Sunday, March 20, 2011

5 steps to address clergy sexual abuse

Via Pharyngula this morning. Wise words on how the Catholic Church can address clergy sexual abuse. I don’t think they will listen.

Excerpted from:

The Catholic Church still doesn't get it
By Adrian Liston

1) Admit that child rape is a wide-spread crime being perpetrated within the Catholic Church by a substantial proportion of Priests, reaching across continents and as far back as records exists.

2) Admit that this child rape has nothing to do with homosexuality or secularism or any such, and is instead a problem disproportionately within Catholicism.

3) Admit that the Church knew for a long time that this was a problem but chose to cover it up, and that Church doctrine is still preventing cases being reported directly to the secular authorities.

4) Admit that the Church has spent, and still spends, far more time devoted to petty concerns such as preventing contraception than it has to preventing child rape by its own members.

5) Fix the damn problem. Sell a few pieces of art and pay restitution to the victims. Make it official Church policy to report every incident to the police. Investigate Priests with the zeal shown during the Spanish Inquisition. Shut up about other people's "sins" until the Church is clean. Change those aspects of doctrine or theology that drive child rape. Show some humility.

I’d be happy if they moved on any one of these items. Any movement towards fixing the mess is a good thing.

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Baconsbud 96p · 735 weeks ago

It would be nice to see all religions take these steps even if they have a small number of abuses. I don't see most taking these steps because it would force many within their religions to begin asking question the leaders don't want them asking. I believe religious leaders fear question more then they fear remaining silent on their abuses.
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deleted8470268 143p · 735 weeks ago

I am a father of 2 sons both attended church as they were growing up much as I did until My brain had fully developed. And staying up late on Saturday night to watch SNL made church the next day a drag . At this time I came out to my parents that I'm just not buying the whole Jesus bullshit story . They surprised me with saying" Well at least we don't have to worry about this one anymore. " I always wondered what they meant by that ? Years later the preacher at the church was arrested for possession of child porn ! My parents are dead now ,but looking back I wonder if they knew ,and just looked the other way? I myself was never molested,but I wonder if any of my brothers ,and sisters were ? My Twin sister is after all now a big time Holy Roller ,Fundamentalist,conservative Republican TWAT ! I meant TWIT ! Damn Spell check .
1 reply · active 657 weeks ago
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Emily's avatar

Emily · 657 weeks ago

WOW!! You think Your Parents kept quiet about what the pastor was doing!!! Do you know what that makes your parents out to look like? Did they care about your siblings? And besides the argument in this whole "the church is a rape machine" isn't about the parents of the victims not going to the police but the leaders in the church.
And, considering your life story above, I don't think spell check is to blame, besides what creditable man would want to make his twin sister look bad just because she has different opinions than he.

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