The truth about priests [Excellent analysis]

[dixieagle]

www2.macleans.ca/2009/12/01/the-truth-about-priests/

This piece is, in my very humble opinion, the most thorough, balanced and rational article on the clerical abuse/cover-up issue that I have ever read.

It is from the Canadian weekly, Maclean’s, and touches on multiple aspects of the scandal: the sad perception that ALL priests are molesters and the fact that at least 96% are not; the utter destruction of young lives by this abuse; the role that early entrance into seminary, in past decades, played in stunting psychosexual development; the fact that celibacy is not the culprit; the fact that, sometimes, those doing the investigating were, themselves, abusers; the widespread secrecy, deceit and coverups that exacerbated the situation.

It is hard-hitting and looks at the situation from a number of angles - well worth the 5 minutes it will take to read it.

 

[rep140]

I agree.

 

[redrosetea]

I have read it is no greater among priest than in any other segment of society, and any other religion and there are studies and statistics to back me up…I don’t have them now as I changed computers and lost lots of things

 

[dixieagle]

I have read it is no greater among priest than in any other segment of society, and any other religion and there are studies and statistics to back me up…I don’t have them now as I changed computers and lost lots of things

Yes, if you read through the link, that is referenced.

That tends to confirm in my mind that the cover-ups, etc., greatly exacerbated the situation.

 

[thealtonroute]

I agree…I think that the protection bishops gave to abusive priests is extremely reprehensible, far worse than any cover-up. I’m not a fan of covering up things, but the Church easily could have made sure these priests never were around kids again without creating any kind of media storm. But the Church failed miserably to protect kids…and let a small number of monsters nearly discredit an entire institution.

 

[dixieagle]

I agree…I think that the protection bishops gave to abusive priests is extremely reprehensible, far worse than any cover-up. I’m not a fan of covering up things, but the Church easily could have made sure these priests never were around kids again without creating any kind of media storm. But the Church failed miserably to protect kids…and let a small number of monsters nearly discredit an entire institution.

I agree completely. If alleged abuse cases had been handled with true charity and transparency, we would never have been in this mess.

Those who represent Christ MUST live up to that heavy responsibility. When they don’t, they should be called out on it. I still don’t understand why so many good priests are silent on this issue - I see this among dear priest friends. It seems to me that instead of the “clubbiness” that is still very much evident, good priests should shout from the hilltops that they abhor what those few bad apples have done, and how it has caused many people to look with suspicion at every priest they see. So sad, and it was so unnecessary.

And don’t even get me started on the bishops…

 

[Zoe_Brain]

I agree…I think that the protection bishops gave to abusive priests is extremely reprehensible, far worse than any cover-up. I’m not a fan of covering up things, but the Church easily could have made sure these priests never were around kids again without creating any kind of media storm. But the Church failed miserably to protect kids…and let a small number of monsters nearly discredit an entire institution.

I would not consider 4% to be a “small number”. But otherwise, I agree.
There will always be some priests who rape, or murder children. Those are crimes of individuals. To have an institutional cover-up, allowing them to repeat their crimes, that becomes an institutional not an individual offence.

 

[rep140]

I agree…I think that the protection bishops gave to abusive priests is extremely reprehensible, far worse than any cover-up. I’m not a fan of covering up things, but the Church easily could have made sure these priests never were around kids again without creating any kind of media storm. But the Church failed miserably to protect kids…and let a small number of monsters nearly discredit an entire institution.

I read Rev. Richard Neuhaus’s book Catholic Matters. In part of it he covers the death of JP2 and electiob of B16. Bernard Law is pastor of some church in Rome. In awaiting the election of a new pope tradition has it that a special Mass is said daily at various churches in Rome. This, however, is only tradition. Neuhaus bemoaned the fact that Law did not decline and said that Rome does not know the hurt the U.S. Church has suffered by actions concerning this scandal. Law still sits on a committee that recommends who should become a bishop in the U.S.

Talk about an old boys club.

 

[H_Opey]

I do not agree with this statement:

“It’s part of that myth—the myth of the pedophile priest who can’t help himself,” says Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University who has published dozens of studies about sexually abusive priests. “It’s really an issue of perception rather than reality. Believe it or not, probably the safest place for a kid to be is in a Catholic church environment.”

I wish to recognize the efforts the church especially in the US has made in response to this scandal but I do not agree that this is the safest place for a kid to be is in the Catholic Church. This can be a very misleading statement and we are not called to blind obedience or even to be so trusting that we miss the obvious.

The US has a long way to go. If I were to make a statement I would say it depends on the diocese and parish. Some are going the extra mile to help everyone see what grooming behavior looks like before it happens and it cut it off then. Most are not doing this. Plante even said in another article that you can not tell till it happens (abuse) so that is not reassuring to me when there are those that are taking a very proactive stance against abuse and going beyond the Dallas Charter.

I am not wearing the same rose colored glasses as he, and reality is what I am focusing on and for the most part, the church in the US has a very long way to go.

 

[redrosetea]

It’s not 4% it is 2…I wish it was zero

If you think you have found apervect church run…there is not prefect anything advises Fr Groeschel

But we need to start looking at the 98 % that are holy, instead of acting like every priest does this type of evil deed

 

[mdzialo]

2% or 4%, I wonder where those numbers come from and if they are valid. In any event, you have to add to that number, the number of priest, bishops…, who were aware, are aware, of what the deal is and who just ignored their responsibliity of looking out for kids, and worst pushed off the “problem” to somewhere and someone else. They have not been held accountable at all really. They just take parishoners money and pay billions of dollars of claims and much higher insurance rates. They all keep their jobs.

How many people knew and know? Why do they all remain in their positions?

 

[redrosetea]

The vast majority knew nothing…Fr Groeschel is a psychologist and says he never had any inkling this had taken place

God holds us all accountable for everything we do…No one will escape judgement

The church needs money to operate just like any other entity does

Just because this happened I will never turn my back on all of the wonderful things the church has done for people

You need to read a copy of How the church helped build western civilization

The church was the very first to offer a hospice for aids patients

Every day people are fed and clothed and housed through the mercy of the church

Old folks are given a place to live out the reminder of their lives, children without parents have a home because of the church

People are taught to read and write becaue of the church

Sinners are called to repentence and shown the mercy of God because of the church

People have a place for medical treatment and operations because of the church

It is just as easy to look at the good as it is to look at the bad

It is fashionable to bash her and not to love her…but I will never do that…I am proud to be a catholic