How to answer questions about the sex scandal?

[catechumen08]

Hi, me and the roommates were recently discussing religion in general. One of my roommates, upon knowing that I’m Catholic, brought up the topic of the sex scandal in the Church. I wanted to give her an honest answer without sounding too defensive about it, but I wasn’t sure how to best answer the question. She’s actually been thinking about converting, not necessarily to Catholicism, but to Christianity - she was affiliated with a Protestant church.

My understanding is that priests are human, too, and as such, are not immune to sin. It is very regrettable about what happened, but that is between the priest and his God. This should not theoretically affect the priest’s ability to do his job as required by his priestly office - although I’m not entirely sure whether covering up the scandal does or doesn’t compromise their usefulness as priests, and this is the biggest problem my roommate had with the Church, on this topic. I didn’t know how to answer that.

Anyway, any help in answering this question would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[St_Gabriel]

Firstly, I acknowledge that many people have be hurt by the terrible things that went on and are still going on. I also let them know that I believe that all those who committed them should be punished and that the victims are given a just and fair compensation for carrying such a heavy cross. Whether these things happen in this life or the next is not up to me.

Then I would point out to them, that church members are sinners all trying to reach the same goal and that no one should be surprised by this because even our Lord acknowledged it when he set it up in the beginning (ie. St. Peter and Judas). Especially the man whom Jesus entrusted with his church, turned his back on him and denied him 3 times.

After saying all that I would let them know that I don’t know a single person personally who is a member of the Church who hasn’t been hurt by these scandals.

 

[MarcoPolo]

What are the questions? The priests sinned. Some of it was covered up. That was a sin. If your friend is looking for a church with no sin, well, good luck. The truth of a Church should not be based upon the sins of the individuals, especially who act against Church teaching!

 

[brosam]

What are the questions? The priests sinned. Some of it was covered up.

Why was it covered up?

Why were those who covered it up allowed to cover it up?

Why were priests sent to other churches without informing the church of the predator the church was forcing on them and their children?

The truth of a Church should not be based upon the sins of the individuals, especially who act against Church teaching!

When the church claims to be infallible in all matters of doctrine and practice, and you claim that your leader speaks directly on behalf of Christ, then yes, it is perfectly reasonable to consider this when evaluating the truth of your church.

 

[St_Gabriel]

Why was it covered up?

When the church claims to be infallible in all matters of doctrine and practice, and you claim that your leader speaks directly on behalf of Christ, then yes, it is perfectly reasonable to consider this when evaluating the truth of your church.

Hi brosam, not catholic yet? You do not have a proper understanding of what the church considers to be infallible. If you want to dialogue with Catholics, you got to speak the same language. Check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It’s available on line and it will explain that for you.

 

[brosam]

Hi brosam, not catholic yet?

No, still Christian. Sorry.

You do not have a proper understanding of what the church considers to be infallible. If you want to dialogue with Catholics, you got to speak the same language. Check out the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It’s available on line and it will explain that for you.

Yes, by all means, let’s not talk about the OP.

 

[St_Gabriel]

This is the link to the index to the Catechism of the Catholic Church it might help you out. It defines what is a christian.

scborromeo.org/ccc/index/a.htm

 

[Texas_Roofer]

One thing commonly misunderstood is the church has no other authority to turn to. So when a man acted that way the church could not call the police or imprison him. They cannot testify against this man. All they can do is separate and counsel which they did. I have sympathy to those who say there should have been more separation; however the church really did the best it could. If you look you will find these men were usually isolated into retreats for counseling, then only when it was reasonable were they allowed out of adult isolation. The problem was some men returned to sinful actions.

Additionally your friend should know that these actions occur less in Priests than in general population meaning a child is actually safer if randomly assigned to a Priest than if randomly assigned to a man select from the public.

 

[Light_Seeker]

Additionally your friend should know that these actions occur less in Priests than in general population meaning a child is actually safer if randomly assigned to a Priest than if randomly assigned to a man select from the public.

I’ve wondered about this, with the assumption that percentages of pedophile clergy is less than non-clergy. But just assumption, never have seen any studies or demographics. Do you know of any supporting links? Thanks.

 

[brosam]

One thing commonly misunderstood is the church has no other authority to turn to. So when a man acted that way the church could not call the police or imprison him. They cannot testify against this man. All they can do is separate and counsel which they did.

Are you serious? Why can a Roman Catholic not call the police when a priest molests a child?

Additionally your friend should know that these actions occur less in Priests than in general population meaning a child is actually safer if randomly assigned to a Priest than if randomly assigned to a man select from the public.

Let’s say that this is true.

The question still remains, why are your priests molesting little children at all? Why is your church covering it up at all?

 

[catechumen08]

Yes, by all means, let’s not talk about the OP.

Eh? Oh boy, how did I get in the middle of this?

Are you serious? Why can a Roman Catholic not call the police when a priest molests a child?

I’d call the police.

 

[brosam]

Eh? Oh boy, how did I get in the middle of this?

It’s not about you, it’s about the subject you brought up. It’s an important one and I applaud you for bringing it up. Most Roman Catholics just stick their heads in the sand and pretend like it isn’t happening.

I’m just suggesting to the poster that we continue to talk about the subject you brought up.

I’d call the police.

So would I. And if my church covered it up, I’d start looking for a new church.

 

[Mike_Brick]

When the church claims to be infallible in all matters of doctrine and practice, and you claim that your leader speaks directly on behalf of Christ, then yes, it is perfectly reasonable to consider this when evaluating the truth of your church.

Bro-sam, for a guy with all the answers, you missed one important one. The Church’s teaching on matters of FAITH and MORALS is infallible. That does not include PRACTICES, as you wrote above. Just thought you might be seeking information on these forums, not just dispensing it.

Blessings
Mike

 

[brosam]

Bro-sam, for a guy with all the answers, you missed one important one. The Church’s teaching on matters of FAITH and MORALS is infallible.

Do you believe that the church was correct when it decided that it was “moral” to murder men they considered to be “heretics”?

 

[TexRose]

Unfortunately, this is happening everywhere. No one can automatically say or think that this happens only in the Catholic religion.

 

[brosam]

Unfortunately, this is happening everywhere. No one can automatically say or think that this happens only in the Catholic religion.

But if the Roman Catholic religion is everything that you’re all telling me it is, why is it happening at all? Why is your church covering it up? Why are Roman Catholics not furious about this?

Honestly, if this were happening in our church, we’d storm the place with torches and pitchforks, but you all seem to be sitting back and saying, “Sure, it’s wrong to molest kids, but we’re not going to speak out against the church for it’s complicity.”

 

[ddeluna]

Satan On a Mission

I was speaking with a very close family member last week who attends a different parish. She’s a faith-filled, regular, contributing mass-goer and an active steward in her parish. We drifted into a conversation about the monetary damages dioceses around the country are paying out due to abuse settlements. She wondered that many look at the big payouts and wonder where their contributions are actually going. Do some hesitate to give money because it might go toward the lawsuits, and others hesitate to give toward the Bishop’s causes?

Bishops have had to face an extraordinary moment in terms of the public image of the Church. No doubt a humbling experience. Yet, since the abuse crisis came to the forefront in 2002, dioceses have taken unprecedented steps to confront the issue, assist the victims, seek forgiveness, ensure the safety of minors and restore credibility.

This family member wondered how many - as a result of disillusionment – have left the Church. Satan does his best work in the Church. If you leave the Church, mission accomplished. As we all know, the media is mostly anti-religious. Our culture is even worse. Mission accomplished. The environment has become ripe for Satan to work on our priests. Strike at the shepherd and the flock with scatter. Mission accomplished. At a time when we need more good priests, the scandal scares away many holy men from the seminary. Mission accomplished. Satan is very cunning.

What’s really needed today is to hold our priests – often isolated and on the defensive – up in prayer, to pray for vocations, to contribute even more. Yes, even more. I look at it this way: I won’t stop providing for my family because one member was convicted of abuse. That’s not what Jesus taught me. Jesus taught me to support one another, to close ranks instead of cut and run because one member sinned. Every family – biological or parish – has sinners. Even one of Jesus’ twelve apostles sold Him into death. Still, the other apostles remained committed to the message and the mission (of the Gospel). Not one cut and ran (well, maybe Peter, but just for a minute). Whether we are satisfied or not with the punishment abusive priests get or what our bishops are doing about it is wholly unrelated to what should be our single-minded commitment to carry on Christ’s mission - through the Church.

Our Bishop and our parish have real and genuine needs, as legitimate as they were before the scandal, they remain legitimate today. The PG&E bill comes every month, scandal or not. Many good, retired priests need our support (thru the annual Bishop’s appeal). Jesus’ message of redemption and salvation is still valid. His Church still preaches Christ crucified and begs us to come to repentance. Will we continue to hear and respond to the call or will we throw the baby out with the bath water? If we do, then mission accomplished.

[from a bulletin article I wrote for our parish recently. I thot it an appropriate post for this thread]

 

[jmcrae]

Are you serious? Why can a Roman Catholic not call the police when a priest molests a child?

They can and should call the police. I think he just meant that the Bishop is not a policeman, and if the victims are not willing to testify against the priest or have him arrested, there is not much that the Bishop can do about it, because hearsay testimony is not allowed in court.

The question still remains, why are your priests molesting little children at all? Why is your church covering it up at all?

Believe me, this is not the usual practice either of priests or of the Church. We consider such thing to be Mortal Sins, and we know that any priests who do not repent of this behaviour will certainly go to Hell. There is, after all, no doubt that they knew it was wrong, and they were the adults in the situation - there was nothing “coerced” about their behaviour.

 

[jmcrae]

Honestly, if this were happening in our church, we’d storm the place with torches and pitchforks, but you all seem to be sitting back and saying, “Sure, it’s wrong to molest kids, but we’re not going to speak out against the church for it’s complicity.”

It could well be happening in your church without your being aware of it - probably because you’d burn the place down if you ever found out.

 

[brosam]

It could well be happening in your church without your being aware of it - probably because you’d burn the place down if you ever found out.

OK. Show me where it’s happening in my church.