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	Doblin: Pope's Preacher Sends the Wrong Message By Alfred P. Doblin Daily Record April 5, 2010 http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/doblin_040510.html NEW JERSEY -- THE CATHOLIC CHURCH has had a problem with sexually abusive priests. It is not rumor. It is not anti-Catholicism. It's a fact, a fact borne out by the millions of dollars paid in settlements to victims. It's a fact borne out by the staggering number of victims – children whose lives were forever scarred by individuals who were supposed to be protectors and, instead, were predators. It is in this context that people view the larger institution of the Catholic Church. If there is a collective association of guilt for these heinous acts, it is collected around the hierarchical structure of the institution. It does not include all Catholics. And that makes recent comments by Pope Benedict XVI's personal preacher repulsive. In a Good Friday sermon, the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa equated criticism of the current pope, as well as the continuing negative press over sexually abusive priests, to anti-Semitism. What rubbish. Cantalamessa used the coinciding of Passover and Holy Week this year as a springboard to reflect on Jews during a religious service at the Vatican. He said, "[Jews] know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence, and also because of this they are quick to recognize the recurring symptoms." Six million Jews were exterminated by Nazis. Jews have been discriminated against for thousands of years solely because of religious beliefs. Although anti-Catholic movements have existed in history, there is nothing that is equal to the Holocaust. The current bad Catholic press has nothing to do with theology. It has everything to do with a structure that did all in its power to protect predators, shield them from criminal proceedings and did little or nothing to protect and shield victims. Benedict is being criticized for how he may have handled abuse cases while still a bishop in Germany. The media inquiries have been fair. Given the now-public knowledge of how widespread cover-ups were in dioceses across the globe, there is good reason to demand more answers. According to The Associated Press, Cantalamessa acknowledged the sexual abuse of children by clergy but then said, "There is sufficient talk outside of here." No, father, there is not. There are wrongs that can never be righted. There is nothing that can atone for abusing thousands of children. Society, let alone the Catholic Church, cannot say enough about how horrible this is. Whether it is still true today, it is true that in the past many church leaders put the interests of the institution ahead of the welfare of the faithful. Cantalamessa is not a very important figure in the overall scheme of the Catholic Church. He does not set policy. But he has an important platform as the preacher at papal services. What he says will be reprinted. Within hours of the controversial sermon, a Vatican spokesman said Cantalamessa wasn't speaking for the Vatican. Noted. But if he continues to be the pope's preacher, that should be noted as well. Cantalamessa may not speak for the Vatican but he speaks directly to it. It was reported that the 82-year-old pontiff looked tired during the Good Friday service. The series of Masses and events that take Catholics from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday are grueling for men and women far younger than the pope. Perhaps the reference to the pope's age was a subtle reminder that a new pope will probably be elected before the end of this decade. Do not expect radical change. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church is mainly peopled by old men. They were shaped and schooled by the institution while much of the sexual abuse was occurring. They may not be personally responsible for allowing the abuse. And some have crafted guidelines that will prevent future predators from preying on children. Benedict is credited for pushing for some of those reforms. But reforms of today do not erase failures of the past. If Cantalamessa was looking for an analogous story between Catholic bishops and Jews, he should have cited the 40 years Jews wandered in the desert before they were deemed worthy to cross into the Promised Land. It will take generations before the Catholic institution has been purged of the men who enabled sexual predators. A little bad press isn't much of a price to pay in the interim. Men inside the marble splendor of St. Peter's have nothing in common with men, women and children crammed into cattle cars. Six million Jews experienced "collective violence." Catholic bishops have written checks. Alfred P. Doblin is the editorial page editor of The Record. Contact him at doblin@northjersey.com. Follow AlfredPDoblin on Twitter.
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