Church knew the sex abuse scandal was coming

Kennedy's articles make the subscription price for the NCR worth it.
Keep up the good work, Eugene.

Yes. What Kennedy says is sadly true.

However, one grows weary of hearing from the experts on the RCC about what has and is wrong now, and probably will be wrong in the future, and about what the faithful need from the episcopacy of the RCC to correct the problems. Especially as the episcopacy shows no indications in any way that I can see, to do anything beyond window dressing changes. Changes that are non-substantive. Changes that are obfuscating. Changes that are not really changes. Just smoke and mirrors.

What we really need is for the experts to recommend a strategy that will actually give the faithful a Vatican II Church. A Church with Transparency and Accountablity for All. A Church with Collegiality for the non-ordained and the ordained. "All" is everyone, from the Pope down and the pews up. It seems that every time an expert gets close to doing that, the article ends.

Experts should give us their expertise. There's not much wrong that we do not know. What we need is advice on how to actually put the solution into place. And so far, and it seems to be apparent in the future, pleading with the episcopacy to make those changes isn't going to do the job.

So, Experts, instead of Enduring, what should we do?

My husband is 87--he was molested as a child by a priest--who was sent to Arizona for his "health"--and they are trying to say they didn't know this was a problem until recently?

We are trying to deal with legal and moral behavior here. The legal lines are relatively clear. We are so far behind in the area of sexual morality that we have no consensus where we stand on the many questions related to sexuality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is outdated in this area. Perhaps we should look more respectfully at the work of Salzman and Lawler and not dismiss these thinkers out of hand as many of our bishops have done.
JR

More unadulterated truth revealed for us Truth Seekers..
The mere appearance of a "Black Swan" one must be sooo overwhelmed by it's beauty that the value of safety ran amok by not securing enough lifeboats for the mass of voyagers aboard that seafaring vessel .
Hmmmmmm........time to ponder.......time to wonder....as I wander.......

Eugene does it again. What insight. Especially the black swan. Tom Doyle proof positive. And since Eugene was doing studies on seminarians as early as the 60s he certainly knows what he is talking about. Great article. Great author. Great service to the Church. Because of articles like this I just subscribed to NCR. The NCR is the last hope that the Church will ever change its ways. I am not optimistic. Glad you are still in there fighting to change it. I keep thinking of the Wizard of Oz whenever I think of the Vatican. Then I pray for these very flawed mortals in the Vatican. I have never seen such stupidity in managing a crisis. And it continues. And if you know anything about the psychological profiles of priests it is completely understandable. But not excusable. Like any other criminal, priest abusers need to be forgiven, as we throw them in jail for their crimes.

This has been going on since who knows when. I was abused by a priest in the early 1950's. He had grey hair by then, so when did he start abusing kids.

"The Church knew" may be an overstatement, in the sense of "who" in the Church needs to know for the Church to truly know.

It is clear that certain clerics in the trenches and at the Vatican Embassy knew ... but unfortunately it does not follow that anyone with the necessary levels of authority and power knew. It is not clear that the Holy Father knew, or that the correct executive level officials in Rome knew. The Church is a bureaucracy, and like any other bureaucracy, possibly more than others, every bureaucrat knows what's his job and what's not his job. What's gossip for some may be vital information calling for action only in the eyes of a few, officially speaking. The American popular image of a fully informed Pope who is free to focus attention on any particular problem is, I fear, far from accurate. All problems on all continents are ultimately under his authority, but there are only 24 hours in a day, and what filters up to him is ultimately determined by others.

The one thing we do know, when finally the matter impressed itself upon then Cardinal Ratzinger (JP II's 'rottweiler'), Cardinal Ratzinger engineered a transfer of authority over the subject from one Congregation over to his own Congregation, and things within the authority of the Church to accomplish began to be accomplished. Too late, yet better late than never.

Meanwhile Fr. Doyle was maltreated (rocking the boat, denying the efficacy of ordination), his work wrongly ignored by (in addition to by US recipients) some one or more who could if they had risked what happened to Doyle happening to them, have ultimately put it on the Pope's desk during a requested 2 hour conference on the topic. The root problem, of course, is that successful abusers have doctoral degrees in manipulation, and are skilled at making their Bishops see them as very successful priests who wouldn't harm a fly. "It can't be true" is too often the knee-jerk reaction of the employer of an abuser. Yet those who ousted him Doyle likely were unable to accept his conclusions (he let those lawyers get to him with what has to be their lies) and/or were 'chicken' about raising the topic with those above them who might or might not simply fire them in turn.

Fault in these regards likely rests upon one or more in New York, Washington, and Rome in proportion to what they knew, and more particularly what it is that they failed to do to kick the matter upstairs with authority, to authority.

I'm unimpressed by the comments of retired Pastoral Associate and Paulte
minimizing the extent of the sex abuse crisis in the Church. Last week we got a further inditement of several priests, including one diocesan official, for such abuse. We don't have all the details but we can look at the previous scandals in the same diocese and the prosecutions in 2005 to get a pretty clear picture. SNAP have a fairly complete account of the investigation at that time which leaves no doubt as to the responsibility of the hierarchy.
What is most impressive about the account is that the lead investigator in the case who was a Lutheran was so impressed by the many excellent priests he met in the course of his work that he now attends the Catholic Church!
But don't feel bad: I had the same initial reaction to the abuse reports but having read the various accounts in this and other dioceses, I cannot deny the facts any longer.

There has been abuse for centuries, but of course, in the old days, it could more easilly be covered up. Modern media, a less docile laity and of course, some of those "greedy lawyers" resulted in the abuse no longer being able to get covered up and surpressed.

Many Bishops have played dumb when the ugly truth comes out, but I suspect that they knew a lot more than they admit. If I were a Bishop [terrifying thought}, I certainly would want to know who my "problem priests" were, and I would keep a close eye on them. I think most people would do no less. Of course, playing dumb is no defense at all. If you are in command, you should know what is going on in your organization. Cardinal Law attempted to flow down the blame to subordinates who gave him bad advice. I am sure they did in fact give him bad advice. That is not a defense. We have heard so often from the Trads that "The Church is not a democracy." Well, if that is so, then the blame rests with those in charge; i.e the Bishops. Authority and responsibility go together.

Anyone can tell the truth up to the moment when another person tells it for him.

Why have so few popes, bishops and their curia failed to speak the truth before that "moment" arrives?

Well, all of us mostly act from habit. And when the lifelong habit has been to parse the truth or not to speak the truth, it is no surprise that the "moment" overtakes us.

Often much time passes before the "moment" arrives but when it does there is no credible remedy--whether one makes religion, or makes cigarettes, or makes defective vehicles, or makes unjust war, or makes subprime loans, or makes false Medicare claims.

I think of salt losing its flavor, of having strange gods before us.

And then I remember the cross and grace and hope, and Romero, and Roncalli, and Cammara, and Day, and Drexel, and the countless host of anonymous women and men and children who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

And I remember Kierkegaard's question: "What would a man be like if he did not lie?"

In 2010, Father Tom Doyle wrote A SHORT HISTORY OF THE MANUAL about the 1985 report he and two others prepared for the US bishops. It amplifies Eugene Kennedy's article. The history provides insight on the mid-1980s situation and the clear foresight of its authors. One striking part is a 1992 response to a Doyle letter by Archbishop Pilarczyk, President, NCCB/USCC (p.21). He rather dismissively points out that the report contributed nothing new since the bishops had already known and done so much (and other institutions were just as bad in child sexual abuse). It was ten years after that letter before Law was driven out of office and the bishops were induced to hold their Dallas meeting. Revelations since then make one wonder what Abp. Pilarczyk may have had in mind when he said "it has never been our intention either to hide the problem or to walk away from the problem" and " … hear our pain. … their bishops … are as hurt and angry as they [the victims] are…".

I like the article, but the 9/11 metaphor fails. At least for those of us who were in the area for the FIRST attack on the WTC.

We knew they'd try again.

Here's another example of "the Church's" typically BOLD MORAL LEADERSHIP:
http://reform-network.net/?cat=316

"a substantial subset of priests was psychosexually immature -- that is, the latter’s inner psychosexual development lagged far behind their chronological age." Yes, in working with diocesan parish priests, I have known this to be, sadly, VERY true.

Re: the 'twin towers imagery:' Yes, when one considers that PETER and PAUL are comparable images of the 'twin towers' [of faith] of the Church. An interesting sort of imagery, especially since one was married (Peter) and supposedly enjoyed a healthy marriage/family relationship; and the other (Paul) was not, yet Paul is the one who supposedly spoke and wrote most about sexual passions, directing these toward marriage, etc.

Well I for one am sure & at the point of no re-turn to RC...
One can clearly see how the RCC has treated clergy abuse victims and Tom Doyle...
Only Lords knows what goes on unseen!
There is no turning back for me.

Thank you Eugene Cullen for your 'take' on the topic. I enjoyed your weaving of the comment by E.J. Smith into the piece, masterfully!Lately I have been interested in the image of a small door, an image which came unbidden. The Vatican does everything so BIG, except telling the truth. So it's not about Vatican bragadocio (empty boasting), it's a tiny door and it's about to be opened. This will transform the Vatican into a museum. As a famous therapist once said to me, 'you've seen a lot of pain, and you've read a LOT of books'. He was right and I hated him for it. So I make no special claims except that I once knew a deep intimacy with my G-d...I fell apart...Humpty...Dumpty. No, think, Gideon. I so want to call down fire from on high, but it's not time yet. Firstly, I need to return to Jeshua, to be held and healed.The tiny door will be opened and the Vatican will become a museum. The Pontiff will flee...with his handsome secretary.

Regarding who should have been told and who should have known: one doesn't hear what one does not want to hear.

What has not been addressed is: What becomes of a convicted priest and what options do they see for themselves? There are clearly not enough non-pastoral options for these men within the Church. Perhaps while they are serving time they should also be attending college or vocational programs to prepare them for other meaningful work with which to carry on their lives. Being a victim is no picnic but being a sorrowful sinner who must re-make one's relationship with God is also a difficult row to hoe. Perhaps if they could see a meaningful way forward, they would more readily take the the hard first steps of admitting wrong and then reconciling with society and their victims.

Dear Eugene Cullen Kennedy, There was a Bronze Plate on the Titanic which paraphrasing read: " The Ship Titanic is built so strong that not even God can sink it." Why is anyone so surprised about sex abuse? It happens among all peoples on earth and much more than we are willing to admit. Like the placard on the Titanic many of us think we can get along without God and when we ignore Him we open the door to Satan. Look at all the hideous sins being committed so frequently. We need God every second of every day-without Him we are nothing and so weak. It is truly sad that so many blame the Catholic Church for the sins committed in the name of Satan. God help us is my prayer!

The absence of truth in these matters are deceptions, which too many did in fact suspect.
nI 2003 my niece married and the ceremony back east, I had the distinct pleasure of reminiscing with men of my age (60) who in facts as I, are committed Catholics. These men, a dozen or so, took orders in the Church and spoke of the coming disclosures and knew of some heinous men who committed the unthinkable. They suggested two books on the rising tide of anti-Catholicism which addressed this phenomena. Aquinas's "Summa Theolcicae" speaks to three sexualities in man, I give no quarter to the men or women who abuse children, none..
This treatise supports unfortunately some of the present deviany found in clusters of the world but found the ideas in the Summa to provide a conscious logic to that which we all reject.
I spent 18 years in study in Roman Catholic schools and University, and I never saw it once; nor within a limited community with the Trappists, never saw what has been reported. I am in great solidarity with the men and women who do nothing but what God and the Redemption of Jesus Christ commands, the other men I pray for their souls. There is no legitimacy to the heinous acts, there is however, a responsibility in the converse, to support those who you know to be the real thing. Sic Transit Gloria

What if the truth is simply this: the clergy do not believe in the Jesus Story.

They know it to be myth. They know it to have no power. They know that they are simply mythologists and therefore have no Real Faith. They know that ultimately, they are spiritual con men.

If this is the case, then raping children makes cold, hard, calculated and reasonable sense, as evil and incomprehensible as it is.

At that point, they will have manuevered themselves into a power position by simply qualifying for a collar. What if Christianity, as we know it, is not real? What if the Gospels were broadsides only, written by a group of sub-sect Jews who were seen as apostates in Jersualem by the priests and saduccees and pharisees?

What if what we have been taught is true about Christianity is propaganda and not really history?

Read--Sex, Priests and Secret Codes-The Catholic Church's 2000 Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse--by Doyle, Sipe and Wall.
They have known lots longer than from the nineteen eighties that they had a problem.

Professor Kennedy has again stated the obvious truth about the sexual scandal that has been going on in the Catholic church for years. It is sad to see the leaders in the Vatican and in the church world wide ignore the fact that they have conspired to protect the sexual predators in an attempt to prevent scandal for the Church. The Cardinals, Bishops, and those in the Vatican who participated in this attempt to coverup the sexual crimes that were being committed also became criminals by their actions. Until the leaders of the Church receive the punishment that they deserve for this scandal, the Church will continue to loose it's moral authority. I pray that the Holy Spirit will be able to bring an awakening to those who participated in this terrible affair that they must face the consequences of their actions.

Only in the minds of child rapists is there a question as to whether raping a child is good or bad. In fact, in a law argument, the inability to know right from wrong is an insanity plea which the Church leaders keep pleading - they didn't know right from wrong until 2002 when they got caught. The Church leaders have taken on the minds of child rapists, not the "mind of Christ." Why does anyone want such immoral people who possess no conscience leading them in prayer services?

Is this the objectionable "relativeness" that Pope Benedict is so concerned about, not found outside of Church authority, but within Church authority, namely the total inability to determine right from wrong? If the rape children being regarding as a capital crime, a mortal sin is not a moral abosolute, then what is a moral absolute?

Yes, the Church Authorities knew in 1985 when Tom Doyle gave the US Bishops and Vatican his report on child pedestry within the priesthood, it's activities, and it's cover-up. But in 1985, priests, and most certainly Bishops and Popes possessed unquestioned power, and they were viewed as innocent ones, not the women and children, and minor males they exploited. The laity was encouraged to diefy their priests, Bishops, Cardinals, and Popes.

What has been difficult for Catholics to grasp is the total lack of empathy for victims and their families ever displayed by any one in authority within the Catholic Church. There is no sincere repentence, deep sorrow, or moral outrage ever displayed. Pedophile priests were kept in the priesthood for decades with excuses as to why they couldn't be removed such as complex cannon law procedures, etc. Yet, the Church authorities acted with such swiftness and certainity when it was married priests who were removed and women priests who were ordained. Days didn't go by before both removed from ministry, ex-communicated, or condemned. We have all witness this inconsistent treatment of married men and women called into ministry, and the decades of cover-up and foot dragging to remove pedophile priests and pedophile Bishops and pedophile Cardinals. Why?

We have all seen the almost absolute silent response from local parish priests and religious orders with few exceptions? Why is that? Where is the moral outrage among them? How does one explain their sympathies lie with the sexually active homosexual priests among them, and sexually active pedophile priests. Why are these same priests rising up and championing married men being ordained and women being ordained, rather than silently witnessing these same priests being swiftly removed from the priesthood, ex-communicated and silenced? Why is this?

In the end, who possesses the real power to overthrow this corrupt regime of hedonistic, narcististic, self-absorbed, deceiving, morally unconscious hierarchy that pretends it represents Christ?

Prosecute to the full extent of the law...bring on the handcuffs. Intolerable, worse than the banksters...of with their_____!

There are two million Americans in prison; what did any of you do about them? Do you report them when you see them congregating on street corners? Do you call the police when you see them pimping women and selling drugs? Do you turn in your neighbors for cheating on their taxes? Do you blow the whistle on your favorite uncle who likes to have the kids snuggle on his lap every Thanksgiving? If you answered "no" to these questions, congratulations. You're right up there with the bishops and priests and religious and lay ministers and laity-in-general who knew a little something about the pastor, or the choir director, or the P.E. teacher, but didn't want to be the one to say something and possibly ruin their lives. The notion that the clergy are any less-well-adjusted psycho-sexually than the people who go through one relationship after another, including serial marriages, cheat on their spouses, watch hours of porn on their computers, and watch soap operas so they can fantasize about what they would do if they only had the chance -- is patently false. More than fifty percent of marriages now end in divorce. Twenty percent of American children live in homes where neither parent is present. Half of all children are born out of wedlock in many cities. More than a million abortions are performed in this country every year -- and we're going to preach to others about how superior our collective psycho-sexual development is?

I think the biggest difference between 9/11 and the clergy scandal is that, at least in narrow terms, 9/11 arose from an arrogantly unimagined external threat while the clergy scandal arose from a known threat from within. The institutional Church's desire to hide, or inability to acknowledge, its shadow side (derived from an ever present shadow of its agents) is, I think, the true source of its 25 years of toxic dithering. In 1989, I read of my local bishop's refusal to meet with child victims of sexual abuse and their family because of the advice of counsel most likely paid for by an insurance company. The internal contradiction of the institutional Church's mission not only to provide pastoral guidance and leadership but also to survive as an institution could not have been more plainly apparent.

Certainly the world wide nature of the cover-up points to a universal policy requirement of all bishops, namely the mandate to cover-up "all scandals" in the false expectation that such cover-ups "protect the church from scandal."
It is obvious that such a universal policy exists, simply from the uniform responses of bishops throughtout the world. The fact that no bishop has admitted this only reflects the controlling dictates of the Vatican.

The pope refuses to speak the whole truth because he has yet to admit that the mandated cover up policy has probably existed for centuries. The fact that the pope has refused to admit that the cover up of all scandals has been a "traditional" policy means that he wants the practice to continue inspite of the fact that it has undermined the authority of the entire hierarchy.
In effect the Vatican response to the crisis has been about the preservation of its power of secrecy.

The abuse of the young has slithered in a wide swath thoughout our Church's history---leaving a noxious vapor in its wake---poisoning all infested by it. We have had so many popes, cardinals, arch/bishops and priests engaging in this practice---that the wonder was that not more people were aware of it sooner.

One pope, Benedict IX (1032-48) shocked even the most hardened cardinals by debauching young boys in the Lateran Place. St. Peter Damian, writing about him, called him "a demon from hell in the disguise of a priest."

Another pope, Boniface VIII,(1294-1303) known as a shameless pedophile, famously declared that having sex with young boys was 'no more a sin than rubbing one hand against the other.' The poet Dante reserved a special place just for him in the eight layer(of nine decending layers of evil), of Hell.

Incurable romantic Julius III (1550-55) fell in love with a handsome young begger boy that he spotted brawling with a vender's monkey in the streets. The pope went on to appoint this illiterate 17-year-old urchin a cardinal. This inspired one disgruntled archbishop to write an epic poem, "In Praise of Sodomy" in the boy's honor.

These were not the only popes who engaged in the sexual abuse of the young, there were many others, And, of course, this was all the past.

But the attitude of too many in the Roman Curia was and still is---that they have such positions of privilege and entitlement, that Jesus Christ himself will miraculously erase all of their sins, without a penalty attached---without anyone knowing it. The higher their position, the greater the degree of hurt to the Body of Christ.

If the recent popes were unable (or unwilling) to realize the great depth and vast width of these crimes----they know now. And the bishops???? Who knows?
But the laity (media, groups demanding justice, lawsuits, letter-writters, etc.) are the medications that the Lord is using to fight this great wound in the Church. And it will take the laity all over the world to continue to press its case for more openess, more of a say in the governance within the church, more respect for their rights---before this disease will be wiped out.

About 30 years ago, I recall hearing a story — or allegation — that a certain facility for orphans in Marin County, California had been constructed "in order to give Bishop so-and-so's illegitimate children a place to live." Is it true? I have no idea. However, Bishop so-and-so flourished (if one may put it thusly) in the 1930s or 40s.

To make a long story short, this is why my blood boils when people claim that our current sexual abuse crisis is the result of Vatican II.

Definitely not a Black Swan.

Friends--
I am iterpreting and paraphasing here, but an earlier posting asked what we can do now, we the people in the pews, to force the leadership to admit to the depth of the problem and re-engineer the governance of the Church so as to minimize this from happening again. Funny, six months ago President Mubarek of Egypt looked secure in his job for as long as he chose to hold it. Where is Mubarek now? I predict that a critical mass of disaffected lay people in Europe, living close enough to Vatican City to flood St Peter's Square day and night for as long as it takes, will provide us with the oomph that we need to unseat the present Vatican crowd and put in a new leadership that will address the sex abuse problem boldly and effectively.
It is thoroughly conceivable that once St. Peter's Square fills up over several days with lay people who demand change, their numbers will be augmented by a goodly number of Western Hemisphere, African, and Asian Catholics who have enough money to afford to fly into Rome and join in the protest that topples the tired old regime. And those who cannot afford the air fare will still be able to launch major lasting protests in their home dioceses around the world.
Note that I am not in the least advocating violence or even disrespectful language on the part of the lay protesters. Nothing should take place that would make the Dalai Lama blush! The effectiveness of the protest should rest on its sheer weight, not on the use of any force whatsoever. If enough lay people start thronging St. Peter's Square for days and days, and this fact triggers throngs of Catholics in front of major cathedrals and basilicas around the globe in the same way, the Holy Spirit will prevail. There is no reason today to think otherwise.

I think were well past the stage of Who,What, When, Where, don't you think.

The problem exists and the answer is, may I have the envelope please.

HOW DO WE GET ACCOUNTABILIY?

No accountability, the problem remains.

Dominic Tomasso
Advocate For Bishops Acountability
tomassotucson@cox.net

Unformed, ill-formed and mal-formed priests, bishops and Cardinals. Likely, even a pope or two or three or more. And the beat goes on and on and on!!

Sometimes I feel like I am being persecuted, like Christ on the cross, as I read of ever more of these pedophiles and the Vatican/hierarchs endless covers-up.

I feel sorry for those priests and nuns who are not a part of this debacle of satanic evil and the resultant covers-up. I cringe at the thought of the sense of internal shame they must/may feel and carry around with them on a daily basis. For they too, are Christ on the cross!!! They too, are being persecuted and punished by the Vatican and the prelates, even as was Christ.

Just as ours, their senses and their sensitivities are being assaulted on an almost daily basis. Truly, the body of Christ suffers.

Upon hearing of St.Malachy's 'Prophecies of Popes' I thought, never could such a thing happen. Now...

When the Vatican's chief exorcist reported an evil entity was in the Vatican, I thought how apropos. It was actually invited in via the Vatican's actions. Give the "thing" a door or opening and it is in. Such, seems to be the nature of evil. The resultant covers-up gave the beast a welcome home, again and again and again, ad nauseam.

Truly, our senses and our sensitivities are repeatedly assaulted. Yet, we do not fail, we keep resisting, we continue to fight against the evil. We raise our voices, again and again.

I often ask myself: could it be that Christ will come again, when HIS church FINALLY learns to follow HIS teachings!!

Oh well, tomorrow is another day; or so it is said. Hope springs eternal or so it is said. At least, for now. Some have left the church. Who can blame them. I, most certainly do not. Just maybe, they have done the correct and most powerful thing. They have stood squarely, by walking away from these horrible behaviors of the Vatican corporate/institutional church.

Some others continue to be apologists, for sad/pathetic surely evil behaviors?? Why? Their kind of think is the very same as caused these evil actions.

just thinking... and wondering... and wandering...torn this way and that...again and again, daily!!

Maybe, this is some of my punishment and I'll spend less time in the waiting place with those other souls who are waiting and whom we are reminded to pray for. Are we not in a kind of purgatory, right here on earth, right now?

As my own death approaches(terminal illness) in two or three years, I keeeep remind myself that God/Christ/The Holy Spirit is not the problem. Man and his earthly religious ways are the problem. So, somewhat tenuously, I hang on. But It can't come soon enough. Sooner would be better. Like Blessed Mother Theresa I sometimes wonder, maybe even doubt. Oh me, of little faith. But then, I remember the historical Jesus, that memory supports and reminds me of my belief in the biblical Jesus. And it all comes back. My faith, that is.

A friend of mine who has a Ph.D. in Theology among other things, and knows a lot about religion, and is a Protestant pastor, said that the "conservatives" have the church in their grip. He asked me to hang on to my faith. In effect, he said: this cup too, shall pass!

In all of this, there really is some good. Anyway, that's what I keep telling myself. The good is that, by our anguish and suffering over and at the Vatican, we are reminded of Christs Persecution and suffering!!

Another good is that here on NCR ONLINE we really have formed another Spiritual community, a community of the faithful. EVEN, despite the hate that shows up from some few others, on occasion. Though it is long past time to point fingers and name names, we all know whom they are. They, who would seek to suppress us and even persecute us, if they could. Christ loved, we are told God loves, yet they do not! Oh well...

I am absolutely sure there are and will be other "goods" that will come. A great good would be that through our prayers and pressures and by the stopping of our financial supports we speak loudly and demandingly for action, but only EFFECTIVE action. Perhaps then the church, actually the Vatican church will get to a better place. One that is much more in keeping with the laws of God(Ten Commandments) and the teachings of Christ(peace, love, tolerance and "Do unto others...).

Finally, I believe that our faith will be tested even further than it has been, when Jeb Bush or some other Republican gets elected prez in 2012 or 2016. Then the axe of hate and endless greed will attempt to do ever more chopping, of the budget(welfare queens)and more heads(Iran and maybe even ours) will roll. Iow, sad as it is to say, I think it will get even worse.

Satan waved homosexuality and abortion, insecurities and terrorism(guns) and greed/lust(money and political power) in their faces(temptation) and they succumbed, they sank to their lowest/basest levels. In the name of country and God(Right Wing Catholics) Jesus Christ(Right Wing Protestants) and the Holy Spirit( Right Wing Pentecostals like Palin) gave vent to their hates and furies and they engaged in war/death/kill, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, AND in America!!

Humblest apologies for the length of this tome. Blessings to all. And a wish: may we come out on the other side of this cabal of evil and horrors much wiser and more understanding and more Christ-like.

bob

Whatever the reasons for the problem, the procedurally glacial process, and the beliefs of the abusers or their bosses may have been about what had been happening,
TODAY any priest accused of this sort of thing should be reported to law enforcement promptly, and be removed from his immediate duties with whatever story about that is appropriate, and given no duties of any kind remotely involving children.
TODAY the Church should assist and encourage the alleged victim to cooperate with the police with or without the emotional support of a friend or Church person
TODAY the report of the police or prosecutor that a so-called prima facie case exists, should trigger the immediate suspension of the priest from all church duties, he to report to a monastery, stay and pray, except for proceedings (unless in jail, of course).
TODAY The Bishop may or may not choose to say that the action is precautionary and the verdict will be awaited.
TODAY Upon conviction, and if the defendant priest is not in jail or is released from jail, the priest should return to a monastery and remain the rest of his life, but if he fails to do so at any time, he should be laicized and every Diocese in the country informed of the matter with full and useful identification material. (Because it's better to have him really supervised than to be running around in public.)