More on the "Catholic Crisis"

After reading my recent posting, a reader wrote to say that, while he agreed generally with my commentary about the abuse and cover-up scandal, the only way to address the problem is a mass exodus or boycott of the church. When I demurred saying that people who believe that it is "the true (or least the "truest") religion must work from within, he said that, by remaining within, I am "supporting a criminal enterprise". He further intimated that I was naive, thinking that the "one true church" happened to be on my street (actually it was two blocks east of my street).

Here the reader and I differ because, while I agree generally with with Kata Pollitt's article "Papal Indulgences", the Catholic Church for me is not simply the organized institutional church that was responsible for these cover-ups (I gave up on these guys long before these scandals); it's the church of my old Paulist friend, the late George Hagamier, Dorothy Day, Hans Kung, Thomas Merton, Andrew Greeley, Dan Berrigan, and the present and recent pastors at my parish, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shrub Oak, NY. -- and, when I sent this litany to a friend of mine (The Chair of Medieval Studies at a major university), he correctly added to my list: Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi, Descartes, Graham Greene, and tens of millions of good people poor (Haiti) and rich (here) etc., etc. If Catholics really believe in the theological concept of "The Mystical Body of Christ", they see all these folks. past and present, as the members of the body -- and the current members .. these "good people" mentioned above should drive out those who are more concerned with "scandal" and protecting reputation (and the silliness of ring kissing and extraordinary pomp) just as Christ drove out the money changers.

I think that it can be reformed from within -- but there must be constant pressure and demand for transparency. It is awful that the transgressions of a small number of transgressor have caused a pale to fall on thousands of devoted clerics; it's far worse that an institution in existence to "serve God" has attempted to cover up the transitions and has been insensitive to many victims; and it's disgraceful that Bill Donohue of the "Catholic League" (which does not represent any official Catholic entity and, for all I know is just Bill and a few friends) tries to cast aspirations on Homosexuals as the major players in the molestation of any over 13 (flash to Bill -- homosexuals are no more apt to be molesters than heterosexuals are apt to be rapists).

The church as an institution must commit to the following and publicly follow through on the items:

o Admit the problem

o Turn all accusations over to local law enforcement groups for the same actions that would happen if the accused were a doctor, law teacher, politician, or machinist.

o Retire any officials who, no matter how well intentioned, tried to cover-up, "sweep under the rug" or require promises of secrecy from victims in return for compensation.

o Adopt all the new procedures and safeguards enumerated by the Pope in his letter to Ireland (these measures are fine for going forward but will be ridiculed if suitable action is not taken to attempt to rectify the previous transgressions)