Three Franciscan friars have been charged in Pennsylvania with allowing a suspected sexual predator to hold jobs where he molested more than 100 children.
Baker was allowed to harm children for decades because of men who were more concerned with the church’s reputation than with the safety of children in their care.
While thankful they are being held accountable, this will not be justice. Justice will be no child ever being harmed again,
and their harm aided abetted by the indifference of cruel men.
So you say. The other idea is that those who didn’t stop him weren’t really sure of the details. I mean all it says is they allowed a suspected sexual predator to hold jobs. I’m not sure what that means. Who suspected him? Did they? Or were they innocent of such things themselves and so didn’t think he would do those things either?
I mean are we talking about them catching him in the act and then giving him a high-five and a raise or are we talking about them ignoring rumors in a mindset of innocent until proven guilty? (And at a time in history when that kind of stuff was maybe not talked about as much and usually down-played). Or are we talking about rumors running around about the guy that never got to their ears in a direct way “but they should have known better”?
I don’t know. I’m just having a hard time imagining 3 guys who gave up their whole lives to serve others being so dark that they’d line up kids for this guy to tickle.
And I know I’m going to hang alone when I say this. I’m going to be right on the outside of all normal. But I’m going to say it anyway.
These people who were groped when children shouldn’t be suing the Church.
Church money comes from its members. The members worked hard to pay for that stuff. People who were hurt by someone in the Church should just sue the people involved. End of story.
Bad things happen to people all the time. But we can’t keep making it the fault of the organization the people responsible worked for. It’s impossible to know what’s going on at every level of a place. It’s impossible to know how people are going to act when you’re not around to watch. Especially when you don’t get into what they get into. When you don’t think like they do.
And society pretending like this is the right way to do things isn’t helping. Making these people live life as a victim forever is worse than just letting them get over it. Moving on is key. Money is not going to help. Putting their names in the paper is not going to help. Give them support. Give them closure. But don’t give them money. Like some kind of overdue payment for services rendered. Give them services. But don’t make this a struggle of incentive. Don’t whet that appetite. Keep it clean. And make justice purely about justice.
But that’s my thing. So feel free to disagree. It doesn’t pull me down. I’m not in line to pay or receive. I’m not even in line.
Peace.
-Trident
