A war of words is growing between the press and the Vatican about the current Pontiff’s alleged role in covering up child abuse by priests. Prior to his papacy, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The CDF is responsible for safeguarding the doctrine of faith and morals throughout the Catholic world including dealing with priests accused of sexual abuse. The press is accusing him of covering up abuse accusations in the U.S., Ireland and his native Germany. The Vatican is taking a ‘best defense is a good offense’ posture – attacking the press. As fingers point, one must question, “Who will save the children?”
A comprehensive study of crisis called, “The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors
by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States” by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice reveals staggering information. Between 1950 and 2005 there were nearly 20,000 allegations against over 5,000 priests or deacons. The peak was the 1980’s decade with over 7,000 accusations. 37% of the accused clergy were assigned to treatment programs. 6% were criminally charged. 2% were convicted. 57% of the accused were either not-guilty or never punished. The Church paid approximately $500 Million in settlements, forcing the close of hundreds of churches and nearly bankrupting several dioceses. Victims continue to re-live their trauma. No amount of payout will resolve their nightmares.
Since 1995 an average of 50 accusations are made annually in the U.S. This is much lower than before but 50 more than anyone should accept. Where is the zero tolerance on this issue? New accusations and cover-ups are alleged in Ireland and Germany? Didn’t anyone learn from the problems in the mid-nineties? I hear the Vatican debate the press, and wonder when will complete intolerance of pedophile priests be the culture and law within the Church? When will our children feel safe?
The guilty, and those that covered up, will eventually phase a more brutal judgment. Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” Amen!
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Then-Cardinal Ratzinger is the guy who fired Fr. Jim Callan from Corpus Christi Church. He had no mercy on Fr. Jim — just got rid of him. Fr. Jim’s ‘wrongdoings’ were providing Holy Eucharist for all (because it’s Christ’s table and He turned away no one). Other issues were allowing pastoral assistant Mary Ramerman at the altar during Consecration of the Host, and performing gay unions. Those things got Fr. Jim fired. Priests who were found to be abusing children were not treated as harshly. Makes ya think …