The Pope's letter to 15,000 victims of Irish clergy abuse, while expressing his shame and remorse along similar lines to his apology in Australia and US in 2008, falls well short of the mark. While it rebukes Irish bishops and lower ranking officials it makes no mention of any sanctions against them over their "grave errors of judgment" in not responding to sex abuse allegations. He suggests that the church's own laws, properly applied, should lead to the expulsion of clergy who sexually abuse children. However, the scale of this scandal would suggest otherwise. The church is facing a burgeoning crisis in countries all over Europe, including in the Pope's native Germany and most recently in Brazil.
This letter also fails to address the role of senior Irish clerics, or most importantly, the Vatican's own accountability. It would appear that the Church's policy has helped to protect sex offenders in its midst while failing to prevent further crimes or appropriately care for victims. What appears to be a systematic cover-up of sexual abuse by the highest echelons of the Church is arguably the most morally reprehensible crime of all. The Church has for many lost its moral and sadly, its spiritual authority.
This apology is a long-overdue attempt to unlock the conspiracy of silence and secrecy, which protects perpetrators and perpetuates abuse both inside and outside of the church. However, the church is still not tackling its ultimate responsibility for the horrendous harm suffered by countless victims. It has not demanded the resignations of those spearheading the cover-up or committed to bringing all of the perpetrators to justice through the criminal justice system. The policy of the church has effectively put the lives of scores of children in danger. The scale of the harm generated is only now coming to light. Tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of children's lives have been impacted and so have those of the adults they have become. As this situation has now reached tipping point, undoubtedly many more victims will now find the courage to speak out.
Read more - Time for the Church to focus on the victims – by CATHY KEZELMAN – The Sydney Morning Herald
Related links:
Full accountability is only way forward – archbishop – by PATSY McGARRY and JAMIE SMYTH – The Irish Times – Read more
Catholic Sex Abuse Scandals in Europe - Bob Abernethy and David Gibson - The Rule of Benedict - RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY – PBS - Read more
Pope's Letter Does Little to Assuage Irish Anger – by John F. Burns, Eamon Quinn –The New York Times – Read more
Pope Benedict's Underwhelming Response to the Church Scandal in Ireland – by Lisa Miller – Newsweek – Read more
Pope Benedict's Underwhelming Response to the Church Scandal in Ireland – by - Andreas Illmer - Deutsche Welle Read more
Head of German Bishops Conference apologizes for lenient acting in abuse case – by Kirsten Grieshaber - Winnipeg Free Press – Read more
German archbishop says Church covered up sex abuse for decades – by - Andreas Illmer - Deutsche Welle - Read more
Kids Are Being Hurt!!!
Father Hans Kung blames Catholic views on sex for clerical child abuse – by Ruth Gledhill – Mar 9, 2010 - Times Online - Read more
Pope letter on Catholic sex abuse scandal meets Irish skepticism - Christian Science Monitor - Read more
Pope's Irish letter faces critical Catholic world - By Shawn Pogatchnik - Associated Press Write – Boston.com – Read more
Doctor: Catholic Church ignored my warnings about child molester – Frederik Pleitgen - CNN International - Read more
Will the pope's pastoral letter on child sex abuse silence the critics? - Deutsche Welle – Read more
Full Disclosure - The Roman Catholic Church must confront its failings with contrition – TimesOnline – Read more
Kids Are Being Hurt!!!
This about the reckless endangerment of children in a calculated, purposeful strategy to protect the institutional Church - By Jason Walsh – December 2, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor – Read more
New Catholic Sex Abuse Findings: Gay Priests Are Not the Problem – by DAVID GIBSON – Politics Daily - November 18, 2009 - Read more
Facts About Homosexuality and Child Molestation, Dr. Gregory Herek, University of California at Davis & Yale University & City University of New York – Read more
RC hierarchy child sexual abuse “cover-ups” ordered by Benedict XVI to avoid public outrage & criminal charges - falsely accused gay priests WATERGATE? Read more
Ratzinger, Hurley, Maida & Accomplices - Kids Are Being Hurt!!! (Sequential Order of Reactions) Read more
"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well-considered, and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child's spirit." Erik Erikson
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