or say to a principle about a teacher. So what do you do? Should the principle call the police and cps immediately? I think today from what we know now I would say yes, I am not sure I would have said that 10 years ago. The horrible molestation in the deaf case happened 40-50 years ago. But no the institution should never be the one to handle a criminal issue. Be it a school or a Church, any Church. But for example should the people who knew about the previous allegations against the Youth Director in Saranac Lake who is accused of raping that young girl be prosecuted now, if he is guilty?
"But for example should the people who knew about the previous allegations against the Youth Director in Saranac Lake who is accused of raping that young girl be prosecuted now, if he is guilty?"No, but they should be fired. Just like the responsible higher-ups in the priest cases.
I agree.
There are two forms of morality. One is secular and the other is spiritual.Sometimes the two coincide. Other times the two are in opposition.In the case of these sex scandals, the two moralities can be in conflict.I earlier posted my opinion that those who believe/know they have been victimized should report the problem to the police, not the church. I also said the church should tell people to report the problem to the police and not say,"We'll look into it."To make my point as clear as possible – if you have been shot or robbed by a priest, go to the cops. Don't go complain to the Church.The Church is not an extension nor is it an arm of the criminal justice system.If I were to go to a priest and confess that I committed murder, rape or robbery, he might suggest I turn myself in but would never make it a requirement for me to be forgiven before God.I know many people do not like this but for it to be otherwise would be a violation of the separation between church and state.By the way, while I do not have the same right to secrecy before the law as does a priest and while the legal justice system would argue I must inform them of any wrong doing done by anyone, on a spiritual moral level I do not have any such obligation. On a secular level I do have the obligation. On a spiritual level I do not have an obligation.These differences between the secular (sometimes called the mundane) and the spiritual are part of what makes life interesting.
Pete is exactly correct, also it IS the policy of the Church right now (not always in the past no doubt) that any reported criminal activity should be reported to the police.