The following continues the serialization of Chapter 5 on Religion from SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity:
There is that Delicate Other Immorality Matter
Other sections have or will consider many of the personnel, economic and non-sexual morality issues facing all churches. In particular, the sexual abuse cases distressing the Roman Catholic Church, must to be resolved. It is said that 95% of the 194 American Catholic dioceses have been accused. Not only is this act with children a mortal sin, but also a serious breach of secular law. Equally deplorable has been the shameful manner in which the church hierarchy has dealt with this long-standing tragedy. The vital matter of trust is at stake, maybe more important than the financial liabilities, which are becoming severe. Reportedly, American churches have paid off well more than $1 billion for these cases, as in July of 2007, the Los Angeles archdiocese alone agreed on a $660 million settlement for 500-plus sexually abused plaintiffs. However, no amount of money can make up for the shattered trust. Churches in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, California and Iowa have filed for Chapter 11 protection or bankruptcy to avoid payments.
Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, a lawyer, twenty years ago warned the Vatican about the scandal to come involving children and sexual abuse by priests. After working with 2,000 victims, he co-authored a book called Sex, Priests and Secret Codes. Doyle’s efforts sufficiently irritated the Church that they were influential in his being fired as chaplain only months before his retirement from the Air Force.
First, the problem is not limited to the Catholic Church. Second, it is not an American phenomenon. Third, this has been happening not only since 1984, when the matter came to light, but for millennia. The subheading for the above book is: The “Catholic Church’s 2,000 Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse.”
There was a period early in my life when I, somehow, got talked into participating in a few catechism sessions by a friend. I noticed a somewhat uncomfortable relationship between this person and the priest teaching the course. Nearly a decade later, when we bumped into each other, he was suffering from AIDS, and I, while this is quite a stretch, could only blame the Church for initiating him in his youthful liaison. It is possible, of course, that the interest was mutual, but the trust-authority position of the priest made this indiscretion totally wrong, if it happened.
People tend to gravitate into lifetime positions influenced by personal priorities. For some it is money; others, security; and a few, illegitimate sexual proclivities. It has long been known that the Catholic Church, in particular, virtually condoned this practice. Thus, those with these tendencies would tend to gravitate into this profession. In a not too dissimilar situation, particular fields of entertainment, fashion and even the airline industry, draw certain elements, although much of these activities are generally legal, for children are not involved.
Part of the problem with religion is the attitude towards women. Catholic priests, for example, can only be male, and they are supposed to be unmarried. In the early days, celibacy was not a requirement. By 300A.D. a priest could be married, but had to abstain from sex with his wife. In 1139, mandatory celibacy was imposed.
In 2005, the Center for the Study of Religious Issues published The Bingo Report, linking sexual abuse to celibacy in the priesthood. The scary conclusion is that the longer he remains in service to the Lord, the more likely he will act on his struggles and become deviant or criminal in his actions. Wow, that is kind of condemning!
The problem, too, is the Church. In 1962, through a CONFIDENTIAL Instruction, the Vatican told bishops to cover up sexual abuse. This 69-page document was sent by Pope John XXIII to every bishop in the world in “strictest secrecy.”25 May 2001, Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, sent a reminder letter to all bishops stating that the 1962 instruction was still in force.
The solution is simple. For the Catholic Church, the Pope needs to accept responsibility, and through his intermediaries, work with laity to once and for all cure this horrific problem. The financial burden will be onerous, but the flock will respond. Short of coming clean and taking action, this practice will continue to haunt the Church.
In the Muslim world, there have been several hundred complaints of sexual assaults against young boys studying in Quaranic schools known as madrassas. There are 10,000 of them with a million students in Pakistan, so the numbers are not staggering, but possibly because very little is discussed. In Bangladesh, where girl students are permitted, there have been reports of teachers raping female students. In 2002, the Irish Church in Dublin provided $128 million in compensation to the victims of childhood abuse. These are just examples of a world-wide and historical problem. The traditional church conspiracy of silence and veil of secrecy appear to finally be coming to an end. Will other similarly obsolete and indefensible practices also soon be sacrificed?
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