Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, head of the German bishops' conference, responds to questions during a press conference at the Vatican March 12. After meeting with the Pope, Archbishop Zollitsch apologized to victims of child abuse by priests. ( CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters) (March 12, 2010)
As accusations of clerical sexual abuse continue to emerge, most recently in Ireland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, a conversation I had recently with a Vatican official offered a timely reminder not to forget what is often overlooked: the well-being of priests in all of this.
He pointed out that while each case must, of course, be treated with the utmost seriousness and justice be done, often innocent priests are the ones who have to bear most of the fallout. The perpetrators also receive precious little help or compassion from the Church.
“There has been such an overreaction that most priests are now warned not to even touch a child,” he said. “And I’ve not seen the slightest compassion shown by anybody to a priest caught up in this stuff.”
Stressing that while the crime is deplorable, he said a very small minority of priests are guilty of the crime. Furthermore, he reminded that the perpetrator is “a priest and a Christian and deserves some kind of help and respect – they’ve almost been treated like dogs and it’s horrible.”
The Vatican recently released a statement which stressed that the Church was doing “everything possible” to ensure that infants and youth have better protection, and to make sure there is a “purification of the Church herself”.
What many welcomed most, however, was that the Vatican statement underlined that sexual abuse is not just a problem for the Church but one that affects all of society, and stressed that there should also be equal concern for these other cases.
The Vatican official I spoke with lamented that a bad precedent was set in Boston when this crisis first broke in the United States in 2002. “They were cringing before the media and never had the guts to stand up and say: “Look, this is a concerted effort against us, there is not the slightest indication there has been more abuse by priests than by doctors, lawyers and so on, not to mention Protestant ministers.’”
He said he believed there is “a terrible persecution of the clergy” taking place. “Now it seems European press getting in on the act, trying to implicate the Pope through his brother which is disgusting because he wasn’t even there,” he said. But he is confident this “is going to pass” and there’s going to be a new era for the priesthood. “This purification is, I’m afraid, a part of it, too,” he said.
(It should be pointed out that these are solely the views of one Vatican priest and not official views of the Vatican. I recommend also reading this interview with Msgr. Charles Scicluna, the “promoter of justice” of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has appeared in the Italian bishops’ newspaper, Avvenire. In a statement issued today (Saturday March 13th), the Vatican said the interview “responds to many questions recently asked by journalists.”)
*****
The Holy Father met on Friday with Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the president of the German Bishops’ Conference, to discuss cases of child sex abuse in Church-run institutions.
According to the archbishop, the Pope listened “with keen interest, great sadness and deep emotion” to a report on the situation of the Catholic Church in Germany where more than 100 alleged cases have emerged of abuse at Catholic institutions.
*****
In a further update, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi issued this statement today. It doesn’t seem to be posted on the Vatican website yet, so I reproduce it below:
VATICAN CITY, 13 MAR 2010 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. today issued a note entitled “A clear route through stormy waters”.
“At the end of a week in which a large part of the attention of the European media has been focused on the question of sexual abuses committed by people in institutions of the Catholic Church, we would like to make three observations:
“Firstly, the line being taken by the German Episcopal Conference has shown itself to be the right way to face the problem in its various aspects. The declarations of the president of that conference, Archbishop Zollitsch, following his meeting with the Holy Father, recap the strategy laid down in the conference’s recent assembly and reiterate its essential operational aspects: recognition of the truth and help for victims, reinforcement of preventative measures and constructive collaboration with the authorities (including the judicial authorities of State) for the common good of society. Archbishop Zollitsch also unequivocally reiterated the opinion of experts according to whom the question of celibacy should in no way be confused with that of paedophilia. The Holy Father has encouraged the line being followed by the German bishops which - even taking account of the specific context of their own county - may be considered as a useful and inspiring model for other episcopal conferences that find themselves facing similar problems.
“Furthermore, an important and wide-ranging interview given by Msgr. Charles J. Scicluna, promoter of justice of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gives a detailed explanation of the significance of the specific canonical norms established by the Church over the years to judge the heinous crimes of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy. It is absolutely clear that these norms did not seek, and have not favoured, any kind of cover-up of such crimes; quite the contrary, they initiated intense activities to confront, judge and adequately punish the crimes in the context of ecclesiastical legislation. And it must be remembered that all this was planned and set in motion when Cardinal Ratzinger was prefect of the Congregation. The line he followed was always one of rigour and coherence in dealing with even the most difficult situations.
“Finally, the archdiocese of Munich has replied, with a long and detailed communique, to questions concerning the case of a priest who moved from Essen to Munich at the time in which Cardinal Ratzinger was archbishop of that city, a priest who subsequently committed abuses. The communique highlights how the then archbishop was completely unconnected with the decisions in the wake of which the abuses took place. Rather, it is evident that over recent days some people have sought - with considerable persistence, in Regensburg and Munich - elements that could personally involve the Holy Father in questions of abuse. To any objective observer, it is clear that these efforts have failed.
“Despite the storm, the Church clearly sees the route she must follow, under the sure and rigorous guidance of the Holy Father. As we have already had occasion to observe, it is our hope that this torment may, in the end, help society as a whole to show ever greater concern for the protection and formation of children and adolescents”.
*****
Update - Wednesday 17 March:
Some readers have been exercised by the comments of the official, and understandably so given the gravity of this issue. So I called him up this morning to ask him again about his point on even the perpetrators deserving compassion which is the point that seems to have most interested some of the commenters. Here’s what he said:
“Yes, even the perpetrators deserve mercy – one never hears a word about them. That struck me from day one.” He referred to a new facility developed for priests and religious with several problems, set up in response to the crisis. He said that after six months, those admitted don’t leave the place in the same way, making them worse. He said pansexualism was rife there and that “it is a complete and utter and disgrace.”
“Something has fallen through the cracks,” he said. “The Pope hasn’t mentioned this but he is under such pressure by the media, which is all artificial I might add.” He reiterated that the numbers involved are a very small percentage.
The official then made an interesting observation which again I think is worth noting:
“All of this stuff I’m convinced is orchestrated in hell for the punishment of priests. I’m not saying sin isn’t sin, I’m not denying what priests have done, but the media has just taken it out of all context. Now they’re trying to implicate the Pope in any way they can, which is really very sad. But almost no one talks about the priests themselves. I don’t believe anyone should be treated like a dog.”
I then asked him about the argument that paedophile priests were treated “too compassionately” in the past.
“Yes, I don’t deny that but, again, take Cardinal Brady in Ireland. They’re trying to force him to resign because of one thing he did when he was chancellor or something else in a diocese, and again taking it out of all context. They’re out for blood. We know a lot more now today than we knew when we first started dealing with these matters. I mean, let’s face it, these matters have been going on for hundreds of years and nobody said anything and things were kept quiet, but when they did start acting in a way with records and so on, they were acting on the best advice they had at the time.”
“We’re so busy trying to defend ourselves, that even in the Msgr. Scicluna thing the other day, I didn’t see the slightest thing about compassion. It was: “I can assure you we’re out to see justice is done!” And now priests dare not touch children.”
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He is wrong.
First we have to think about the abused children,they were treated like dogs.
Second we should think about the church’s mistakes and the bishop’s mistakes.
The church deserves what is happening now.
We do not ‘deserve’ what is happening now, but it should be expected. Much work needs to be done - in all the areas.
“He’s a priest and a Christian?” This priest seems to say, he may be a pedophile, but he’s still a priest, and deserves respect. I’m sorry? I don’t think you can cause permanent, life-altering damage to children and still claim to be owed “compassion.” You can’t “cure” a pedophile.
Jesus taught that no sin was unforgivable except against the Holy Spirit. As Christ’s mystical body, the Church is bound by God to be forgiving. It is difficult to understand but the God has accounted for the innocent victims through His infinite Goodness. We must try and forgive our brothers seventy times seven times. May God help me do so.
Though I agree that innocent priests caught in the accusations need our compassion (as anyone else), I find a little bit disturbing that the first article from the NCR website talking about the child abuse scandal is in fact centred around the innocent priests and not around the innocent children. Reading this article, it seems to me that priests have and suffer more than abused children…
Dominic, I have no doubt this official would agree with you that the priority in all of this is the well-being of the innocent victims - that goes without saying. But as a priest he naturally wishes to stand up for his brother clergy and I thought his views should be heard, especially in this Year for Priests, and as it is a view you would be unlikely to hear in the secular media.
The Clergy have brought this on themselves. Those who did not actually do the deeds covered them up and even protected those who did it more than they would a layman. This is only one example of the clergy’s misguided behaviour that has done so much damage to society, They use our offerings to aid drug gangs and help smuggle drugs with illegal aliens so ‘they can be with their families’. They actively prevent meaningful social reform that will create jobs and wealth for the poor in preference to Marxist politics. Catholic Social Doctrine and Economic Justice Theory is about the same place now as our position on science was in Galileo’s time. Perhaps we are returning to those good old days as the clergy ‘go green’. In actuality the clergy are only trying gain favour among the university educated. This will never happen as long as the Clergy profess a belief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Ironically, all we want from them is help worshiping the Trinity. We already know how to grow food, pay bills, create jobs, and care for the Earth. Wed don’t need help with those things from people who can’t even balance their own cheque books. They need ours.
The desire to forgive sins cant be used to forget crimes.
I had just written a response to another artilce the other day saying the same thing; the innocent priests have really suffered because of this, and remember that is over 99 % of them. We all have the greatest sadness and prayers for those that have been harmed. What the article was trying to say was that there are many others being harmed in publics schoos, by doctors, by ministers, realatives, in the homes and on and on. The Church was deliberatly attacked in a terrible way, sued for millions and millions, and many times the abuses going on by ministers, and so on are not even brought to public light…..
Let us pray for the Church to be cleased of this blight, pray for the proces of evaluating seminarians, pray for all those abused, in all walks of life, and pray for our country that we see the danger of the many forms of abuse not called abuse, such as the explicit sex education of our children, starting at a very young age, the entertainment industry that is bombarded with sexual inuendos, both in content of shows and in advertisement. Major prayer time needed by all, and purifications of all our hearts and minds.
Christ’s peace,
Edward Pentin and his anonymous Vatical official are wrong to defend the indefensible actions of criminal priests aided and abetted by the church hierarchy. The guilty parties don’t deserve to be supported, they deserve to be in jail for raping children and/or protecting the rapists. Sadly, it is no surprise that such an article would find its way into a newspaper that speaks for the LC, an organization founded by a complete and utter fraud who was the epitome of this crisis. And you fools would have had your beloved founder canonized before you were forced to accept the truth about his criminal behavior!
The nature of the problem is active homosexual clergy,and not pedophiles who prey on children seven years of age and under; many do not want to blame homosexuals out of fear of being attacked as bigoted or worse. In fact,in almost all articles on this matter the very word,‘homosexual’ is never used. Until the very nature of the problem is faced we will not solve this problem.
Look through your local paper for any story that has a phrase like “sexual abuse” in the title: you’ll find that most professionals who are accused of abuse are not Catholic priests, but in their case there’s no witch-hunt going on.
And speaking as someone who was falsely accused when I wasn’t even thinking of sex, I think that our present system, in which men are considered guilty even after proven innocent, is unfair.
And there’s the bit about treating a 17-year-old as a little child with no control over his own behavior…
Homosexual behavior has nothing to do with child rape. Rape is a crime and should be prosecuted. Homosexuals are not more inclined to child sexual abuse than heterosexuals. The problem is the role the church has played in the cover up of these crimes. Why were priests allowed to be transferred from parish to parish even though there were well documented reports of these priests abusing children? I agree that there is no more abuse by priests than the general public however when a lay person is accused of child molestation they are reported to the police and go trough the criminal justice system. Why haven’t priests been subjected to these same laws? Instead the church has provided a safe haven for these pedophile priests and have allowed them to continue in their sinful ways. This behavior did nothing to protect children from the continuing criminal activity by priests. I think the church should be doing much much more to apologize to their congregations. It is a little much to be asking the lay person to forgive quilty priests when they have done such a poor job in making up for their past sins. Why aren’t more priests epressing their outrage at the horrible cover up the church allowed? Most priests are innocent yet are getting a bad rap from the sins of the small percentage of quilty priests and those higher up priests who protected them.
Why should the laity or those outside the church “stand up” for priests when priests, overwhelmingly, almost to a man, did not stand up for the victims of decades—almost certainly centuries—of abuse?
If any of you happen to look at other papers or the internet, then you are aware of plenty of invective directed at the Catholic Church and her priests.
If you want to bash the Church and feel good about it, then read those items, as they are aplenty.
This article is needed, for the simple fact that the abuse in the Church is put under a microscope, but abuse elsewhere is poo-pooed.
Case in point: a 2008 Associated Press report which targeted sexual abuse in American public schools. Barely a squeak was heard from the mainstream media about the oceans of cases.
A hypocritical double standard exists, and I think Catholics need to admit that yes, we have a problem, and we’re working on it, but what about abuse cases that are WORSE elsewhere?
Let’s see the media storm about sexual abuse in our public schools!
Now, on the heels of the Catholic abuse scandal comes another of historic proportions—one that has the potential to be much greater and far-reaching. According to a draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education, in compliance with the 2002 “No Child Left Behind” act signed into law by President Bush, between 6 percent and 10 percent of public school children across the country have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.
Charol Shakeshaft, the Hofstra University scholar who prepared the report, said the number of abuse cases—which range from unwanted sexual comments to rape—could be much higher.
“So we think the Catholic Church has a problem?” she told industry newspaper Education Week in a March 10 interview.
To support her contention, Shakeshaft compared the priest abuse data with data collected in a national survey for the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation in 2000. Extrapolating data from the latter, she estimated roughly 290,000 students experienced some sort of physical sexual abuse by a school employee from a single decade—1991-2000. That compares with about five decades of cases of abusive priests.
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/5/01552.shtml
@Don
No one wants to see innocent men accused. But your use of the term “witch hunt” is a provocative one—for several reasons. For one, the most infamous and bloody witch hunts were conducted under the auspices of The Church and, for another, there WERE no witches.
But it’s painfully clear that there has been a deep and pervasive culture of the victimization of children and others that has taken root in the priesthood.
And that witch hunt mentality has often been turned against the victims themselves, with threats of excommunication and worse by those who would protect and even promote the monsters within the priesthood.
The Catholic Church and its members need to admit to what has gone on, take responsibility for the victims, but also we need to push back with facts about how the Church is being targeted when other institutions have a greater problem in their present ranks.
It’s our job, laity. We need to educate ourselves.
That’s why I subscribe to the Register.
Huh???
Are you talking about Salem?
To desire mercy or forgiveness for an offender is not contradictory to his receiving criminal justice. We can forgive and see that he receives his due in court as well, but pure vengeance is diabolical, not Christian. The truly just thing is that we desire his salvation and act with charity on our part, even and especially when it hurts - “for what merit is there to love only those who love you”? Jesus far more than us backed up those words, in case anyone wants to argue the point!
As an American Catholic, I’ve seen how good and holy priests have received a lot of flak, hatred and contempt because of the unjust actions of a relatively few others. As someone commented above, the abusers are the exception, not the rule: even Padre Pio was accused of things like this completely falsely. If the negative makes us cringe even more, it should also help us to see the tremendous good the ordinary, hard-working Jean Vianneys and Maximilian Kolbes, so to speak, are out there doing without claiming the least credit. We should pray for them, too, for the devil attacks more the ones who have the power in persona Christi to forgive sins, to open the gates of heaven for a soul once long-lost.
Well said, Michael.
Concerning Salem, it should be remembered that the witch hunts were largely not Catholic events - the “Scarlet Letter”, although on a different topic, illustrates the negative side of that society of a rigid , effectively “pharisaical” (although to some degree well-intentioned) interpretation of living the Gospel. Yet the analogy serves at least to a degree, since the witch hunts were largely irrational, for lack of a better term, just as many innocent priests are put to the social guillotine just because they wears the collar.
I’d say so, Mac.
Those Puritans wouldn’t allow Catholics and their popery- that’s why we had to have our own state- Maryland.
Edward, for the record, neither the official nor myself are defending these terrible crimes. Rather the official, as he said, was standing up for the right of these priests to be treated humanely and with at least some Christian compassion.
I would grant the perpetrators the same amount of Christian compassion and humane treatment as that given Charles Manson as he sits rotting in prison.
Point conceded: I think we all should stand up for the rights of the perpetrators to be treated humanely and with some compassion, as long as that treatment is administered behind bars.
Hey, if they did the crime, I agree that they can get plenty of help- behind bars.
Thanks Edward Pentin for your added point.
Mr. Pentin, first of all, thank you for your reply. I was honestly not expecting one. I have no doubt either that the voice of this official should be heard. In fact, my complaint is not about the point he’s trying to make. My complaint was about the fact that the very first article written on this website about the scandal is not about the abused children, but about defending the innocent (or even all) priests. Of course he has the right to speek, I am totally for the freedom of speech. But by writing this as the first article is as much irresponsible towards the situation as every secular media being biased against the Church. You (NCR) seem to only report news that are good for the Church, which is not the truth and which is not, in my opinion, honest journalism. I would expect more of a Catholic organization.
Thanks again,
Dominic
Dominic, thanks for your comment, I understand where you’re coming from, but I think you might be confusing a blog with an article. Blogs offer an opinion in order to provoke a debate or perhaps relay some news. NCR’s main articles go into much more depth and usually try to convey all sides of a debate with the ultimate aim of being formative and to help the reader in their faith. Over the years, NCR has published such articles focusing on victims of clerical abuse, and rightly so. A few weeks ago on this blog, I also published the full transcript of a press conference with Irish bishops who said much about putting the rights of victims first.
Also to clarify, the official’s emphasis was more on the well-being and treatment of innocent priests and those falsely accused than those who committed the crime. Again, he wasn’t excusing those who have been found guilty of such abuse, who should of course be punished under the law.
Dominic, I received my Register in the mail yesterday, and in the “World” section, it deals with the Irish sex scandal issue.
I have noticed that the Register is not on the edge of breaking news. Not a put-down, just an observation.
I bet in the next print issue, there will be a write-up about the broader European scene.
I believe that your characterization of the Register as printing news that is only “good” for Catholics is unfair, especially if you don’t get th print issue and see all the BAD NEWS….
That is what you’re looking for, right?
Well, the print edition does have it, along with the Good News.
Thanks, Mr. Pentin
Jesus did call us to love and forgive. He also reserved his harshest words for Pharisees (religious leaders who exploit their people) and child molesters (people who stumble the little ones). He said it would have been better if they had never been born. He also said that it would be better if a millstone were tied around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. I think it’s time we put Jesus’ words into practice.
Yes, but let’s prove them guilty before we hang them (or throw them into the sea), not?
Mr Pentin, I understand your point about the difference between a blog and an article. Again, I know you don’t deserve the burden of my critcism, but my point was the absence of any information about the scandal before your post on this blog. So, I should have been more precise saying I don’t blame you personnally, but I regret this situation. Why almost only talk on the site about the bad aspects of the health-reform and not the good ones? This is the point I’m trying to make. But I think I’m a little bit too idealistic about coverage of the news by all media.
Lisieux, thank you for pointing out the printing edition. Though I don’t receive it, my wife’s parents do get it, so I read it from time to time. I would agree with you that the coverage is more exhaustive. This is why I was referring to the website in my argumentation. However, I think your sentence concerning to me searching only for the bad news was unnecessary and uncalled for. I am only trying to see both sides of an issue.
Dominic
Marie on Saturday,
“Homosexual behavior has nothing to do with child rape. Rape is a crime and should be prosecuted. Homosexuals are not more inclined to child sexual abuse than heterosexuals.”
At first I was inclined to listen. Upon the 2d, firmer statement, I have to hear some support of this.
Sorry. A bit of the scientific manner, here.
If Protestant ministers are doing this as often as RCs, why is it heard so much less often?
From the Church hierchy-supporters I hear little comment about sexual frustration. Anyone?
The church needs a “No child left behind” too.
But today we read ridiculous excuses “Be soft with us,everybody did,others do…”
A shame…
The abused children were in the sea,while the abusers were and are in the boat..
Thanks for the blog, Mr. Pentin. About the millstone, I don’t think Jesus was saying we need to form a posse and go get all those guys and throw them into the ocean. Rather, I would say he wants us to look at the spiritual side of those sins against the little ones.
In other words, it is better that the injurer should suffer anything else (say cancer, an accident, or, quite bluntly, a nice big millstone) and not sin, rather than face the much worse suffering brought on by his own (especially grave) sin against the little ones. In short, that kind of sin isn’t a little white lie about not stealing the cookie from the cookie jar!
Also, I think it would be interesting to see a greater emphasis on helping better family perseverance Abuse, broken homes, children born to drug-addicted mothers on the street (often born to mothers of the same unfortunate circumstance), divorce, welfare effects, etc., often come from a lack of a very simple thing: Mom AND Dad who love you. The gospel of the Merciful Father today is quite frankly a brilliant illustration of the power of what love can do in very difficult circumstances.
Also, I think it’s important to remember that good priests and religious, AND good husbands and wives learn to be a good, whole people from none other than their own parents who love through thick and thin. Take away those parents, and problems easily ensue. While not forgetting the issue at hand, we can’t forget the big picture, either. Going to the roots means going to the all the roots.
Thanks Edward for the article. I think what many don´t understand about the cardinals words is the fact that they come from a priestly heart. It is a heart that is most like Christ´s own heart, who forgives us our sins. Their crimes have been great and are disgusting. Yet, how many times have each one of us offend God in a great and disgusting way when no one else sees. As hard as it is we must forgive them, because Christ has forgive us.
@ Adriano
Are you even Catholic? Better yet, Christian?
After reading the comments I see a potential positive result. As repentent priests going into prison, what an opportunity to present Jesus and walk the way of the cross.
Im catholic,certainly.
For a long time I worked in a ministry that helps poor children and in pro life activities.
I cant even imagine how a fake priest can abuse a child,but I believe that we must first help the children,correct this crimes,and after we can think about forgiveness of sins.
After…
Mr. Pentin,
Ask your alleged source at the Vatican if he ever saw any compassion extended to the victims prior to the Church’s unwilling exposure in 2002. Indeed, ask your source to list all of the things which were done to further protect the perps at the expense of the victims, and then ask him to compare that with all the things those poor, poor priests did to ensure that justice (maybe you should say “social justice”) was accomplished in these circumstances.
Sadly there are few priests like the one in Ireland who will speak up against a fellow “priest” who is doing wrong. This is why all priests are suffering. You can not condone something so outrageously unchristian in a priest with your silence or complicity and expect no repercussions. There are many priests who think homosexuals may be an answer to the vocation crisis - no wife and kids, can look celibate without actually being it - who does it hurt? JESUS CHRIST! and all of us! The disordered egos that make up the disordered orientation hurts the whole flock. We see it now and in ALL society.
Posted by Michael on Sunday, Mar 14, 2010 11:03 AM (EST):
Thanks for the blog, Mr. Pentin. About the millstone, I don’t think Jesus was saying we need to form a posse and go get all those guys and throw them into the ocean. Rather, I would say he wants us to look at the spiritual side of those sins against the little ones.
>< I’m puzzled why there is a sympathy going so quickly to the abusive >< priests. If I understood this, I’d be wiser & more Christ-like.
>< Getting this practice curtailed, should I say “in hand,” IMO should ><be an early concern. But the way I see, forgiveness fogiveness every- >< where while covering our ears against the cries from the cellar.
In other words, it is better that the injurer should suffer anything else (say cancer, an accident, or, quite bluntly, a nice big millstone) and not sin, rather than face the much worse suffering brought on by his own (especially grave) sin against the little ones. In short, that kind of sin isn’t a little white lie about not stealing the cookie from the cookie jar!
>< I’m not sure, we may be pretty close in position. However the ><niceties of sin-language are not my immediate concern. But rather ><cessation of crimes-against-the-person, no more transfers, and ><further.
Posted by Edward Pentin on Saturday, Mar 13, 2010 3:21 AM (EST):
Dominic, I have no doubt this official would agree with you that the priority in all of this is the well-being of the innocent…
>< Double-talk.
But as a priest he naturally wishes to stand up for his brother clergy
>< Well seems quite a few priests are more empathetic with their ><brothers than for persons having considerable pain at least in several >< cases. Adult cohorts first, children second.
>< Let me know if I’m missing something.—Cohorts 1st & those ><faintly-heard children 2d.
and I thought his views should be heard, especially in this Year for Priests, and as it is a view you would be unlikely to hear in the secular media.
>< Plenty is reported in the media, of the words of Church officials
>< “Priests=good; children incidental.” The tone of your post is clear.
>< A fence-sitter in this, morally upright, would have to give an an ><analysis of modern Church reform and profound reflections on human ><nature. But no, I hear pro-children voices and hear those who have an >< odd attachment to their “fathers.”
Abp. Fr. Pentin : [Mar. 12, 12:21 pm]
The perpetrators also receive precious little help or compassion from the Church.
>< ??
Quoting a Vatican official:
“There has been such an overreaction that most priests are now warned not to even touch a child,” he said. “And I’ve not seen the slightest compassion shown by anybody to a priest caught up in this stuff.”
>< No compassion by anyone? No compassion from the Pope’s brother?
>< No compassion from any official managing a transfer? C’mon
>< These officials now are shrill, and they receive a hearing from ><many many. They are drawing attention away from harmed children. They skillfully turn the discussion to forgiveness, deflecting it from getting it over.
>< Getting the CRIME to stop.
Paul, your use of < > makes it much more difficult to read your posts.
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