German bishops publicly ask forgiveness for sex abuse

[lemonbeam]

On Tuesday, the German Conference of Catholic Bishops began their plenary session. On the first day of meetings, president of the conference Archbishop Robert Zoellisch asked for public forgiveness regarding cases of child sexual abuse in the German Church.

Archbishop Zoellisch said he was “deeply upset” by the cases of the “repugnant crime” of pedophilia which took place in some Jesuit schools in Germany from the 70s to the 90s, L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) reported.

“I ask forgiveness in the name of the German Catholic Church of all the victims of this crime,” he said in a press conference, pointing out that it is particularly grave as a violation of the special trust young people give to priests.

LOR added that the archbishop gave his assurance that cases of abuse would be reported for public prosecution, but also noted that many of the cases will have already passed the 10-year statute of limitations.

In addition, Archbishop Zoellisch spoke of the Church’s need to reestablish its reputation for Catholic education and its credibility in areas such as marriage and family teaching and sexual morality.

Read more here: catholicnewsagency.com/news/german_bishops_publicly_ask_forgiveness_for_sex_abuse/

 

[Edwardjohn]

Then we need to forgive them “as God in Christ has forgiven us.”

 

[Rascalking]

Then we need to forgive them “as God in Christ has forgiven us.”

It’s easy for us to do, because (hopefully) we’ve never been the victim of abuse…

I think it’s best just to pray for the victims and hope they can forgive their accusers. Never, ever to preach to them.

It’s a good start from the German bishops. Good for them.

 

[whatevergirl]

*Of course, we must always choose to forgive. But, why did it take the mainstream media to bring this to light, for apologies to be given, publically? It troubles me though, to know, that the Church officials wouldn’t come forth and say…’‘it’s been brought to our attention that…and we are truly sorry.’’ Now, the apologies almost look obligatory, in light of the scandals being on every tv screen, globally. Anywho, it’s a start…and hopefully, this will never happen again…if it does, the men involved will be dealt with SWIFTLY. No child should be put through this. *

 

[TedDC]

Of course, we must always choose to forgive. But, why did it take the mainstream media to bring this to light, for apologies to be given, publically? It troubles me though, to know, that the Church officials wouldn’t come forth and say…’‘it’s been brought to our attention that…and we are truly sorry.’’ Now, the apologies almost look obligatory, in light of the scandals being on every tv screen, globally. Anywho, it’s a start…and hopefully, this will never happen again…if it does, the men involved will be dealt with SWIFTLY. No child should be put through this.

Yes, exactly.

 

[lemonbeam]

Of course, we must always choose to forgive. But, why did it take the mainstream media to bring this to light, for apologies to be given, publically? It troubles me though, to know, that the Church officials wouldn’t come forth and say…’‘it’s been brought to our attention that…and we are truly sorry.’’ Now, the apologies almost look obligatory, in light of the scandals being on every tv screen, globally. Anywho, it’s a start…and hopefully, this will never happen again…if it does, the men involved will be dealt with SWIFTLY. No child should be put through this.

Anyone that was involved in any cover ups should resign. It’s the responsible thing to do. The thing Cardinal Sean Brady should do.

 

[whatevergirl]

Anyone that was involved in any cover ups should resign. It’s the responsible thing to do. The thing Cardinal Sean Brady should do.

*I agree. Anyone alive who was involved, should step down…do you think they will? *

 

[torch621]

They have mine, but now I think they need to start asking the forgiveness of the victims. They’re the ones who need to know the Church is sorry for the mishandlings the most.

 

[lemonbeam]

*I agree. Anyone alive who was involved, should step down…do you think they will? *

I think one Irish Bishop has stepped down. Most of these abuses that took place, around 1930s to 1970s, 80s maybe? All those Bishops must be dead now.

I think the German Bishops in this article are asking for forgiveness generally for the cover ups that have taken place in the past. They can’t of been involved in anything. With the new reforms no cover ups are possible.

General question, can the Pope ask a Bishop to resign?

 

[Edwardjohn]

Good question.

 

[timotheos]

They have mine, but now I think they need to start asking the forgiveness of the victims. They’re the ones who need to know the Church is sorry for the mishandlings the most.

Yes, indeed. It must be awful for each and every one of them, every day of their lives. And the Church will always have its Judases. I never got the impression that Jesus condemned Judas for his actions, rather Judas condemned himself, and many of these priests seem to be doing the same. But Christ suffered for Judas’ actions, and so the Church also suffers for the actions of those on the “inside”. We can and should extend forgiveness to these complicit bishops, and the rest of the unruly crowd looking to punish the Church for daring to claim itself as the repository for the truth. As angry as I am, there is ultimately no role for anger, only forgiveness, and continued witness to the truth. This year we have the opportunity to live Holy Week a little bit more like true Christians.

Prayers for the Holy Father. He must be beside himself, seeing how upset he has been by these scandals in the past.

-Tim

 

[Edwardjohn]

*I agree. Anyone alive who was involved, should step down…do you think they will? *

Ya know, that is a tough one. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” according to scripture. One would think that they would feel obligated to step down, but then, what about that call?

 

[whatevergirl]

Ya know, that is a tough one. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” according to scripture. One would think that they would feel obligated to step down, but then, what about that call?

I think that when we confess our sins and God forgives us, we still have consequences, sometimes. If I were to steal from my company let’s say, I could go to confession, be forgiven by God, and promise to never do it again, and really succeed in that repentance. But, would my company keep me on? Unlikely. While the Church can’t be likened to a secular institution, because She isn’t…it still would be morally the wise thing to do, to step down, if you were somewhat culpable in the transferring of priests whom you knew were hurting kids left and right. Just my take. I don’t know if there is anything in canon law that would ‘‘force’’ someone to resign, but priests can be defrocked, so there must be something along those lines. Some are just not fit to be in the role of clergy. Doesn’t mean they are not contrite, or are not sorry for their wrongdoing…but, again, when you lose trust from your congregation as to the quality of your judgement and character, you should step down. *

 

[Seno_Ryan]

I agree that those who are responsible for transferring priests who abused children to other parishes must resign for the sake of the Church and Christ’s teachings. This would be positive way to start afresh and the healing process.

 

[Edwardjohn]

I think that when we confess our sins and God forgives us, we still have consequences, sometimes. If I were to steal from my company let’s say, I could go to confession, be forgiven by God, and promise to never do it again, and really succeed in that repentance. But, would my company keep me on? Unlikely. While the Church can’t be likened to a secular institution, because She isn’t…it still would be morally the wise thing to do, to step down, if you were somewhat culpable in the transferring of priests whom you knew were hurting kids left and right. Just my take. I don’t know if there is anything in canon law that would ‘‘force’’ someone to resign, but priests can be defrocked, so there must be something along those lines. Some are just not fit to be in the role of clergy. Doesn’t mean they are not contrite, or are not sorry for their wrongdoing…but, again, when you lose trust from your congregation as to the quality of your judgement and character, you should step down. *

You are absolutly right, but what about that call? I cannot imagine the “hell” a person would go through when they have misused the call God has made on their life. I wish I could express what it is I’m trying to say. The call, the ordination, the laying on of hands, the giving of the gift(s), and then, defrocked. What would happen to that person? But then, did they bring it upon themselves? Judas was one of the twelve, and, when he realized what he had done… I don’t know. Again, a tough question.

 

[IHeartBenedict]

You know something, these threads are fascinating in one respect: Mortal Sin is Mortal Sin: Who among us have not committed a mortal sin at one time or another, perhaps stole a little something as a teenager, got super drunk, has sex outside of marriage… …yet we are all ready to skewer people who committed this particular mortal sin.

We confess OUR sins and expect that to be the end of it. Yet we are all ready to take up pitchforks and torches and pursue these people endlessly.

I am not condoning what they did, and I realize how awful the crime is. But still, from a spiritual point of view, all mortal sin has the same end result. It seems that we should do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

Oh ya, and then there’s that little fogginess thing that Jesus always talked about. I have not seen “forgiveness” mentioned once in all of these posts.

 

[Edwardjohn]

You know something, these threads are fascinating in one respect: Mortal Sin is Mortal Sin: Who among us have not committed a mortal sin at one time or another, perhaps stole a little something as a teenager, got super drunk, has sex outside of marriage… …yet we are all ready to skewer people who committed this particular mortal sin.

We confess OUR sins and expect that to be the end of it. Yet we are all ready to take up pitchforks and torches and pursue these people endlessly.

I am not condoning what they did, and I realize how awful the crime is. But still, from a spiritual point of view, all mortal sin has the same end result. It seems that we should do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

Oh ya, and then there’s that little fogginess thing that Jesus always talked about. I have not seen “forgiveness” mentioned once in all of these posts.

You had better reread.

 

[IHeartBenedict]

You know something, these threads are fascinating in one respect: Mortal Sin is Mortal Sin: Who among us have not committed a mortal sin at one time or another, perhaps stole a little something as a teenager, got super drunk, has sex outside of marriage… …yet we are all ready to skewer people who committed this particular mortal sin.

We confess OUR sins and expect that to be the end of it. Yet we are all ready to take up pitchforks and torches and pursue these people endlessly.

I am not condoning what they did, and I realize how awful the crime is. But still, from a spiritual point of view, all mortal sin has the same end result. It seems that we should do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

Oh ya, and then there’s that little fogginess thing that Jesus always talked about. I have not seen “forgiveness” mentioned once in all of these posts.

You had better reread.

Well, if I missed something then I stand corrected. These forums are chock full of threads on this whole sex scandal thing, so I am sure I missed a lot.

I wish the admins would put a cap on how many threads can be started on the same subject. But I guess thats off topic. Sorry.

 

[anode]

You know something, these threads are fascinating in one respect: Mortal Sin is Mortal Sin: Who among us have not committed a mortal sin at one time or another, perhaps stole a little something as a teenager, got super drunk, has sex outside of marriage… …yet we are all ready to skewer people who committed this particular mortal sin.

We confess OUR sins and expect that to be the end of it. Yet we are all ready to take up pitchforks and torches and pursue these people endlessly.

I am not condoning what they did, and I realize how awful the crime is. But still, from a spiritual point of view, all mortal sin has the same end result. It seems that we should do unto others as we would have others do unto us.

Oh ya, and then there’s that little fogginess thing that Jesus always talked about. I have not seen “forgiveness” mentioned once in all of these posts.

It’s because these sins are particular heinous. Because they were known and covered up for decades by higher representatives of that church’s hierarchy. They were perpetrated against* children* and youth, and particularly defenseless children in the Milwaukee case, the deaf. Perpetrated by the official representatives of a religious branch which appears to place special emphasis on the sinfulness of sexual sins, especially among the young, against whom these heinous crimes were committed.

Other representatives of other branches of Christianity do not appear to have performed these sins on such an industrial scale.

The ‘forgiveness’ has now been asked, somewhat belatedly, decades after the events, long after so many lives of the injured were destroyed. The sins of pedophilia are especially destructive to the developing personality. Mortal sins can be forgiven, but these lives will never be whole again.

…that’s why.

 

[Edwardjohn]

Well, if I missed something then I stand corrected. These forums are chock full of threads on this whole sex scandal thing, so I am sure I missed a lot.

I wish the admins would put a cap on how many threads can be started on the same subject. But I guess thats off topic. Sorry.

Hey, no problem, this is a hot topic, and it is all over the place. But I think you’ll agree, that it is a good thing for this to come out, be exposed, because it shows that the Lord is still our “Abba Father.” The Body of Christ, the Church, will survive. Let the media and critics point their accusatory fingers. What they are pointing at is a cleansing and a sign, a fulfillment of scripture, that the “Gates of Hell will not prevail.”