This may be true, but it would certainly be an error to explain past practices (wherein Church authorities failed to deal with offending clergy appropriately) by an appeal to “mercy”. * No, that would be a grossly wrong assessment. The Church certainly does not seek to explain its failings in that way.
Just how the Church should deal with offending clergy - prior to but in particular subsequent to - their criminal conviction and civilly imposed punishment is an issue. Does it defrock? Does it withdraw faculties? Does it take on a kind of “surveillance” role? There are example where all of these have been applied.*
Really??? **MERCY???**Where is the “mercy” for the VICTIMS? Pedo perv priests deserve life imprisonment in harsh conditions. Not this ungodly version of “mercy.” You can still forgive someone and be merciful while subjecting them to horrible punishments that they deserve. This is so ridiculous. The scandals in the Church make realize that I’m only Catholic because of the faith, not because of popes, priests, etc.
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