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	Fr. Richard A. Mangini: Airing Dirty Laundry Is Healthy By Fr. Richard A. Mangini Contra Costa Times April 19, 2008 http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_8989156?nclick_check=1 Like a family who prefers to keep "its skeleton" in the closet, East Bay Catholics cringe when four separate editions of the Contra Costa Times print the "full story" of clergy sexual abuse that occurred in the Diocese of Oakland over the last 50 years. It is, indeed, a very dark page in the history of the Catholic Church where pedophiles and others became Catholics priests and then, perversely misused their role of spiritual influence to perpetrate sexual violence to meet twisted sexual needs, sometimes in the name of God. The Catholic Church as well as society in general is, still, a long way from the kind of transparency that is needed today because sexual abuse continues to happen in families and in other professions. There are still many people who do not want to talk about it or have it "go public." Psychosexual disorder is still prevalent and still causes harm. Beyond naming the clergy, both diocesan and religious, who broke their vows of celibacy and who violated young children and teenagers, and beyond the denial, cover-up and continued transfers of those who offended, all of this brings to light the need for transparency, sophisticated screening for candidates to ministry and absolutely no compromise after crossing the line. I remember 35 years ago when serving on the diocesan priest Senate, when someone spoke up about rumors about a priest; I suggested that procedures be put in place to regulate and to deal with sexual offenders. I, we, were told by our first bishop that everything was being handled, that these were "men of good faith," that they were getting the help that was needed and that "these issues were being taken care of." Actually, they were not. And I do not believe that anything would have be done about any of this had not the scandal exploded like it did in the archdiocese of Boston five years ago. The rumors about the 12 diocesan priests were "talk on the clerical streets" for many years. So all "the dirty laundry" has been hung out to dry. That is healthy. That is good. It shames us all. But what is most important is not to forget those who were the victims who still must live the psychological and emotional aftermath of what was done to them under the guise of love, friendship and care. And it is important that the leadership, who "covered everything up," unintentionally as it may be, continue to support and help the many victims who may need help. Perhaps the criticism toward the Catholic Church in this particular area would not have been so severe if the diocese taken a forthright honest and unequivocal approach to offenders and if it did not work so hard to cover it up. What good that can come out of the publications is the articulation of a moral compass for all those impositions of authority, trust and leadership in the Church, in politics, in education and in business. Leaders should be held to higher standards. Leaders need to be humble and understanding. Leaders need to be careful not to be corrupted or to compromise the truth. I have no idea of what more there is to uncover. And I have no idea if all of this will continue to raise its "ugly and sorrowful head." There is a priest of our diocese who has refused to take an assignment until the Roman Catholic Church begins to face the "structural issues" that are at the source of this particular problem and other issues of clericalism in the Catholic Church today. In fact, he wrote to me the week before the recent articles appeared blasting present church leadership for not "really facing the issues." So what are those issues? That would be the subject of whole new series of articles. I have heard many Catholics in the last week who were angry at your "perceived" anti-Catholic bias. While I, too, would prefer not to read this kind of information on the front page for four days, it is the first time that the whole sordid mess has been told in detail. There is something to be said about good investigative reporting. Thank you for doing your work of reporting the truth, whether we like to read it or not. The Roman Catholic Church will continue to do its good work. The Roman Catholic Church will continue to grow. The Roman Catholic Church will become better because of the scandal. Hopefully we become purified, more converted to the mind and heart of Jesus, more able to be healing instrument in the hands of God. Mangini is pastor of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Concord.
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