The Holy See press office director under John Paul II, Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, has today criticized the media for “a raging phobia” against the Church over pedophilia while ignoring the problem in the rest of society which he says is widespread.
Writing in the Italian daily La Repubblica, the former medical doctor did not lessen the “grave criminal phenomenon” in the Church, but quoted alarming figures of abuse against children in society in general, adding that to focus only on the Church was “very misleading.”
The current papal spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, said over the weekend that the recent media attacks “have without doubt caused damage” to the Church but added: “The authority of the Pope and the commitment of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith against sex abuse of minors will come out of this not weakened but strengthened.”
I reproduce Dr. Navarro-Valls’ article in full below (my translation):
The Pope and the Pedophilia Scandal
In the last two weeks, the media has filled the public space with the agonizing reality of criminal cases of pedophilia. The charges have risen gradually in response to a series of revelations coming from several European countries concerning instances of sexual abuse perpetrated against children by priests. To read the news, it even seems this is a huge scoop, and that now, thanks to these ingenious revelations, a rotten undergrowth is emerging in the breast of the Catholic Church.
Certainly, in Austria, Germany and Ireland, but no less in almost all countries where there is a consistent presence of Church schools and educational organizations, there has been the grave criminal phenomenon of violations of the dignity of childhood. That has been noted. Not by chance, during the Via Crucis of 2005, did the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger not mince his words when he noted with disappointment: “How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency!” Perhaps we have forgotten it. But you can without fear of contradiction point out that the problem exists in the Church, is known by the Church, and has been addressed and will be further addressed in future decisions by the Church.
But let’s try, for a moment, to reflect on the manifestation of pedophilia in itself. From my experience as a doctor I can highlight some important data useful to understanding the seriousness and the extent of the problem. The most reliable statistics speak for themselves. It’s certified that 1 in 3 girls have been sexually abused, and that 1 in 5 boys has been subjected to acts of violence. The truly alarming fact has been disclosed not only in scientific publications but even CNN reports that the percentage of respondents, in a representative sample of the population, has sexually molested a child ranges from 1% to 5%. That is a frightening number.
The acts of pedophilia are perpetrated by parents or close relatives. Brothers, sisters, mothers, uncles or babysitters are the most common abusers of children. According to the U.S. Justice Department, almost all accused pedophiles, 90 percent, are male. According to Diana Russell, 90% of sexual abuse is committed by people with direct knowledge of the young victims, and remain closed in the familiar ‘conspiracy of silence’. A notable aspect, unfortunately, is that 60% of the cases of violence affected people younger than 12 years, and in most cases abusers are males with blood ties.
These statistics show, therefore, a clear and fairly broad practice of sexual violence against children. Taking into account that these figures refer only to those that have been reported, are known or otherwise known, we can easily imagine the dramatic degree of perversion that lurks behind this reality, most common in countries whose cultures do not consider this violence to be an aberrant obscenity. Now, focusing exclusively on those abusers and singling out one group, such as priests, can be very misleading. In this case, the percentage has fallen to become a minimal phenomenon, statistically. Certainly, nothing can take away the emotion and shame that comes from these recent revelations in the Church, even when they refer to events that took place decades ago and perhaps covered by the most grave ‘conspiracies of silence’. We can be certain, beginning with the pastoral letter to Ireland last week, that Benedict XVI will take all measures that are needed to expel the guilty and judge them, based on real crimes committed by those involved.
Let us not, however, fall into the trap of hypocrisy, especially in the form of that recently staged by the New York Times in its report on the case of the Rev. Murphy. There, the author of the article does not evaluate, draw conclusions or give appropriate attention to the fact that the police had received complaints about him and had released him as an innocent man.
Which country has made an in-depth study of this grievous phenomenon, also taking clear and explicit preventive measures against the abuses of pedophilia among its citizens, in families or in public schools? What other religion has moved to find, publicly condemn and assume the problem, bringing it to light and explicitly pursuing it? We avoid, first of all, being insincere: namely to focus on the limited number of established cases of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, but without opening our eyes to the tragedy of a childhood violated and abused very often and everywhere, yet without scandal.
If we want to fight sexual crimes against children, at least in our democratic societies, we must avoid dirtying the public consciousness, looking only at the phenomenon where the moral gravity is perhaps even more, but in quantity certainly less. Before judging someone for something, one should have the guts and honesty to recognize that we [in society] are not doing enough, and look to do something similar to what the Pope is doing. Otherwise, it’s better to stop talking about pedophilia and start to discuss the raging phobia unleashed against the Catholic Church. This seems, in fact, to be being done with the meticulous care of an investigation, but unfortunately bad faith is in evidence.
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Good to see the Church pushing back against the latest disingenuous ambush where other organizations would cower and cave. (Can anyone seriously imagine Anglican leaders swinging back against an all-out media assault like this?) Thanks for the translation, Mr. Pentin.
Cardinal Levada’s feisty return slap deserves wider attention too:
http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_card-levada2010_en.html
My family has been Catholic for centuries who saw its share of priests, nuns and alter boys. My 2 older brothers were alter boys from starting in1967 and me in about 1973. In our small parish in the Diocese of Youngstown OH, we saw a rotation of MANY priests once our aged priest retired. I personally served Mass with many of these priests unitl 79 when we moved. I have never been touched not a single time, never fondled nor abused. I spent time in the rectory with many talking about the priesthood, planning fund raisings, etc). While I recall some having other questionable habits like swearing, telling bad jokes, or even a few seemed effeminate. None made me feel anything but respected and where sincerely interested in my vocation. Now on the other hand I was abused by older kids in my neighborhood (who weren’t Catholic). There were others as well so yes the problem is societal. Not Catholic.
The people just don’t seem to get it. This is not about you. This is about the rape of a child. How can you be against abortion and them come out with the same stance the pro life movement has on this issue.
When the American Bishops stood up to the political machine in Washington over the healthcare bill, the media turned up the heat on the sex scandal as a warning to the church to back off. The media is owned by the same guys who own Washington politicians. Who stands to gain is always the question with these guys! Money and control drive these mortals.
I am tired of people saying: this is not about you or me—it is about the rape of a child etc. Yes, that is true. However, the church has done more than any institution on earth to resolve its sinful problems and reach out to victims. This issue has been in the forefront since about 2000. The point here is that the media is resurrecting old cases, and trying to belittle the Holy Father, among other things. It is a rating game, but in the end self-destructive. Have you noticed or do you even care that nothing is said about the Boy Scout Scandal and the many more thousand cases than with priests? Have you heard the media clamor out that our kids are beings pursued by drug dealers who provide them with cheap drugs and are ruining America and the rest of the world and no one, but no one is doing anything about that, and it is far more serious? Yes, we can focus in on old abuse cases and cry (rightfully) over them and repent, but let us not act like righteous people who speak out on this one issue while our kids are in fact dying right before our eyes.
Our society is out of it’s mind. Sex traffiking is plenty lucrative all over the world. Muslim men can marry infants. A little girl in a Muslim nation died in childbirth the other day.She was eight years old. Do you LIKE that..?
Benedict XVI is being crucified the same way they crucified Jesus…
Don’t you see it..?
The article was written by his brother Rafael in the newspaper “El Mundo”.
Illuminating to read this article. The pedophylia thing is a vast problem and Navarro-Valls explain it with authoritative clarity beign himself also a Medical Doctor. Let’s not be hypocritical and open our eyes to the tragic problem. What institution - either political, social, religious or other - has done what the Catholic Church isw doing now2 with the pedophiles? Coul anyone mentione a single one?
Givalle
The sexual abuse attack appears to be an organized one, directly hitting the head of the Church. The eventuality that the same accusations are coming out from different countries at almost the same time cannot be a matter of coincidence. It shows that these are the same people who hate Catholicism and have come up with new dirty tricks…
Navarro Valls and other “Opus Dei” have a lot to answer in the cover ups of people like Fr Maciel and other like him, during JP2:
1) A lead canon lawyer working for Mexican victims of Fr Maciel, was an ex OD priest, Fr. Antonio Roqueñi (as per Berry). Considering how influential OD was at the Vatican at the time, why was Fr. Roqueñi stone walled at the Vatican?
2) Navarro Valls would not respond to queries by journalist Berry at the time. Why?
3) Another prominent OD Curia member, Cardinal Herranz, is on record to being against reporting of abuse to civilian authorities. Why? Was it to protect “good fruits” (e.g.: money and influence) that people like Maciel brought? Cardinal Somalo, who has OD family ties and is a strong supporter, is now implicated by Berry in receiving kickbacks.
4) What role canon lawyers like Herranz played in devising statues of these so called “movements”, including LC/RC and Opus Dei? These structures (e.g some call them spiritual Ponzi schemes) are designed to circumvent Canon law. Just look how prelature is defined, and what canons protect “Numeraries” (the answer: not much).
5) Cardinal Hoyo, also a Curia major supported of OD during JP2, was applauded during his recent speech at the arch conservative Catholic university in Murcia, that has OD ties, for having congratulated a French bishop for not reporting an abusing priest in 2001.
6) The word “Charity” in OD, as in LC 4th vow, was redefined as to mean almost exclusively not to criticize superiors. See “the Way”, chapter 19, maxims 440-469. And what is “Holy Coercion”, is there a single example of this in the New Testament?
7) Doesn’t it look like OD and LC use the same double speak? One is only saved if one attempts to “seek sanctity in daily life”, by doing mundane “small things”, not even towards other humans, as long as one supports the movement. No more need to see the true suffering or joy in those that surround us, that Christ calls us to do every day. Also “Work of God” or “Opus Dei” is a universal Church term that we are all called to follow: it meant for centuries the prayer life of the Church. So explain how now there are 2 differerent “Opera Dei” in the Church, the Opus Dei of old or “Liturgy of the Hours”, and some new, very specific, quasi Gnostic/pantheistic, and from my perspective, self-serving spirituality? This kind of high-jacking of terms seems a way to use, and abuse our Faith, at the service of novel spiritualities, and not the other way around, as it should be. What was their role in suppressing moderate theologians like Sobrino, that spoke for the poor, so they could advance their “theologies” of selfishness, and help sympathetic people in power?
8) Why OD priests, such as Fr John McCloskey and Fr. John Wauck made recent retrograde comments in the media in the name of the Catholic Church, without identifying that they are with OD?
9)If JP2 was duped, as was the case of Fr Maciel, shouldn’t the speeded-up and irregular “canonization” of Escriva be also be put into question? There is no real evidence of true miracles to Escriva’s credit (the “healings” described can be explained medically, there are no biopsies to confirm diagnosis; in contrast to other Saints that had truly unexplained medical cures).
The role of OD, and other similar groups like LC, in the corruption at the Holy See over the last 2-3 decades, needs to be accurately examined. This will require an independent, Holy See approved, serious (e.g: transparent) commission.
These ff websites have articles which are very helpful in delving on the issue on clerical abuse.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/world/europe/12pope.html?scp=2&sq=a papal conversion,john allen&st=cse
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2010/03/scoundrel-times
Read up so you see both sides of the issue.
On the Church’s Strict Patrol on Pedophilia
http://www.zenit.org/article-28634?l=english
On The New York Times and Pope Benedict XVI.
http://www.vatican.va/resources/resources_card-levada2010_en.html
Sherla
Don’t you think its odd that the NYT was saved by Mr. Slim last year with $ ¼ of billion and that Mr. Slim continues to support the Legionnaires of Christ, an order founded by an abuser?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/world/americas/13maciel.html
Could it just be a not so subtle way for powerful people like Mr. Slim et al. to pressure the Pope to be gentle on the Legionnaire of Christ, an “order” that is one of their instruments of influence in Church affaires, or else?
The Church, as moral authority, must lead by example. Saying that pedophilia is an pandemic phenomenon is a nonsense, first the Church has a duty to do an inside clean-up, then they can talk. Implying that all are guilty, so all innocent is wrong way to tackle the problem.
If the attendance to Church is low, the churches almost empty, there must be a reason, in my view the Church has to return to its roots and live according to the Gospel, as family of brothers and sisters united in God.
As Catholic I regret to say that I still have faith in God, but disoriented with the Church, because it should like a lighthouse when it does not seem to be the case.
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