BishopAccountability.org
	Church Can't Dodge Sex Scandals Telegraph-Journal April 10, 2010 http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1012904 It's not surprising that we should ask ourselves what it is that's so askew in the fundamentals of Christianity for it to create churches where sexual ill-being is rampant? In wanting to narrow-mindedly condemn sexuality, the floodgates to disturbing sexual ill-being are now open. In particular, recently there has been much talk about the sexual maltreatment of pedophilia taking place within the Catholic Church. However, we mustn't forget that similar situations have also been reported in the Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches... all Christian churches. The other religions are surely not immune to such deviance, but there's little data demonstrating it. Some will rightly submit that the celibacy of Catholic priests can largely explain these pedophile deviations. The Church authority rejects such an analysis. However, among the Christian churches, it is only the Catholic Church that forbids priests to marry. The eminent theologian Hans Kung concludes that, although there are a few cases of pedophilia in the other Christian churches, the phenomenon is unfortunately "massive" within the Catholic Church. He sees a cause-and-effect relationship that would appear to make sense. Sexuality is an extremely strong vital force within everyone's reach. Christianity tends to consider sexuality as a necessary evil, instead of simply seeing it as a necessary good. With such premises from the start, it puts sexuality in a negative light, shrouding it with a mystery that leads humans astray. Nothing is more appealing than the forbidden fruit. The most worrying aspect of this pedophilia phenomenon is that we don't really get the impression that the Catholic Church has a deep understanding of the problem. There's a tendency to trivialize the scope of the reprehensible acts committed. That which is human within the child is misunderstood. The Church is more concerned about saving the face of the institution than the mind and body of child. Worse still, means were invested to hide the acts instead of confronting them and taking corrective action. The fear of the children and faith of their parents was taken advantage of in an effort to silence the unpardonable. It's as if the institution were above the law, above suspicion. Some bizarre individuals have even put forth the hypothesis whereby the sexual revolution of the '60s accentuated this rise in pedophilia in the Catholic Church. This ignores the fact that, starting in the '40s and '50s, young natives were victim to unlimited abuse in residential schools (and parishes). These residential schools were inhuman factories used to turn little "savages" into civilized people, through sexual and physical abuse. What a shameful aberration! The most recent revelations of pedophilia have primarily come from the European counties of Ireland, Italy and Germany (country of origin of Pope Benedict XVI). We may be tempted to distance ourselves from the problem, on the grounds that it's taking place elsewhere. But, we mustn't forget the proven cases surrounding Father Levis Noel in the Acadian Peninsula, or the suspicions of cover-up put forth concerning Bishop Gerard Dionne in Sudbury. And what can we say about Bishop Leahey in Nova Scotia? Society in general, and practising Catholics in particular, can no longer run from the reality and responsibilities regarding the abuse. The Catholic Church needs to free itself from its secretive culture, and a certain hypocritical, revisionist, hidden approach. No longer may it muddle by, asking that we forgive these abusive priests. It must proclaim loud and clear that it met the abuse with condonation, then take charge of the healing process with these children who are now adults... some of whom have remained destroyed for life. Pope Benedict XVI in particular cannot shirk his responsibilities. For 25 years, he was the Catholic Church's prefect of discipline. Because of his duties, he cannot feign ignorance. Some will defend him, saying that he did the best he could under the circumstances. We cannot allow ourselves to be so indulgent in this case. Too much deep human pain was caused by this disgrace for those responsible not to be held accountable. A resignation must be considered. And don't come and tell me that it's a Jewish or Muslim conspiracy that's promoting this option. Catholics themselves are demanding it, and they must continue to remain in the forefront. Otherwise, we should really consider the possibility of the Church's continued collapse, at a time when it's already in decline. I liked this Church. I even considered becoming a priest until the age of 18. This institution has been so important for more than 1.15 billion Catholics in the world, that we cannot simply wish it away. I wouldn't like to see it fall. I would like to see it rehabilitated as much as possible. But allow me once again to sink into doubt, because I don't see any signs on the horizon of a deep desire for realignment. It's a shame, and it's unforgivable. Jean-Marie Nadeau is a former journalist, union leader and community activist. He has run twice in provincial elections for the NDP and is president of Societe de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick. The opinions expressed in the column are solely the author's. His column appears in the Telegraph-Journal each Saturday.
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