Global scope of abuse crisis makes case for reform

The problem is global because the secretive system is global...collegiality would go far in alleviating a

The church may be universal, but it needs locality...local control, local accountability, local clergy beholden to the localpeople, not to the monolith. Lay people need to demand and participate in holding the institution, at every level, responsible, pastoral, financially truthful.

The "system" is corrupt...

David Clohessy of SNAP said: "common sense tells us the crimes and cover-ups are likely more extensive for a variety of factors in the developing world." It is more than rumor that countries in Africa have rampant abuse cases: nuns abused by priests. Let the investigative reporting start in Africa and substantiate the abuse cover-ups. We have merely seen the tip of the iceberg!!

Usually crisis leads to reform and change. The change that occured in the American Church after the revelations of the crisis were (in many places) a hightened clericalism and a silence of the laity, especially of those who held leadership positions. This clerical retreat with its aloofness occured at the same time the shortage of clergy became pronounced due to many being put on leave. The changes called for by the Spirit of God were put on hold while we retreated to old structures of safety, while many people abandoned the church.
The Spirit will not be silenced. These new revelations are just one more sign to us to call for fundamental reforms in the Church's governing system.

It is sad that the people quoted above would use such a serious scandal that has ruined the lives of scores of people to promote an agenda of reform that has nothing to do with the actual substance of sexual abuse. Shame! If you simply go to any prison anywhere in the USA or elsewhere,you will note that the vast, overwhelming majority of those convicted of sexual abuse of minors and serving time are not celibate Catholic priests, single men or homosexuals. You will note they are for the most part married men who have sex with adults and minors. So, who is kidding whom? And I suspect you will find in these prisons a good number of Protestant ministers and rabbis, maybe equal in number to the married Orthodox priests and so-called celibate priests of the Latin Rite. Do you homework as reporters and verify or deny these remarks. Sexual abuse of minors and its cover up in all institutions, religious or otherwise is not just peculiar to the Catholic hierarchy. At least today, the Catholic hierarchy is taking steps to remedy the situation and thus a role model for other institutions, religious or secular.

For me, the most haunting image from the gospels related to this crisis is the image of the powerless child as the gateway to the kingdom. How can we adequately atone for the systemic sin of not honoring the dignity of the powerless children given to our care?

The sexual abuse cover up and secrecy by the hierarchy and is world wide. It was not imported or exported from one country to another. It is a malignant disease that has spread throughout The Church. What we have does not represent The Body of Christ. What we have are a bunch of old men in costumes and long dresses doing the work of the Evil One. I do not believe for one minute that this abuse is something that started 50+ years ago. I believe it has gone on for centuries. Each succeeding Bishop learned this was the way it’s done when they were in the seminary.

The only VOTE anyone outside of the ordained leaders of the Catholic Church is their pocket book and bank account. So vote with your wallet and checkbook. Stop giving to your church and give the money to local, national or other international organizations that assist the poor, sick, homeless, unwed pregnant etc, etc, until there are substantial changes like letting the people nominate and elect their Bishop; the way it was done in the early church which held that elections prevented unworthy persons from becoming bishops. It’s time to move the clock back! We The People are The Church!

Absolutely. The problem of sexual abuse is basically a problem of accountability. Given that we cannot eliminate sexuality from human relationships, we must be able to make individuals accountable for their actions and do so in such a way that the mission of the Church is promoted and not degraded. Centralized authority such as the Church has experienced since the 18th Century has not served us well because it has over clericalized the Church and restricted the participation of the laity in Church governance and in the spread of the Gospel. The interpretation of catholic action was for many years the particpaton of the laity in the mission of the bishops; the laity had no proper role in the Church's witness to the Gospel in the world. Theologically that changed with Vatical Council II, but not in practice.

What a good article. If the church needs "cleaning up" who better to do it than the people who usually do the cleaning - women! He's right. If there had been some female input in the Vatican things would have been a lot different.

Dream on! This is about as realistic as expecting the Detroit Police Dept. to reform itself!

A wonderful example of Church administration. And relative importance of matters.

The VAtican sends an Important Nun to examine the various congregations. I wonder what will happen after 59,000 nuns applied conventional catholic theology which says that if there afre conflicts between iddues, one has to give priority to the most important (eg Health insurance) and then to the more itemized one. (Abortion), especially if the extension of the Heatlh Insurance will already dimish the number of abortions.

So, against this back gbround, back to my original question: Why did the Vatican not send an important person, say in 2005, to investigvate the way the Bishops' administrations handeld the pedophilia crisis.

I can only add a resounding YES! But If the people of the Church do not revolt NOTHING will change. The people need to march, picket, write, speak and boycott...yes, just as if it were a country with a tyrannical dictator. And if they don't they are just as guilty as their 'shepherd' It will be difficult for most since the Church still uses fear of hell, and the power of the Clergy as representatives of Godde ( that's a laugh) Sadly I don't believe anything will change.

The Cardinals, Bishops, and Pope have a fear of women so that avenue will be closed. Changing the rule of Celibacy...an absolute must to eradicate the pathological view of sexuality and its sexual perversion much like what happens in prisons when inmates are deprived of normal sexual relations, has a slim chance.

Very sad indeed.

Good article, Tom. Fr. Thomas Doyle has been the prophetic voice in the Church for decades. It is no surprise he has been repeatedly denounced and hindered by those who who would rather maintain the wall of silence on this issue.

Only one bishop in this country, Bernard Law, has been removed for enabling predator priests. He in turn was showered with honors when he was moved to Rome. Clearly, the old boy network in the Church doesn't get it. We need women and married people in positions of power to end this insanity. As long as the bishops have unchecked authority nothing will change.

Steve

The concept that if there were more woman involved with the church in higher positions they would have been more outraged about sex abuse or less silenct is not credible. When a priest molested children at our parish school the principal kept her mouth shut and zippered. No parents were advised of the abuse or the pedophile priest's continued presence in the school, nor was the Parent-Teachers Association advised. I told the PTA President and she also did nothing nor did she report the matter to the authorities.It wasn';t until I demanded that the school invite a police program for the school children which would uncover the names of the victims that such a thing was done, but it was not advertised and was held in secret. The priest was observed by two people as he molested one of the children, a little boy, and neither of them reported to the authorities. Months later the police got involved and secured a warrant for the priest's arrest but the Archbishop refused to tell the police where the priest was located. Years later a detective, upon being told the priest was living in Hawaii which my friend and I reported to the police, and that he had molested more little boys, tried to recover te warrantand it had been expunged. Women in the church were all over this thing. My friend and I started a small group dedicated to lobbying the bishops to change their ways and not one Catholic woman would have anything to do with us. They cited fear, first of all, and secondly they looked at us as anti-Catholic and priest haters. So, I have no more trust that women would be more open about abuse in the church than male preists or emplyees.

How wonderful to see this article recognizing the need for basic reform! I believe the source of the sickness lies in the pursuit of total power by this male-dominated system along with forced celibacy of the priesthood and the rejection and fear of women.

If the hierarchy of the church would re-examine Christ's example, practice humility, and follow the work of the apostles, there might be hope for reform. In the earliest days of the church there was no ban on natural sexual practice in marriage. There was no ban on women participating in ministry. There was no greedy pursuit of wealth at the expense of the poor. Ostracizing segments of the population such as homosexuals was not part of Jesus' message. Quite the opposite.

Many have suggested reforms such as: First, that Benedict and the cardinals view the system used by the Eastern Orthodox church in which the Eastern "pope" regards himself as the coordinator and leader of the various rites within his purview, rather than as a dictator with ultimate authority. Secondly, women must be recognized as equal to men and allowed full ministry in the church according to the example of Jesus who treated women with equality and respect. Jesus did not fear the influence of women as do the hierarchy of the church today. Thirdly, priests must be allowed to marry if they choose. Forced celibacy serves to prevent the natural maturation process, which leads to distortion of sexual needs. Again, Jesus did not fear women or the natural need for procreation.

Of course, any of the above reforms would require a general attitude of humility and rejection of the pursuit of absolute power. It would require a return to the message of Jesus who rejected the title of "king", who rejected the pursuit of wealth and power, who treated every segment of his society with respect and gentleness, who preached inclusion rather than exclusion, and especially who recognized the voice of women of his day. This was completely opposite of what we see today in the organizational church.

Has anyone considered the possibility that the recent drive by individuals in the Vatican to "reform the reform" might be a pre-emptive strike against the inevitable calls for even more stringent reform in the wake of the pedophilia scandals?

It is all too clear that "church leadership" is an oxymoron. We are desperately in need of principled people--not entrenched, misogynistic and homophobic, power-hungry old white males--to clean up the literally ungodly mess that the institutional church has made.

So when are we who agree with Cardinal Kasper going to say "Enough!!!" It starts when we begin to cut off the financial contributions. When the DSA pitch is made this year in your parish: Just say "No."

He [Fr. Doyle] termed the spreading crisis as “the worst symptom of deeper maladies,   symptomatic of a deeply flawed,   to use church terminology,   governmental system.     The crisis has made it very clear that the system we have had for centuries is incapable of leading the body of Christ to be a church.     All it was capable of doing was defending itself.”     …he believes that the bishops have engaged in “denial and blame-shifting” since the earliest days of the scandal and that now “we’re seeing the unraveling of a Teflon cover that kept this under wraps.     The cover is rapidly unraveling now and what is obvious is that there is a broad and deep layer of corruption in the institution.”

These are sad times.     We seem to be in a Catch-22 situation with a clearly systemic scandal of Church governance that weaves its cancerous metastasis from local chancery offices all the way to the Vatican.     Oaths of 'allegiance and obedience' at every level of the hierarchy — “the smoke of Satan” — have created this wall of self-protection of persons and power,   spanning decades and multiple popes.     How does one begin to internally root corruption from a Catholic Church Mafia?
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This is not merely a misguided religious matter;   it is a serious criminal matter of growing proportions — not at all the image of our Lord Christ.     Even bishops within the USCCB continue to foot-drag and obstruct the release of damning information about themselves and their activities.     How can the broadly tainted hierarchy,   ignoring or covering up sexual predation among their own,   possibly claim credible authority to teach faith and morals in such a situation?
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The Vatican also claims for itself the status of a political state,   not just that of a religious institution.     Perhaps the only remaining recourse is for the International Court to become involved — to thoroughly investigate and prosecute as needed.     No more hiding behind a veneer of religion and loyalty oaths.     It now seems obvious that these churchmen cannot,   will not,   police themselves and clean up their hierarchical brotherhood,   nor will they revise their system of governance,   norms for priests   and   archaic teachings regarding human sexuality and reproduction.
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Perhaps a new Pentecost is afoot once this abscess is finally and painfully drained.     Meanwhile,   as the infection spreads the body grows sicker.

"The church's system of governance needs a fundamental overhaul" is an understatement! This is a GLOBAL problem now and the present structure in place has GOT TO GO - - beginning at the top. Our church is crumbling from the inside. Come Holy Spirit!

The meringue is definitly hitting the mixmaster over and over and over and ----

The truth shall make us free.

Cardinal Walter Kasper has been right for years but not listened to.
The DYSFUNCTIONAL patriarchal "leadership" of the Catholic Church is gasping for air. The "OLD Boys club" is finally on the way out. Control and power for centuries has finally caught up with the many abusers in "leadership roles" within the Catholic church. Those who obsgtructed justicie like Bernard Law need to be held accountable and not just transferred to Rome.
And then the hierarchy wonders why people are not attending mass and donating money to the Catholic coffers....

Father Tom Doyle was not listened to and he obviouysly threatened members of the old boys club. We need more MEN like him who want transparency and honesty and justice.

If this isn't enough to make us stand up to the heirarchy and hold them accountible for their crimes, what in the world would it take?

I don't believe that the Pope is facing a "crisis". If anything, it's more of the same. Thousands of survivors will come forth and they will continue to be split off as bad objects for being snitches.

The only crisis I see coming is when the tens of thousands of survivors in Central and South American speak up. At that time, thousands of survivors and clergy will disappear, churches will go up in flames and their will be coups to rid the country of the Catholic church.

i don't see much better on the horizon for the church...sad

A frightening tsunami is about to begin in the Church. Come Holy Spirit!

Perhaps in this area as in others, it is time for us to be the change we want to see. But how do we go about doing that?

Don't give the church any money. NO MONEY! NADA.

I wouldn't surprised if Hugo Chavez is the first dictator to give the Catholic church the boot in South America.

He is strongly anti-semitic and believe me, that does not mean that he loves Catholics/Christians. Chavez loves to read about the Bloody War in Argentina when thousands of Jews, students, intellectuals, artists, and professionals DISAPPEARED.

When it happens in Venezuela, the other leftist leaders in South America will follow...just like in Mexico during the Revolution!

I look forward to the day when the Pope will not be allowed to visit Latin America! VIVA!

Frank.....What about Africa? Or, is it true as I have been reliably informed that many African clergy have intimate relations with women thus giving lip-service to celibacy.

War tactics should be applied to Vatican City ¬– where the devil takes his holiday
By Mike Ference

Every day brings new evidence that we no longer live in a civilized and principled society. The worst part, it usually concerns another case of sexual misconduct involving a Catholic priest, young children and a church hierarchy that helped to cover up the case.

The Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal continues to spiral out of control from one country to the next; while the pope still refuses to solve the problem. It’s now clearly documented that across the globe tens of thousands of innocent girls and boys have been sexually violated – used and abused as sex toys by Catholic clergy, yet, nothing has or will ever be done. Thousands of pedophiles, former Catholic clerics, roam the world and no one really knows where these monsters are, how many victims they have left behind or how many more will suffer from priests trained to sexually abuse since their seminary days.

So — what should be done now that we know it’s a pattern of terror orchestrated by the Catholic Church hierarchy and repeated everywhere the dysfunctional sex freaks have established a church, school, hospital or other institution; then covered up in every layer of the all male run society – even by the pope, himself. Given the level of wreckage and anguish caused in the lives of so many people, it seems appropriate to look to the war on terror for a model strategy.

A first prong of attack at the Vatican might involve a Special Forces unit made up of highly skilled and trained military personnel capable of tracking down and obtaining confessions from any current or former priests accused of acts of sexual abuse against children. If rights are violated, if military personnel sometimes go a little too far, so be it. The Catholic Church had ample opportunity to fess up and repent. Those incapable of civilized behavior shouldn’t expect the rights and privileges of civilization.

A deck of cards can be created to help identify hard-to-find priests as well as the disgraceful church leaders who permitted, and in essence, condoned the sexual abuse of young children. Photos of the most deviant and reprehensible church officials accompanied by a list of their offenses will encourage us all to do our patriotic duty in helping the authorities track down suspected priest-terrorists or at least be able to identify the culprits as they come and go freely because their sins where covered up and the time to criminally prosecute has expired.

Another option would be to divide the world into territories. A color-code warning system would be established, alerting parents about abusive priests being transferred into their respective regions. Depending on the designated color for a particular region, parents would know whether their children should serve at Mass, go on field trips, or even attend Catholic school that day.

To aid this unique war on terror, a pool of money should be collected, not involuntarily from taxpayers, but voluntarily from those decent human beings who believe crimes committed against our children are sins that God takes very seriously. Some of the funds raised could then be turned into outrageously tempting reward sums for information leading to the capture of our targeted criminals. Once the rogue clerics have been imprisoned and forced to talk, I recommend that their confessions be given to someone like Steven Spielberg or George Romero. Hollywood writers and producers could create a blockbuster movie like Roots or Schindler’s List to serve as a bitter reminder that these crimes should never again be permitted to occur. Tom Savini could be hired to recreate the horror on the faces of child actors chosen to play parts.

Proceeds from the movie could go to victims of abuse and their families. And no matter how old the crime, compensation would be available. There should be no statute of limitations when the rights of children have been violated by those who lived much of their adult lives perched on a pedestal heightened by the trust of innocent and vulnerable believers. In fact, I would extend compensation to the second and perhaps even third generation of sufferers. It would certainly include siblings denied the experience of growing up with a brother or sister untraumatized by such abuse. And since crimes of abuse tend to echo, it would extend to the victims of the victims as well.

If all else fails, is it any less rational to declare war on the Catholic Church as part of a war on child abuse than it was to declare war on Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11 or Al-Qaeda and apparently had no weapons of mass destruction) as part of a war on terror? How many innocent children have been verifiably lost to this menace — and how many more will be lost if we don’t make a preemptive strike?

As horrific as sexual abuse by priests may be, the perpetrators might merit a more forgiving place if only their superiors had the courage to do the right thing. For a few, counseling and close supervision might have been enough to prevent future abuses. Others clearly required something more intensive — a mental hospital or a prison.

But repeated abuse, as well as willfully hiding the crimes and the criminals — as far as I can see, this brings us much closer to the realm of mortal sin. And the sinners include not just the church hierarchy, but also attorneys who ill-advised parents not to buck the system and take on the Catholic Church, or may even have provided inside information to thwart legitimate cases against the church, law enforcement officials who may have thought it best to warn church officials of pending investigations, and janitors, housekeepers, teachers, and employees of the Catholic Church who kept silent because of concerns about a paycheck, a 401K, a pension, or a fear of standing up to church authorities. God has a place for everyone — and if you abuse children or protect the abusers of children, we can only hope that your place is called hell.

Mike Ference has been an advocate for clergy sex abuse survivors for over 21 years. He has written about the problem and works with clergy abuse families in Pennsylvania and across the United States helping victims work through the corrupt bureaucratic maize of injustice. He attributes much of the problem to corrupt leaders in government, organized crime and Catholic Church hierarchy more concerned about power and money than the salvation of souls. He has labeled the commonwealth of Pennsylvania a Pro-pedophile state where Catholic clergy sex abuse cover-ups is still the norm. Mike can be reached at 412-233-5491 or email him at Ference@icubed.com.

All abusers and those who participated in the coverup, active and passive, should be summoned to St. Peter's Square for absolution and atonement.

Can anyone picture the sexual abuse of so many children having gone on for so long if layperson, especially married lay persons and, most especially mothers, had been made aware of what was going one and how it was being "handled" by the heirarchy.

WHAT ABOUT AFRICA: http://layscience.net/node/977 THIS ARTICLE SPEAKS TO THE ISSUE OF THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF NUNS BY CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN AFRICA.

Dear Mr Roberts:
The John Jay study found that about 4% of active priests had been accused of sexual-abuse; and that less than 2% had multiple accusations. While any sexual-abuse by priests (or any clergy) is terrible, still I felt satisfied that the John Jay findings were not up in the neighborhood of 12% to 14%.
The John Jay figure suggested (to me) that there were probably 4% of the active priests living in any age (even the 13th century) who could and should have been accused. Thus the church needs to be always prepared.
I have been haunted for decades by stories I heard from my Canon Law prof that sexual mis-conduct was prevelant in many countries. I even was so informed by a bishop.
I would agree with some of you commentators that it is doubtful if Rome will tackle this whole issue.

You never hear of scandal as large and widespread in other organized religions. What is it in the Catholic Church that seems to not just allow this behavior to continue, but to provide it a breeding place??? What obligation does the laity have to bring decency about in the Church?? And how do they go about doing this in light of the structure of the Church as it is now??

I was raised Catholic and loved the Church, but I love God and decency more. I find it overpoweringly difficult to accept all this and can not continue in this Church. I wish it was otherwise, but I believe this is best for me and that my God who gave me free will and intellect is with me.

You never hear of scandal as large and widespread in other organized religions. What is it in the Catholic Church that seems to not just allow this behavior to continue, but to provide it a breeding place??? What obligation does the laity have to bring decency about in the Church?? And how do they go about doing this in light of the Church structure as it is now??

I was raised Catholic and loved the Church, but I love God and decency more. I find it overpoweringly difficult to accept all this and the Pope's solution to it. I can not continue in this Church. I wish it was otherwise, but I believe this is best for me and that my God who gave me free will and intellect is with me.

This is very sad as there seems to be no good resolution.

How does one change 2,000 years of structured deceit?
You don't.
When will Papa Ratzi resign?
I say by the end of 2012.
Which is soon for an institution that takes 10 times longer than others to make decisions and take action.

Frank....Many thanks

The Vatican is spinning a web that will eventually strangle it to death.Have you been watching all these network shows reporting about , how the vatican is being maligned. How the members of the Vatican are supporting the Pope.That they believe he has been doing soo much to correct the abuse problem. That the Pope had nothing to do with allowing this or that. That the Pope was not involved in this or that. Why don't the networks hear from members of SNAP or Voice of the Faithful? To begin with, there is no one in this world more knowledgeable about what has been going on, than the Pope. Next fact: Sexual abuse is a crime. If you don't think so, visit a prison and talk to a prisoner that was not a priest that abused a child. Ask him, is sex abuse a criminal act. Fact: thousands of priests have sexually abused children. Fact: Has sexually abusive priest been reported to law enfocement by any bishop? Fact: bishops have secretly moved sex abusers from parish to parish where they still could abuse children. That makes these bishops criminally complicit. Fact: bishops allowed these pedophiles to leave the ministry without having to register as sex offenders. Fact: the Pope has not been deaf or blind for the past 30 years and he was the most knowledgeable person in the world about what was going on. Fact: Has the Pope seen fit to hold any bishop accountable for their criminal behavior? Fact: Bishops have financially drained dioceses all over the U.S. to the point of banckrupcy. Now tell me my facts are wrong. Tell me that this man, the Pope is the right person to correct the Catholic Churches problems. Tell me that the priest that abused your child is just a sinner and that the bishop that secretly moved that abusive priest to another parish is also just a sinner. Tell me that no crimes have been committed. Has the Pope held any bishop accountable. If not, you are to blame.

Holy Thursday the beginning of the Tridium is supposed to be one of reflection and service.

Instead we were treated to an angry and emotional sermon attacking the media for its reporting abuse.

I have mentioned this in other letters. It is time for another Reformation in our Church.

I worked in my Diocese as a lay person for over 9 years. I was the Diocesan representative in our abuse cases and testified in deposition after deposition.

I had more than one conversation with clergy on the signs that our present day clergy is perilously close to looking and acting like the Pharisees of Christ's time. Rome is now more concerned with attacking its critics than demonstrating genuine remorse and reform.

I believe that this time it will take an informed laity to spark a new Reformation.

Our Church must undergo a radical reformation, a departure from what has become its primary focus, money. Look at your own diocese and ask yourself, is the Finance department the largest and best funded department in the diocese or is ministries?

Reform is needed, and needed now!

Pope B-16 is another example of centuries of popes trying to rule the world. Well, I would hope that he is learning that those of us who actually think won't tolerate his approach. No oaths of loyalty to Rome actually work! Who would continue to believe such nonsense except the superstitious! I continue to be amazed at so many lay people (well-educated, wealthy, etc.) who truly act like dumb sheep!! The Good Shepherd doesn't work for me!

I totally agree with you and I support you 200%, it is that people get a little more responsible! I wish you good luck!

betclic

I believe & agree in what Fr.Thomas Doyle quotes!.
and I also believe in Fr. Richard Sipe!
Still waiting on church clean stated by Walter Kasper.
so far this Church of Roman Catholicism has not in any way shape nor form
have come up with a Solution, to this mental, spiritual & sexual mayhem that these people who are supposedly "Consecrated by God" began!.. It is RCC's GRAND PROBLEM, and it's not an Illusion, it's REAL!.
So Do Something to Fix & Rectify RCC "Mistakes!"

And what about Africa?.

Yet another very good and strong post