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November 1, 2018
Grace Garcia
San Francisco
The first question is, why has it taken so long for the hierarchy to see the problem and not address it adequately? I recall some 30 or 40 years ago hearing about it and mistakenly believing these were isolated incidents. Many friends either left their parishes or declined to support them financially due to the funds spent on court settlements. But obviously those supposed to be in charge did not go to the root of the problem.
Why did it take a secular press and civil authorities to stir the embers of a fire that was willfully allowed to keep burning over decades? What about the movie, “Spotlight,” that did a professional job of uncovering the awful truth in the Boston area? I am afraid we cannot slough it off saying it is a secular attack on the Catholic Church. I feel it is an attack on an institution which has failed God and his faithful.
Pope Francis, whom I have consistently admired, but in whom I now feel disappointed, has expressed deep sorrow and asked for forgiveness as have others in the hierarchy. However, I find a key ingredient missing in this. My feeling is that between sin and forgiveness, there is sincere contrition (mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa). I don’t see that. Maybe I have not read enough about this, but nowhere do I see any individual priests come forward and confront those they abused either individually or in a specific setting and show repentance and contrition. It seems to me the Act of Contrition ends “to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin.” So much for avoiding the “near occasions.”
My personal suggestion for a “fix” is a clean sweep. What the Catholic hierarchy needs is a few good women to set things straight.
There is an army of well qualified, professional, compassionate, pragmatic activists in the United States and worldwide religious orders (such as the Dominicans), who I am sure are ready and willing and more than able to get the job done quickly and efficiently. This intelligent group, who by the way knew what chastity meant when they took their vows, could replace the foot-dragging, excuse-making, we-will-do-a-study-of-it old boys’ network who need not only chastising but reminding of their own vows of chastity.
My heart goes out to all those faithful priests who, by association, have been sullied by those miscreants, but it is also their duty to remain vigilant, not only for their own personal impulses, but to catch out those who still offend. Yes, I know whistleblowers have been vilified for speaking out but it is their duty to protect the innocent.
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