The abuse of the young is a grave symptom of a crisis affecting not only the Church but society as a whole. It is a deep-seated crisis of sexual morality, even of human relationships, and its prime victims are the family and the young. In addressing the problem of abuse with clarity and determination, the Church will help society to understand and deal with the crisis in its midst.
It must be absolutely clear to the Catholic faithful, and to the wider community, that Bishops and superiors are concerned, above all else, with the spiritual good of souls. People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. They must know that Bishops and priests are totally committed to the fullness of Catholic truth on matters of sexual morality, a truth as essential to the renewal of the priesthood and the episcopate as it is to the renewal of marriage and family life.
We must be confident that this time of trial will bring a purification of the entire Catholic community, a purification that is urgently needed if the Church is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its liberating force. Now you must ensure that where sin increased, grace will all the more abound (cf. Rom 5:20). So much pain, so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate, and a holier Church.
God alone is the source of holiness, and it is to him above all that we must turn for forgiveness, for healing and for the grace to meet this challenge with uncompromising courage and harmony of purpose. Like the Good Shepherd of last Sunday's Gospel, Pastors must go among their priests and people as men who inspire deep trust and lead them to restful waters (cf. Ps 22:2).
Pope John Paul II, (Address to the Cardinals of the United States, 2004)
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We can't continue to plod along in our Catholic faith when there is ample evidence that too many of our clergy participate in or support the buggery of little boys or young men. It is too vile to want to consider, but this is a plague that must be addressed. It has not been adequately addressed by any pope in recent memory.
ReplyDeleteEvil men molesting or touching little boys or young men is gross enough, but to add on to it the moral vileness of the perpetrator being a priest or bishop, one's mind recoils at the disgusting nature of such a thing.
What scandal it is to observe NOT ENOUGH of our clergy addressing this serious topic, the nature of which has cost us so much in terms of scandal, harm to boys and young men, and the damage to the reputation of the church, not to mention in real terms as it pertains to lawsuits and payouts. Too many of our clergy are silent, and silence in the face of evil is cooperation with evil. As a Catholic who loves the faith I can think of no adequate explanation nor sufficient excuse for the casual and accepting nature of the church's response to this reality in our church, the fact that no real changes have taken place at the level of seminarian. If homosexuals are still admitted to seminary it is a travesty, and one need look no further than this if we suffer some chastisement from God.
Now that I think of it, we are suffering a chastisement in our badly fractured church, from this horrible papacy.