The sexual abuse crisis or scandal, that has
engulfed the Roman Catholic church and it's leadership, has effected me and
my family very personally. Although, the Catholic church won't embrace
me or my sexual orientation, I have not abandoned my beliefs or faith as a
Catholic. So, I'm not a homo bashing Catholic's,
I am a Catholic homo who is very ashamed and
somewhat angry with my spiritual leaders handling of sexual abuse of our
young faithful.
The Roman Catholic church
leadership's failure to address sexual abuse by priests and the
religious on the innocent young faithful, was an abomination of all
they and we hold as holly. Because this abuse continued almost unabated for
decades, the number of those who could have been prevented from
becoming victims, will never be known. And only now, are the number of
those who were victims becoming known. Tragically though, as more victims gain
the courage to come forward, the number of victims keeps rising. But, with all
the could a, should a and would ax's, that were surely discussed at the recent
sexual abuse summit held at the Vatican. Nothing will lesson the pain and
suffering of or decease the numbers of victims. We are also learning that
the Roman Catholic church leadership's policy of handling alleged,
suspected or confirmed acts of sexual abuse, protected the sexual abuser and not
the sexually abused. That policy
being, to cover up the abuse, secretly relocate the molesters and pedophiles to
other church parishes, not to closely monitor the abusers, not to assign
the abusers to positions that would severely limit the abusers access to
innocent children, not to respond to allegations of sexual abuse by suspending
abusers, not to immediately remove abusers when sexual abuse was confirmed
or admitted. It should be obvious to all who attended the Vatican
summit, what the devastating results that decades unabated sexual abuse by
priests and religious has caused. It was time for the Roman Catholic leadership,
to accept responsibility for decisions made in the past, take the heat for them
and move to take immediate steps toward a zero tolerance policy on sexual abuse
of the faithful young. This would have been a big step toward fulfilling their
obligation to the Catholic community. And offer some assurance that their
children would be protected from becoming future victims of inappropriate
physical contact and sexual abuse by priests and the religious. But, once
again an opportunity was missed by the church leadership to do this. Their
statements of heartfelt grieving for the victims and their families by the
leadership, were little consolation when followed with a, "But". "We cannot
forget the power of Christian conversion, that radical decision to turn away
from sin and back to God, which reaches to the depths of a person's soul and can
work extraordinary change". The priests and religious sexual abusers of the
young faithful, have had decades to turn away from sin and back to God. And
work toward making that extraordinary change. As did the church leadership
in assisting, guiding and or forcing the abusers to do so. Instead,
it sounds more as though the church leadership's concerns are
with protecting the abusers, not the abused. As
a Catholic and one who is grieving for the abused young faithful
victims and their families. I am ashamed our spiritual leaders of the Roman
Catholic faith, who has forsaken them and our Lord God's, word, teachings
and commandments
It is inconceivable and
blatant hypocrisy in my opinion, that the Roman Catholic church would
condemn those whose only sin, as they
see it, is to be homosexual (gay people). Who are always in the
forefront of those who fight to deny gay people equality in basic human
rights, legislation or laws that would protect gay people from
discrimination. Actively participate, financially support, and or help to
organize community groups in efforts to rescind existing laws or ordinance that
offer gay people equality of rights and protection from discrimination.
To profess to have dedicated their lives and demand all other should,
to the commandments, word and the teachings of our Lord, God. And yet, the Roman
Catholic church leadership has by their silence and actions, condoned and
allowed their clergy to commit, what is the most heinous and mortal
sins in the eyes of God, for decades. What remains most
upsetting about how church leaders handled admitted, confirmed and
even the allegations of acts of sexual abuse by priests and the religious. Is
that, church's leader have refused to accept full responsibility for
the extreme pain, suffering and emotional distress caused to the victims
and their families. I find the church's leadership's attempt to deflect blame
from Catholic priest child molesters and pedophiles is
to scapegoat homosexuals, to be despicable the. Church
officials have blamed the sexual abuse crisis on only gay priests.
Insinuating that none of the allegations of sexual abuse involved
heterosexual priests, goes against results from most research studies on
pedophilia. Which finds most adult to child sexual abuse or molestation is
committed by heterosexual, not homosexual. They have claimed that a
homosexual atmosphere is so prevalent though out the priesthood, that
heterosexual, think twice about becoming priests. That the church leadership
is undergoing a constant struggle to make sure that the Catholic
priesthood is not dominated by homosexuals. To make claims that
homosexuality and homosexuals priests are the cause of this sexual abuse,
is extremely offensive to gay people and a clear distortion of the truth.
The reason sexual abuse of the young
faithful by priests continued on for decades, was church leaders did
little to nothing to stop
it.
I do have great trust, faith and the
utmost respect in our Pope, John Paul II .I do not doubt for a
moment, our Papal Father is deeply grieved by the suffering and scandal,
the priests and religious have caused to the young. Or that his
expression of a profound sense of solidarity and concern, to the victims
and their families,
is sincere and it comes from his heart. I pray
our Papal Father will do today, what should have been done decades ago.
That being, protect our innocent young faithful from becoming victims of any and
all types of
inappropriate physical contact and sexual abuse
by priests and the religious. To adopt a strict policy of
zero tolerance of inappropriate physical
contact and sexual abuse. As to allegations of alleged abuse,
be fair and just to both accuser and accused.
But, to always air on the side of protecting the young faithful
as being of the utmost importance, when there
are allegations and or suspicion of possible sexual abuse.
We can not go back and
change what has been done, only do everything possible to prevent ever repeating
mistakes that allowed these criminal and mortally sinful abuse of the
young faithful.