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	Ask the Religion Experts The Ottawa Citizen April 1, 2010 http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Religion+Experts/2753633/story.html Ajit Singh Sahota This matter relates to one religion, and I wonder if it was a fair question to ask the other religious communities! However, no religion or institution is immune to such tragedies and betrayal on a large scale. The issue of victimization of people in any place of worship or by an religious authority figure is an important one, and one that all communities face, not just the Roman Catholic Church. Public media reports suggest that the abuse was widespread in the Catholic Church, and that proper, timely action may not have taken place. At this juncture, Pope Benedict XVI must be working on what he should do; all we can say is what any institution should do in face of such allegations. Sikhs are taught to respect all religions equally. Sikh Gurus and their followers suffered brutal oppression with sacrifices and extreme physical tortures, for “freedom of religion.” Sikh religion is a very young religion as compared to others. In India five centuries ago, the masses were oppressed by the rulers and the priestly classes of the dominant religions at that time. There are many verses in Sikh Scriptures identifying that “we all are fallible, Guru Creator Alone is infallible.” Guru Nanak said, “I am not good and no one is bad, Wondrous Lord alone is the Saviour of mortals.” It is the same One Lord that resides in all of us. Errors in judgment and crimes committed by some clergy must be addressed according to the laws of various jurisdictions. It should be an opportune time for members of clergy at all levels of religious institutions worldwide to acknowledge the need for the healing of victims of abuse. The Catholic Church would be best served by leading efforts to facilitate victims’ healing and to prevent further abuse. Some examples could be: providing victims access to funds for counselling and other healing therapies; establishing accountable protocols and positions that may receive anonymous reports of abuse by clergy and are mandated to investigate and force appropriate action. This should be seen as an invaluable opportunity for religious institution reform. In the Sikh religion, the Guru eliminated the need for clergy altogether, by ordering Sikhs to receive all instruction directly from the Shabad Guru (Word ) in Sikh Scriptures, for a direct communion with the Supreme Power rather than through any intermediaries such as priests. The abode of God is in all beings and everywhere. — Ajit Singh Sahota is a retired biologist from Agriculture Canada and a founding member of the Sikh National Archives of Canada; he was president of the World Sikh Organization of Canada from 2001 to 2005. Abdul Rashid I assume the question relates to the current scandalous affair about the abuse of children by Catholic priests. Let me say at the outset that this abuse is a religious sin in all faiths, a violation of human dignity and a criminal act. In Islamic theology, sins are classified into two categories: minor and major. Our Prophet, peace be upon him, warned that the minor sins of those in authority become major sins because of their wide impact on society. The disgraceful behaviour of these priests has been known for quite some time. It has been condemned universally and has elicited apologies from various church authorities. The name of the Pope has now been dragged into this reprehensible situation. I am quite sure the Pope has far more capable people who can and probably do advise him on what to do. However, I can humbly make the following comments in answer to your question. First of all, these abuses should be investigated thoroughly and those responsible in perpetrating these crimes should be exposed, charged and punished under criminal law. Secondly, my understanding is that the Pope has issued both a condemnation and an apology. I think that is about all he can do. His continuous linkage with this affair in the media will only harm his high office. In any case, whatever the Pope says, there will always be some who would find it deficient. I am also concerned that the wicked deeds can sully the entire priestly vocation. There must be hundreds of thousands of priests, pastors, clerics and spiritual care givers honouring their profession with dignity, respect and compassion. A few miscreants must not be allowed to denigrate the entire profession or community. — Abdul Rashid is a member of the Ottawa Muslim community, the Christian-Muslim Dialogue and the Capital Region Interfaith Council. Rev. Kevin Flynn Do you mean “what should Pope Benedict XVI do in regard to the sexual-abuse cases rocking the Roman Catholic Church these days?” The Pope is getting plenty of advice about that from all sides, so I hesitate to add still more. Instead, I would urge him to take a broader, deeper look into the role of the Pope in the Catholic Church. This is an inquiry to which John Paul II invited all “church leaders and their theologians,” a “patient and fraternal dialogue” among the churches about the role of the Bishop of Rome and the question of his universal primacy. The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) has been an important way for Anglican and Catholic theologians to address issues that have historically divided the churches. Since its establishment by Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1968, the dialogue has pointed to enormous areas of common belief and fresh ways of understanding past disputes so that they need no longer divide. In the document The Gift of Authority (2004), ARCIC invited both Anglicans and Catholics to rethink the role of the Pope. I would encourage the Pope to ponder seriously some of the questions addressed to Catholics in particular. Here are some of the most pertinent questions. “Is there at all levels effective participation of clergy as well as lay people in emerging synodal bodies? Has the teaching of the Second Vatican Council regarding the collegiality of bishops been implemented sufficiently? Do the actions of bishops reflect sufficient awareness of the extent of the authority they receive through ordination for governing the local church? Has enough provision been made to ensure consultation between the Bishop of Rome and the local churches prior to the making of important decisions affecting either a local church or the whole Church?” — Rev. Kevin Flynn is an Anglican priest and director of the Anglican Studies Program at Saint Paul University. What Pope Benedict ought to do or say depends on two factors. The first is what he may or may not have done. The other is what is required of him by virtue of his office as Pontiff. Rev. James Christie Before responding further to a difficult and delicate question, let me note a few things for the record. First, abuse of children and, for that matter, any one who is vulnerable is wrong. The church has always known that; the church has always acknowledged that. Period. Second, both abuse and its aftermath are tragic for all concerned. Third, regardless of what restitution may be necessary and what reconciliation possible, measures must be taken to minimize the risk of any further abuse anywhere, any time. Before tapping the keys this morning, I tapped into Google and read several accounts available on line from several sources, including Der Spiegel International and The New York Times. With respect to Benedict’s own actions, there is no whisper of a hint of a suggestion that he has ever himself been implicated in anything untoward. There are accusations that he may have been aware of wrongdoing and have done little or nothing about it. If so, that is a sin not of commission, but of omission. An inquiry is underway. I have no doubt that he will permit it to do its work, and then consult his soul and conscience. As a fellow Christian I am enjoined by Jesus not to judge him, but I do pray for him. As Pontiff, Benedict is the head of a world girdling, hierarchical ecclesiastical system. President Truman was right. The buck stops in the Papal offices. His course as Pontiff is straightforward but difficult to pursue: repentance, restitution, reconstruction of church systems and, with God’s grace, reconciliation. If any Pope is capable of such, it is Benedict. — Rev. James Christie is a minister of the United Church of Canada. He is dean of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Winnipeg. Jack McLean All institutions are based on virtue, not organization. When it concerns the operation of any religious organization, “moral credibility” becomes absolutely paramount. Without it, the institution crumbles. With the current pedophilia scandal, we are witnessing one of the gravest moral crises of the Roman Church since the great schism caused by the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. This scandal has already rendered the Catholic Church anemic in Newfoundland and rocked various parishes in the U.S. Now it is spreading its tentacles all across Germany and into Holland. Its long arm is reaching directly into the Vatican to touch the office of the Vicar of Christ. When priests, who are called to be “divine physicians” inflict lifelong sexual trauma on children and youth, it dims the lights of the Roman Catholic Church and undermines belief in the institution for its own followers. Religious institutions tend to have protective “personalities.” This stance is legitimate when it comes to defending core teachings, so-called “protective doctrines.” But when crimes are being committed by religious authorities, the moral law demands that protectionism be replaced by full disclosure. This is vitally imperative with religious institutions that are charged with the moral and spiritual guidance of their communities. And let us not forget that pedophilia is not just a moral outrage, but a crime punishable by law. What should Pope Benedict XVI do? In view of the wide scale of the current crisis, denials and half-measures are not only ineffective but also self-defeating. Files should be voluntarily opened to responsible, impartial authorities. Commissions of inquiry should be established. Victims should be allowed to vent their grievances and tell their stories. The church should welcome them as a loving parent, hear them, show them compassion and compensate them for their psychological and spiritual injuries. Responsibility should be taken and perpetrators found, charged and punished. Without these corrective measures, faith in the church and its mission can never be restored. Baha’u’llah wrote that a true divine is “as a head to the body of the world, and as eyes to the nations.” But the wolves who come in sheep’s clothing cause great harm. — Jack McLean is a Baha’i scholar, teacher, essayist and poet published in the fields of spirituality, Baha’i theology and poetry. Rev. Rick Reed It’s foolish to give advice when you have only partial information (Proverbs 18:17). For this reason, I am not in a position to offer specific advice regarding what the Pope should do in response to the recent allegations reported in the media. However, the Bible does provide us with examples of what leaders should do when facing scandalous situations. We discover that godly leaders will respond in four ways. First, godly leaders will grieve deeply. When they learn of disgraceful deeds they will be moved to mourn. Sinful actions will not be simply brushed aside, especially when those actions discredit God and destroy others. So Ezra mourned over the spiritual compromise of the Israelite priests (Ezra 9:1-4). Jesus wept over the spiritual hardness of people’s hearts in Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). Second, godly leaders will confess fully. I’m amazed by the prayers of confession that we find leaders praying in the Bible. Even when they were not personally guilty, they identified themselves with the sins of their people (Nehemiah 1:5-7). Godly leaders don’t cover over things; they come clean before God and others. Third, godly leaders ask humbly. After acknowledging sin, godly leaders ask God for mercy — both for themselves and their people (Daniel 9:15-19). They accept the painful consequences of scandalous actions, but still humbly appeal to God for forgiveness. Finally, godly leaders act courageously. They don’t allow scandalous situations to continue unchallenged. Instead, they act decisively to rectify bad situations and restore trust. Ezra called the compromising priests to change their ways (Ezra 10:1-44). Jesus sacrificed his own life so that hard-hearted sinners (like each of us) us could be offered forgiveness (Luke 23:33-34). As Pope Benedict considers how to respond to the scandal of sexual abuse, I pray he follows the example of godly leaders in the Bible. — Rev. Rick Reed is senior pastor at the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa. Ray Innen Parchelo The Pope’s predicament is mirrored through our world by politicians and, for example, sponsorship scandals, by celebrities and performance-enhancing drugs or gambling, by businessmen and faulty manufacturing or irresponsible practices. These leave leaders with challenges at two levels. On one hand, these are challenges to personal morality, self-respect and faith. On the other, they represent complex problems for their organizations, and the relationship with their constituencies. The first of these is easiest for the Pope (and others), in that his Church has clear and well-established methods for confession, repentance and absolution, to restore his relationship with God. Most faiths, including Buddhism, have some means whereby a practitioner who acts immorally can follow prescribed actions to re-establish a life of honour and integrity. This is one of the benefits of participating in one’s faith tradition. The organizational level response has three options, each with a clear track record. The first, the “ignore/deny/ stonewall/blame others” method has been repeated over and over, usually with the same outcome — the denier looks sleazy, as if they have something to hide. Several American presidents and the corporate heads of Toyota can attest to the disadvantages. The second method, the “phoney apology/ photo-op” method has a certain vogue these days. Its hollow, mock morality and cheap headline-grabbing quality have much the same effect as the previous method. By far the best response would be, first, to disclose and address the facts in an open and honest way, and second, to initiate sincere efforts to rebuild whatever damaged relationships might result. This demonstrates moral leadership, with no pretense of perfection, a concern for the consequences of a moral lapse and a respect for the pain of those hurt by one’s actions. As spiritual leaders, our task is always to help our members transit such a challenge, rather than erect fortifications against the truth. It is a mark of our own faith that we believe we are capable of making that transition. — Ray Innen Parchelo is a novice Tendai priest and founder of the Red Maple Sangha, the first lay Buddhist community in Eastern Ontario, and now the centre for Tendai Buddhism in Canada. Rabbi Reuven Bulka We have come a long way when a Rabbi is asked what the Pope should do, in this instance Pope Benedict XVI. Yours is an open-ended question, but I presume you are referring to the recent protestations concerning abuse by the clergy and the allegations levelled against the Pope himself. The allegations, as far as I know, are that the Pope was silent and less than co-operative when, before his becoming Pope, he was not as responsive as he should have been to the charges of abuse going on within the clergy. These are serious charges, if they are true. But we do not know they are true. The credibility of the Pope as a religious leader is vital for his flock, and for the world. The issue then is — to what extent has the Pope’s credibility been compromised by the allegations, and what effect will this have on his flock for the future. Because the charges are out there, it would seem to me that the Pope is best served, as are his flock, by doing whatever reasonably possible to address this matter. The notion of innocent until proven otherwise needs to prevail here as it does everywhere else, or at least as it should everywhere. But, from a long-range perspective, it would be most helpful if the allegations are addressed head-on. By this, I do not mean a direct denial and refutation. That is certainly welcome, by my guess is that given the present climate of distrust, probably not sufficient. So, what could be done to dispel the charges? Perhaps an independent commission that would look into this and issue a report. This is obviously not the usual way that the Vatican works, but it may make sense to do the unusual in this situation, if for no other reason than to re-establish the credibility of the Papacy. No matter what faith one affirms, we all have a vital interest in the credibility of religious institutions, and religious leaders. The Pope, as religious leader of the largest constituency, represents religion in the global sense. His actions impact far beyond his faith community. Whatever he does to instil confidence affects the attitude of the multitude to faith in general. I hope his actions will keep this perspective in mind. That is my Rabbinic “advice” for the Pope. — Rabbi Reuven Bulka is head of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, host of Sunday Night with Rabbi Bulka on 580 CFRA, and recently authored ‘Turning Grief into Gratitude’. Kevin Smith The sad state of the priestly sexual abuse scandal begs the question — with God does one have morals? If I believed in the Divine, I would say the continuing allegations of child abuse could be a godsend for the Catholic Church. Stories have been surfacing for years about innocent boys being sexually and physically abused by men of God, people whose role is one of guidance, trust and authority. Now is the time to cleanse the dark soul of the Catholic Church. It seems fitting that the current Pope, nicknamed the rottweiler when he was a cardinal — a kind of Mr. Fix-It in dealing with whispers of child abuse — is now in a position to talk about this mess in an open and transparent manner. I have my doubts that will happen as the Vatican spin doctors are hard at work saving the image of the church at the expense of the victims of abuse. Benedict’s recent comments that he would not be “intimidated” by “petty gossip” suggests more of the same outdated, hardline rhetoric. After years of cover-ups and shuffling suspected priests to other parishes with a fresh flock to abuse, the lid does seem to be off the box this time. It’s time to look inside and deal with the tragedy. Instead of praying for guidance and blaming the devil for taking up residence in the Vatican, why doesn’t the Pope face reality and establish a public inquiry into these claims. Ask why pedophilia appears to be so rampant in the Catholic Church? God’s threats about immoral behaviour have failed. There is a dire need to deal with the allegations within the laws created by humans and prosecute those that have, in the past, successfully hidden behind the cloth. Some say that these allegations will tarnish Benedict’s papacy and he should resign. I think he should stay. The Pope has an opportunity to deal with these alleged crimes as any non-religious body would be expected to. By creating a commission, he can leave a legacy as not only God’s representative on Earth but more importantly, as a selfless man, in the spirit of the historical Jesus who tackled issues with integrity and purpose. The next, hopefully younger, Bishop of Rome will be free to move towards modernizing the church, without the stench of scandal, by changing its antiquated views on, among other things, celibacy, condom use, homosexuality and women’s rights. Instead of words of apology, strategically written to deflect criticism from the elite and powerful, I would remind the Pope that not even his God is above the law. He would do well to read two of my favourite quotes from the Humanist Manifesto: “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves” and “We are responsible for what we are and for what we will be.” And I would add, we are also responsible for what we have done. — Kevin Smith is on the board of directors for the Centre for Inquiry, Canada’s premier venue for humanists, skeptics and freethinkers. CFI promotes reason, science, secularism and freedom of inquiry into every human endeavour.
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