These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pains and have damaged the church’s witness. Victims should receive compassion and care and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice.
-- Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in Sydney, Australia, on sexual abuse by priests.
“Where is forgiveness in all of this?”
I hesitated, not being quite sure at all how to answer that question.
The woman standing in front of me was an independent and successful professional. She hardly seemed a likely person to excuse male sexual misbehavior. Yet, there she was, arguing that her pastor, convicted in ecclesiastical proceedings of sexual misconduct with several female congregants, should be “forgiven” and allowed to continue in his pulpit.
“Perhaps he should be forgiven,” I replied, trying to avoid an overtly confrontational tone of voice. “But he has abused his authority and, until he can demonstrate that he has learned how to control his urges, he should not be allowed back into professional ministry.”
That was not the answer this woman apparently was hoping to hear. The conversation ended rather quickly at that point.
That exchange took place several years ago. In the intervening time, I have observed the effects of sexual misconduct on a number of different congregations. The only change I might make in my answer today would be to drop the possibility that any proven sexual predator could ever be allowed to return to parish ministry.
“I apologize to anyone who has been offended,” said Cardinal Roger Mahoney as he announced a $660 million settlement of claims by more than 500 victims of childhood sexual abuse by Catholic priests.
It is hard to imagine that there is anyone not “offended” by the astonishing record of the repeated and long-tolerated abuse by parish priests in the American Catholic Church. This latest settlement brings the total—so far—to more than two billiondollars.
Adults who as youngsters suffered the misery of sexual assault by trusted religious leaders have only recently found a social climate in which the truth of their experience is accepted. The most horrifying aspect of this sordid history is that some in the Church hierarchy who knew of this un-priestly conduct kept silent and simply transferred the problem priests to other churches, and so by their silence were complicit in the continuing devastation of children whose souls they were enjoined to save.
Don’t get me wrong. Child sex-abusers are not limited to any denomination or to any profession. But there is now a well-documented record of sexual abuse in Catholic parishes: unholy acts that were all-too-common and all-too-actively concealed.
Why?
How could a priest do something like that? Hurt a child like that? A priest!
