Our friends over at the Anglo-Catholic have entered into the not-so-still waters of the scandals-that-are-rocking-the-Catholic-church. Luckily for them, they have taken the side of reason – or else they’d require flogging.
This subject is a dangerous one, and not one to be taken lightly. Nevertheless, we Anglicans do need to be aware of this source of a new wave of anti-clericalism and militant atheism. There have always been sinners in the Church, and there always will be!
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Of course there are degrees of malice between the sadistic rapist, a thoroughly evil personality, and someone who has sinned through weakness. I am glad not to be the one who has to make such decisions, but I fully understand diocesan bishops who have to deal with a crisis involving one of their priests. Twenty years ago, a bishop did what he could both for the sinner’s welfare and rehabilitation – and for the child and family who had suffered from such a heinous crime. Now, such a matter must be immediately reported to the police, and this is understandable.
Outrage for such crimes committed by clergymen is perfectly understandable. A priest is a figure of authority, and using this position and prestige for personal satisfaction and domination is unforgivable, even more so than any other sociopath who abuses the innocent.
All that being said, the present psychosis over this subject has become frightening, media-influenced society attacking the whole of the Catholic Church. That is the power of the press, and we can only hope that bloggers like Damian Thompson will help to restore balance and perspective. The actual proportion of perverted priests is very small in proportion with the total number of priests, most of whom are living upright moral lives and doing their priestly duties.
As usual, we have to be careful about what we believe in the papers. Most journalists are appallingly ignorant and many are malicious for ideological reasons. One Times journalist was reported as having said that the Pope is untouchable because he is not elected! Everyone knows that the Pope is elected by Conclave. That reporter was influenced by the notion that the Vatican is not democratic, but a kind of absolute monarchy. Ideology preceded simple fact!
I showed this to Father J – priest at a parish here in West Yorkshire – and he was elated to see Anglicans jumping into the matter with eyes open and brains cranked to the ‘on’ position.
Last I checked, school teachers were quite a bit further up the list than Catholic priests, and you don’t see parents keeping their kids home from school, do you?
- CM
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Posted by: Charlemagne
Posted in: Asides - Catholicism - Christianity - Sex |