Pope Emeritus Benedict - The Church and the Scandal of Sexual Abuse

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I agree. Taking it as written, it seems like this is a problem only from 1960 on and the Vatican II and the sexual revolution of the 60’s is the cause of the problem.

That does not account for the likes of Theodore McCarrick who was formed and ordained prior to VII, and in what many consider the “golden age of American Catholicism”.
 
Of course this stuff was going on prior, but it did ramp up when Benedict says it did. Here’s a chart from the John Jay report of the USCCB:

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Notice too, the slower increase early on was at a time when the total number of priests was also increasing. The more dramatic increase was when total priests started to decrease (which makes it even more dramatic).

And of course the generation responsible for the sharp increase in abuse (and decrease in priests overall) were likely also into or tolerant of that filth–it’s not shocking that the generation that came up with the “reforms” that enabled it were also into it. That’s the problem–they spread it throughout. Such “conciliar” attitudes, as Benedict calls them, seem to be rotten in both their fruits and their source.
 
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Genesis315 said:
Of course this stuff was going on prior, but it did ramp up when Benedict says it did. Here’s a chart from the John Jay report of the USCCB:
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Right. I don’t think Benedict’s purpose was to give an exhaustive historical reckoning of the causes of the sex abuse crisis. Everything he said seems true to me. Certainly, it is another question as to what left so many people (whether secularists, Catholics, priests, or bishops) so ripe to be so misled in the wake of Vatican II. That question is outside of the scope of what Benedict was trying to communicate.
 
Sure. I find it odd that Pope Francis had an 8 point plan that frankly did not have any teeth. Then there is this letter that seems to take a more pontifical and solid approach. The media is saying it contradicts Pope Francis but I would not go that far. It definitely has a different view than the current pope and even though it is more to my liking, it just doesn’t make sense. This is exactly what the current pontiff should have said.

As for it being in his “style” maybe his literary style, maybe his theological style but it is opposite of his political style. This is what a pontiff would say to a hurting Church, this is leading. Something Emeritus Benedict XVI has been avoiding on purpose since his abdication.

Nope… something is amiss
 
No matter how much the Church wants to ignore it, the John Jay report convicts the Church in the two most important categories that the Church is wrestling with in the abuse scandals. Post Vatican II problems, and homosexuality. The Church ignores this to it’s own detriment.
 
I am not convinced that the problem ramped up in the 70s. I think that the reporting ramped up in the 70s. The fact is that the Church has had a sexual abuse problem for centuries, but for most of that time the abuses where not brought to the light of day. Blaming the Church’s very real and very serious problems on the evil influence of society is not a productive way to address the issues, and neither is blaming these long standing problems on Vatican II. The problems revealed in the bright lights of modern day have been there for a long time. The real issues need to be addressed, without passing off blame to outside influences, or otherwise deflecting to other issues.
 
TMC said:
I am not convinced that the problem ramped up in the 70s. I think that the reporting ramped up in the 70s. The fact is that the Church has had a sexual abuse problem for centuries, but for most of that time the abuses where not brought to the light of day. Blaming the Church’s very real and very serious problems on the evil influence of society is not a productive way to address the issues, and neither is blaming these long standing problems on Vatican II. The problems revealed in the bright lights of modern day have been there for a long time. The real issues need to be addressed, without passing off blame to outside influences, or otherwise deflecting to other issues.
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I get what you’re saying, but the counter argument is the declining portion of the chart. That’s when we started getting, little by little, less bishops appointed and priests ordained with such radical “concilliar” attitudes and when practicing Catholics–the kind who would actually enter a religious vocation–became more and more disillusioned with the cultural revolutions of those times (the oft noted “JPII Generation”).

(JPII, while in no ways perfect in this regard, at least got things moving in the right direction and his successor, also not perfect, did so as well; history will tell us what Francis’ return to favoring bishops more resembling the past “concilliar” ones will bring).
 
The Church has had an abuse problem since it was formed. This is true. And to an extent protection and converups have been a part of this as well. And pedophilia is not new, neither is homosexuality. But there is a marked deviation in society and in the Church on these things being encouraged. The absence of shame in the false name of mercy has led to these issues in modern times.

And frankly it is demonic. There is no other way to say it. We are dealing with demonic forces here.

I caution everyone. This is not something that happened in the 70s and 80s and now doesn’t happen. It is currently happening. It is currently being doubted, hidden and excused.
 
Weserthy said:
This was a very interesting letter; I wonder if Pope Francis felt he couldn’t stymie Pope Benedict and allowed its publication even though it goes against so much of his philosophy.
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I do not think we should play the media game of highlighting supposed conflicts between the two. I see a lot in common with what the two have written, different emphasis and terminology at times, but much in common.

I see know way Pope Emeritus Benedict would have published this without the full support of Pope Francis. It would be completely out of character to his behavior both after and before his pontificate.

I think Francis likely requested he write it, knowing he could say things that Francis could not, knowing many Catholics would listen to Benedict and not himself.

I predict a statement from the Holy See in the next week or so that stresses the two men are in agreement on the issue.
 
Then-Cardinal Ratzinger knew of every case of priestly sexual abuse that occurred while he was head of the CDF and he turned none of them over to law enforcement. If I didn’t know that while reading this letter, I would applaud it. But it’s impossible to go back to the bliss of ignorance.
 
You know gracepoole, you are absolutely right. While I love BXVI, he was long in a position to do something. He either didn’t or couldn’t. And Francis either can’t or won’t. Someday, when we die, and we can know the grand plan, this will be a very interesting truth we learn. But until then, I just don’t know what to do outside of praying.
 
Hoosier-Daddy said:
The Church has had an abuse problem since it was formed. This is true. And to an extent protection and converups have been a part of this as well. And pedophilia is not new, neither is homosexuality. But there is a marked deviation in society and in the Church on these things being encouraged. The absence of shame in the false name of mercy has led to these issues in modern times.

And frankly it is demonic. There is no other way to say it. We are dealing with demonic forces here.

I caution everyone. This is not something that happened in the 70s and 80s and now doesn’t happen. It is currently happening. It is currently being doubted, hidden and excused.
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I agree with your first statement, and I wholeheartedly agree with your last. I am not so sure about the middle. The acceptance of discussing sexual issues in society allowed people to come forward and report. I do not think that means that there was more abuse, or that the abuse was more accepted. At least that is my opinion.
 
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Genesis315 said:
I get what you’re saying, but the counter argument is the declining portion of the chart. That’s when we started getting, little by little, less bishops appointed and priests ordained with such radical “concilliar” attitudes and when practicing Catholics–the kind who would actually enter a religious vocation–became more and more disillusioned with the cultural revolutions of those times (the oft noted “JPII Generation”).

(JPII, while in no ways perfect in this regard, at least got things moving in the right direction and his successor, also not perfect, did so as well; history will tell us what Francis’ return to favoring bishops more resembling the past “concilliar” ones will bring).
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The rate of abuse may be declining. Given the long delays that are typical in reporting childhood abuse, I don’t know if we can say that for sure yet. By why would you say the reduction is due to some supposed rejection of Vatican II, when it seems clear that Vatican II did not create the problem? It seems more likely that any reduction in offenses is a reaction to the fact that victims and their families were more willing to report, and that both the laity and civil authorities more willing to hold Church officials accountable. I see no rational connection between what you frame as a move away from Vatican II and a reduction in abuse. Frankly, it seems like the supposed “traditional” priests offend at least the same level as the supposed “conciliar” priests.

As to the impact of JPII on the sexual abuse crisis, I would just say that we view that period very differently.
 
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Having lived through the sexual revolution of the decade of the 1960’s and following, most of what the Pope Emeritus writes seems to be common sense and an acknowledgement of the history of those decades. The sexual revolution seemed to come about rather quickly and overtake the entire culture. No one was unaffected. Morality collapsed and in many cases, Catholic theologians and academics not only failed to counter the collapse, but rather welcomed it as liberating.

I was not familiar with seminaries at the time but in retrospect was surprised to discover that so many Catholic seminarians fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Some of their professors seem to have told them that soon after ordination, they would all be allowed to marry. When that turned out not to be the case, there was wholesale defection.

Parents gave in to their children who abandoned morality and went to live in communes. Catechists abandoned doctrine in favor of posters about love. We have begun to recover the doctrine, but the moral collapse has not been rebuilt. All the sexual abuse reporting in the world will be of no help unless morality is restored.
 
JimG said:
All the sexual abuse reporting in the world will be of no help unless morality is restored.
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What has been revealed in the Church must be used to strike a chord in the hearts of all people.
Does anyone think the bitterness of the pink hat women marchers is great? Imagine the grind from those that disagree with the Church stance on homosexuality? What has been revealed can’t be hidden. The Church is yet to speak. It can’t stop with this letter given to us today.
 
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I think Pope Benedict felt compelled to teach. There is definitely a disconnect with some in the Vatican especially since at the recent Synod the liberals refused to even talk about the problem of homosexuality in the priesthood.

I also find it interesting that this teaching from Pope Benedict comes at the same time Cardinal Sarah has spoke against mass migration that is at odds with Pope Francis.

I’m glad they are speaking up. Pope Benedict has nothing to lose and Cardinal Sarah has no fear after dealing with dictators most of his life.
 
Weserthy said:
This is the exact opposite of what has occurred since Pope Francis’ election - there has been every attempt to loosen the guidelines on who can receive communion
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How can the Holy Spirit be guiding the Roman Catholic Church if one Pope says one thing while others in authority promote the “exact opposite”?
Also, if Pope Benedict feels so strongly about this, why did he not speak out before, and why did not stay on as Pope and teach this with the authority of a sitting Pope?
 
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JimG said:
Having lived through the sexual revolution of the decade of the 1960’s and following, most of what the Pope Emeritus writes seems to be common sense and an acknowledgement of the history of those decades. The sexual revolution seemed to come about rather quickly and overtake the entire culture. No one was unaffected. Morality collapsed and in many cases, Catholic theologians and academics not only failed to counter the collapse, but rather welcomed it as liberating.

I was not familiar with seminaries at the time but in retrospect was surprised to discover that so many Catholic seminarians fell for it hook, line, and sinker. ……

All the sexual abuse reporting in the world will be of no help unless morality is restored.
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Amen brother.

Much of the church for decades has lacked rigidity regarding being faithful to Christian morals.

Gabriele Kuby: The Global Sexual Revolution
 
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