By Mihaela Lica
Everything PR
March 20, 2010
http://www.pamil-visions.net/pope-benedict-xvis-pr-flop/213242/
The Catholics in Ireland expected more from a pastoral letter from the Pope than an apology. Clerical abuse survivors hoped for a serious assessment of the situation. Many feel like the Pope failed by addressing the letter only to practicing Catholics, while completely ignoring other people who were affected by this issue. The letter didn't address the serious accusations and reports by clerical abuse survivors like Andrew Madden who described "the rape, abuse and sexual abuse of children by priests and religious in this country (Ireland) and its cover up by Church authorities." (BBC News report).
 |
Indeed, upon reading the full text of the letter, it becomes apparent why the abuse survivors consider the pastoral letter a failure. The Pope hopes that his letter will help the "healing" process – yet sexual abuse never really heals: it's a life-long burden, and in the clerical abuse survivors' case even more so since the abusers are people who are supposed to serve God. The part of the letter addressed to the priests who abused children appears to be soft, forgiving of the sinners, stating no real action by the Catholic Church against such crimes.
You betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals. You have forfeited the esteem of the people of Ireland and brought shame and dishonor upon your confrères… Together with the immense harm done to victims, great damage has been done to the Church and to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life … God's justice summons us to give an account of our actions and to conceal nothing. Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God's mercy.
Ironically, as the Times Online reports, while the Pope was Archbishop of Munich, another known pedophile priest was allowed to move into his diocese to "undergo therapy." Father Peter Hullermann was fined and given an 18-month suspended sentence for sex offenses in 1986, and according to German Catholic officials, the Pope was not involved in the decisions of letting this priest resume his clerical activities. Recently Father Hullermann was suspended for violating an undertaking not to have contact with children or young people. It's very interesting that Hullermann was given a second chance in the first place. Pedophilia has yet no cure, known pedophiles should be kept away from children at all times.
As Pope John Paul II once said: "there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young." Yet the Vatican continuously failed to protect the innocents, the Roman-Catholic church kept the matter behind closed doors, and Pope Benedict XVI doesn't seem committed to make a real change that would bring peace of mind for the Catholic congregations around the world.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.