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	Victims Shouldn't Rest until Diocese Pays By Ben Shore Daily Aztec [San Diego CA] March 8, 2007 http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2007/03/08/Opinion/Victims.Shouldnt.Rest.Until.Diocese.Pays-2764202.shtml Every once in a while, it becomes necessary to reminisce. Almost every day, there's a new story dominating the headlines, while others often fade from memory. And for some, that's just the way they prefer it. Last week, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, halting the more than 140 pending lawsuits involving sexual abuse by priests mere hours before the trials were set to begin. While the church denies it filed for bankruptcy in an attempt to subvert justice, the bottom line remains clear: The church won't pay. The victims deserve compensation and the abusers deserve jail. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Roman Catholic Church? Certainly, many think of their faith - comforting, yet blinding, as it may be. Others, however, view it differently. What comes to mind is an ineffable breach of trust and an ensuing cowardice that shakes the very core of an institution that claims to be a direct link to God. As part of its bankruptcy settlement, the church agreed to release the names of many of the accused child molesters involved in the lawsuits as well as details of the unfathomable and unforgivable crimes. But they won't pay. Undoubtedly, the amount of money the church would be forced to pay is enough to warrant a bankruptcy filing. There are so many victims over so many years that the payouts would easily enter the $100 million range. That is simply more than the San Diego Diocese has. Or deserves to have. Religion is powerful. You needn't look any further than the caves of Tora Bora or the empty caverns in Lower Manhattan to understand that. But this kind of behavior extends beyond the boundaries of religion; it's criminal. People wouldn't idly stand by if youth soccer coaches were going from city to city molesting and raping children whose safety they were entrusted. So, why are we letting priests get away with it? For years, priests have been shifted from parish to parish in an attempt to protect their dirty little secret. Just ask Nixon, padres: It's all in the cover-up. Sexually abusing children in a house of God is a crime that should turn the stomach of any rational person. The thought that this was concealed for so many years is an affront both to the laws of humanity and the laws of nature. Why? While I don't necessarily blame the religious community for allowing these crimes to continue, I can't help but assume that these sexual predators are somewhat protected by their collars. Because it's so heartbreaking to believe that this type of betrayal is possible, many people simply don't. Priests are no different than any other sexual abuser; they are just more repressed because the Bible tells them that abstaining from sex puts them closer to God. Does anyone else notice the circular irony there? Be it Iraq, Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama or "American Idol," nothing should usurp this story from remaining at the forefront of public consciousness. Until they pay. Mark Foley resigned from Congress, entered rehab and will live out his days in the shadow of his transgressions, and he didn't even touch anyone. No one is immune to the law, especially hypocrites who preach morality and perpetuate sin. Because of the church's lack of cooperation, it seems these purported men of God will visit St. Peter before they sit before Judge Peter. I'd almost prefer it that way. Judgment belongs to God, right? He better be ready to hand out some pretty severe sentences, then. Does anyone else find the church's stance on homosexuality to be in conflict with the fact that some male priests are accused of having sex with boys? So it's not OK for men to have sex with men but OK for 65-year-old men to have sex with 7-year-old boys? Wrong. Perhaps the church should take care of what's happening in its own rectories before worrying about whether Tom and Bruce should have lilacs or roses at their wedding. I plead with the victims' lawyers and victim advocacy groups to never relinquish your cause. These men and the church as a whole must be brought to justice. So help them God. Ben Shore is a political science junior.
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