By Theophan Zarras
Orthodox Reform
April 18, 2008
http://orthodoxreform.org/opinion/pope-and-orthodox-on-reform/
The media is widely reporting news of the Popes current visit to the United States and his comments on the sexual abuse crisis.
The pontiff called the scandal a cause of deep shame, and spoke of the enormous pain that communities have suffered from such gravely immoral behaviour by priests. Source
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The pope went so far as to meet privately with several adults who were abused as children by Catholic priests.
These are good statements, and a great first step pastorally. But is it enough? SNAP, a victims support group, says deeds must follow words:
But fundamentally it wont change things. Kids need action. Catholics deserve action. Action produces reform and reform, real reform, is sorely needed in the church hierachy.
Some talk is OK. A meeting is better. Decisive reform is crucial.
We cannot confuse words - even sincere, eloquent ones - with deeds. The stakes are too high. Source
And what is the track record of the current Pope with regard to disciplining current bishops fully two thirds of whom were sitting bishops when the scandal broke?
Six years after the Boston revelations broke open the scandal nationwide, the U.S. bishops who, aside from the perpetrators themselves, are most responsible for the catastrophe have never been held to account for their actions. Though two-thirds of bishops sitting in 2002, when the scandal broke, had shuffled around pederast priests, the U.S. bishops responded by placing a heavy yoke on parish priests and lay Catholic volunteers but effectively let themselves off the hook. So did the Vatican. Source
BishopAccountability.org recently posted a database of 19 US bishops publicly accused of sexual abuse of minors.
In the sexual abuse crisis, attention has focused on priests who have sexually abused children; the problem of bishops and major superiors who abuse has not received systematic scrutiny. Yet a bishop who is himself guilty of child abuse, or who has other violations of celibacy to conceal, has compromised his role in the formation of his priests and in assigning them properly. Bishops who sexually abuse seminarians, as Anthony J. OConnell has admitted doing, may establish a generational pattern of clergy abuse. The following list comprises bishops who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. It does not include bishops accused of sexual misconduct with adults, such as Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez of Phoenix. Source
Read the full list if current bishops who beyond all believe still have the Popes blessing to retain their episcopal power.
How did the Greek Orthodox Archbishop react to a recent high-profile child sexual abuse case? Did he defrock the offending priest, reach out pastorally to victims, offer counseling, and ensure the abuser had no more access to children within churches? Sadly, he did none of the above.
Archbishop Demetrios tried desperately to save Katinas from being defrocked, by transferring him from the Metropolis of Denver, where he was serving, to the Direct Archdiocesan District, where he would be under the Archbishops direct ecclesiastical and canonical jurisdiction. Archbishop Demetrios staunchly refused to allow Katinas to be tried by a spiritual court, which was expected to propose his removal from the priesthood. The Archbishop maintained that Katinas is 72 years old, has repented, and wishes to be buried as a member of the clergy. Source
The popes words are encouraging. Actions following the Popes words would be even better. As for the Orthodox, a first step would be at least to do what the Pope is doing confronting these serious matters, meeting with victims, and with tears starting to look for a way to solve this crisis which is damaging the faith of many.
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