Feedback on church stuff in my blog

I have received some feedback from readers about my views on the Catholic Church regarding the abuses within the institution. I have thought very carefully about their arguments, which focus on the great good priests and religious have done in the world through the ages. I think, for example, of the services rendered in the fields of education, health, philosophy, science, and social welfare.

However, let me offer this scenario: In your community is a very, very wealthy man. He has contributed millions of dollars in charitable donations to worthy causes. But he is also accused of raping and sodomizing numerous children, some of whom you know personally, and some of whom are his own nephews and nieces. He has faced criminal charges for this.

He has the money to hire the best lawyers, who use every legal argument in his defence, who intimidate the victims and their families who find it virtually impossible to raise enough money to cover their legal costs. When all avenues of defence seem hopeless and a court case is impending, the wealthy man offers a generous financial compensation in return for the victims dropping their charges and committing to keep silent forever about the case.

My question is this: would you still respect this man? Do his good works compensate for his crimes? Such is the situation regarding clerical pedophilia in the church. The institution has used exactly the same strategy as the wealthy man to protect its clergy and has made precious little effort to eradicate the abuse.

Now, I do know that this is an analogy, a comparison, and like all analogies and comparisons it has limited validity. I also admit that the problem is enormous. There is no simple fix. I just find it so reprehensible that an institution which proclaims itself as “holy” and the only true church of Jesus Christ can ask for continued allegiance from its members while its leaders commit gross criminal acts like pedophilia (called soul murder by psychiatrists). I cannot condone silence on this matter. Nor can I ignore doing nothing because the problem is so huge that individuals appear helpless. Covering ears or closing eyes is not an option. I have written and said over and over that the folks in the pews are every bit as guilty as the clerical establishment because they are silent and continue to support the institution financially or in other ways. Face it, all the billions of dollars paid out in compensation to victims comes from the pockets of people in the pews.

It is for that reason that I continue to rail against the darkness in our church. I am truly sorry, but I simply cannot remain silent or indifferent. I dare to use the words of Martin Luther, “Here I stand. I can do no other.”