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Re: Some People Just Can't Read What's In Front of Them.

A reader writes:

I appreciate your defense of Cardinal Ratzinger's comments on the role of the media and the scandal.

Question: do you think that the Roman Curia lumps this problem (the scandal) in with other problems that require just as much attention? Christians in Asia and Africa are under physical assault, Catholics in Russia and Belarus are being suppressed, Bishops are kidnapped in Sout America. Are these real problems just like the abuse of children in America?

I think many of the comments made on Amy Welborn's blog reflect Americanism at its worst. The blog comments cry the Church in America has a problem and the Vatican needs to stop everything else and resolve the problem. The comments also show a consumerist viewpoint that all problems can be taken care of immediately. Maybe I'm wrong but America Catholics make up about 0.6% of total Catholics. Of the 60 million Catholics in the US, a good percentage do not practice the faith.

Yes, I agree what has happened to the children is terrible. The actions of the priests involved are despicable. The reaction by many bishops and their staffs are execrable. Yet, I have not seen any recommendation that is totally just or, if implemented, will prevent similar actions.

Maybe I'm too pessimistic or even cynical but the comments on the blogs I read do not reassure me that the Church in America will come out stronger as a result of the crisis. Cardinal Ratzinger voiced some sincere concerns and is condemned because he hasn't burned anyone at the stake. Go figure.

It may be helpful, and important, to emphasize that Cardinal Ratzinger was not merely commenting: he was responding to a specific question with a specific answer. For all we know, too, either the reporter or the editor trimmed the Cardinal's response for space considerations: I doubt it, but I don't know why it's out of the question, either.

My simple answer to the question is "Yes".

Unfortunately (to say the least) this is a different kind of problem: the very individuals whom we should be able to rely on to solve the problem — bishops and priests — are themselves the problem. I've said it before: why on earth does anybody think that we can rely on Cardinal Law and Cardinal Mahony and the rest of the bunch to solve the problem that they themselves personally played an essential role in creating?

Even if they were gone today, though, the problem isn't going to be solved for a long time. That the rising generation of clergy seems to be on the whole — and I do not mean to be to judgemental: I know most clergy are fine persons doing the best they can do — seems to be on the whole more seriously Christian and more unashamedly Catholic gives me a great deal of hope. That the gray and graying generation of clergy — meaning especially bishops who undeniably failed miserably in their pastoral responsibilities — that it remains firmly ensconced tells me that the fruits of my hope may be a very long time coming.

BTW, I think the comments at Catholic and Enjoying It! are more reasonable. One fellow, though, makes a big deal out of googling 1,350 pages dealing with "protestant clergy sexual abuse scandals". But googling "catholic clergy sexual abuse scandals" comes up with 8,850 pages. Since the problem is, in fact, at least as widespread among Protestants as among Catholics, his evidence actually undermines his claim. I like that. :)

P.S. It's 6 percent, which would be 0.06 as a multiplicand; that is, 1,000,000,000 x 0.06 = 60,000,000.

P.P.S. I agree with Amy's blog yesterday. Maintaining that the press coverage is biased is quite something different than maintaining it's not true or helpful. Horrible deeds cannot be done, or remain unpunished, in the light of day. We have ordained too many damnable bastards — or they have allowed themselves to become damnable bastards after the fact — and we need to expose and get rid of every last one of them. Christian forgiveness is something quite different, too, from the willful stupidity that allows miscreants to remain in positions of authority and influence.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Fri. 12/06/02 11:39:21 AM
Categorized as Religious.