PROTECTING PRIESTS
In Boston there is a priest who has allegedly molested an 11 year old boy. He is on trial at this very moment for that reported crime, one of the worst categories of sin in the annals of humanity.
The priest's bishop, Bernard Law, confessed to Catholics in the Boston diocese that he passed the priest along to other parishes after he had confessed to being a pedophile. That action gave the priest freedom, even authority, to abuse other young boys. At least that is the sad conclusion, some Catholics in Boston must believe.
So far only one young lad has stepped forward with a formal complaint. And Bishop Law, after years of protecting the guilty priest rather than powerless children, has finally handed the case over to civil authorities.
In a press conference Bishop Law asked Catholics to pray for him as the trial progressed. Indeed, the bishop needs all the prayers he can get.
This is a shocking case because these pedophile occurrences were first discovered in the 1980s when a priest in the Diocese of Lafayette, La., was brought to justice for the molestation of several young boys. That priest still serves time in a prison in Louisiana.
After that case, an avalanche of pedophile cases broke into the news. Usually the scenario was that parents discovered their child's abuse, went to their bishop's office to register a complaint, were assured the bishop would take action and deal with the priest justly and then, some months later, found the priest serving another parish in a far distant location. Same priest - same problem - same trail of damaged children.
And the motivation for protecting priests was always the same; a troubling priest shortage and a church that was considered fragile and too staid to make a bold response.
Now, after more than a decade of turmoil in the Catholic church here in the United States and ignoring the problem in other locations, the Vatican has finally stepped into the mess.
The cardinals and bishops of the Holy See, after much deliberation have arrived at a solution. All cases of pedophilia must be referred to the Vatican to protect the holiness of clergy. Then local priests will form a committee and seek a solution. That conclusion will be sent to the Vatican's pedophile committee.
All of these sexual conclaves will be secretive, of course. No loyal Catholic will be admitted into the hearing. And the conclusions will also be private so that the holiness of the priest and the church may be protected.
Of course, to have priests deciding the fate of another priest is akin to having the fox guard the chicken coop.
Also, doesn't it occur to you that the Vatican will not share any incriminating evidence with civil authorities? That would only further dishonor the reputation of the church and the priesthood. The Catholic bishops seem to think that any misconduct on the part of priests must be covered up for the good of the church.
Why can't Catholic bishops understand that truth brings honor, pedophilia is a crime that must be punished, and Catholicism will not be threatened because of sin but rather, because of stupidity?
Clark D. Morphew
Posted 1-16-02