"Amid Abuse Scandal, Focus of Church Drifted Away" New York Times/ A Call to Action /Solidarity with Survivors/Path Forward

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/world/europe/02pope.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN and DAVID M. HALBFINGER
EXCERPTS:

In its long struggle to grapple with sexual abuse, the Vatican often cites as a major turning point the decision in 2001 to give the office led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger the authority to cut through a morass of bureaucracy and handle abuse cases directly.
The office led by Cardinal Ratzinger, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had actually been given authority over sexual abuse cases nearly 80 years earlier, in 1922, documents show and canon lawyers confirm. But for the two decades he was in charge of that office, the future pope never asserted that authority, failing to act even as the cases undermined the church’s credibility in the United States, Australia, Ireland and elsewhere. ...

"The Vatican, moreover, has never made it mandatory for bishops around the world to report molesters to the civil authorities, or to alert parishes and communities where the abusive priests worked — information that often propels more victims to step forward. .."

"It was only in April that the Vatican posted “guidelines” on its Web site saying that church officials should comply with civil laws on reporting abuse. But those are recommendations, not requirements. "


My Reflection:
The global sex abuse scandal rocking the church is a wake-up call for Catholics around the world! If the institutional church was a patient, she/he would be on life-support! It is tragic that Pope Benedict failed to make the protection of innocent children and vunerable youth from rape and sexual molestation his top priority during the past two decades. No wonder people are calling for his resignation. It appears that both popes, John Paul 11 and Benedict, the Vatican Curia, and many bishops in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and elsewhere put protection of the church's reputation and its priests before the pastoral care of victims of sexual abuse.

This raises so many serious questions.


How could a hierarchy, who prides itself on being pro-life ignore outrageous sexual crimes such as rape and sodomy against children and youth?

How could the bishops transfer pedophiles from parish to parish where they preyed on more victims?

How come it has taken Cardinal Ratzinger and the Vatican Curia so long to "get it" --to understand that sexual abuse devastated the lives of thousands of victims!

How could the Vatican argue against "zero tolerance"?

Of course, priests deserve due process, but criminals deserve jail, not more chances to sexually abuse minors. The Catholic Church should not act like a crime family! Cardinal Law, who presided over the Boston Archdiocese where the sex abuse scandal came to light in the U.S. was "rewarded" with a plush position on prestigious committees in the Vatican as well as give the title of archpriest in charge of St. Mary Major in Rome.

During the course of an investigation, Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly blasted the church's handling of the scandal.
"We looked at this and it became clear that there was an elaborate system not to report these crimes to law enforcement. This never should have gotten to this point. This is a leadership problem. They thought that it was more important to protect the church, and as a result of that, countless children were harmed. The church cared more about itself than the kids and that is wrong. There certainly was a cover-up," Reilly said.

Why did Cardinal Ratiznger fail to defrock criminal priests who abused many children, yet, move quickly to excommunicate women priests and our supporters, who are leading the church into a new era of justice and equality for women?

I think we should ask ourselves what would Jesus do?
I believe that the Spirit of God works in the people of God. Since the people of God are the church, we are called to action!

Here are some actions that we can take to make our church family: healthier, holier, and safer.

First, We the Catholic community must ask forgiveness of the survivors of clergy abuse who have suffered for years trying to procure justice in a system that too often treated them badly. We must express solidarity with and support justice for the survivors and express our appreciation for their courage and persistence.

Second: We must demand new structures of accountability and transparency in our church so that no child will be abused again.

Third: We must establish Review Boards at every level, parish, diocesan, and national that are responsible for policy and implementation. Survivors should play an integral role as leaders in this process. All allegations of abuse should be reported to civil authorities for investigation. The canon laws of the church must be changed to reflect this basic standard.

Fourth: We must support laws that protect children and remove statues of limitations so that justice can be done for all survivors of sexual abuse.

Fifth: We must demand that the bishops who kept pedophiles in ministry be removed.

Sixth:We must hold our bishops accountable, the Pope accountable, and stop supporting a system that is corrupt, and not up to Gospel standards.

Seventh: We must withhold financial support and demand resignations until justice is done and our church is a safe place for all.


I believe that the Spirit of God is writing straight with crooked lines, spurring us on to to work together as partners and equals for justice and equality, transparency and accountability in a a renewed Catholic Church!

Our first priority must be to follow the example of Jesus and witness Gospel inclusivity where all are welcome and loved, like the children in the arms of Christ.


I see this already beginning to bud as a reality in vibrant communities where women priests and married priests are working together with the people they serve in a community of equals. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are a prophetic movement standing on the margins of Catholicism with the maginalized. We are living prophetic obedience to the Spirit by disobeying an unjust law that discriminates against women. An unjust law is no law at all as St. Augustine reminds us. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are not leaving the church, we are leading the church into a new future- one of inclusion and welcome for all. We walk in solidarity with others who are calling for a more open, participatory, partnership model of church. It is time for a new Ecumenical Council called by the people of God, Vatican 111 where, one can hope, that the hierarchical church will truly be transformed and celebrate its identity as equals members of the people of God, the Body of Christ, called to to be servants of the servants of God.
Bridget Mary Meehan.