More secular oversight needed to curtail sexual abuse by priests: Letter

Poughkeepsie Journal
June 2, 2018

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/opinion/letters/2018/06/02/more-secular-oversight-needed-curtail-sexual-abuse-priests/661408002/

Letters to the editor

This letter is in response to the April 7 Poughkeepsie Journal story, “Report: NY Archdiocese ‘secretive’ on priest abuse.”
 
The non-profit watchdog group BishopAccountability.Org said New York’s Archdiocese is one of the “most secretive” bishoprics in the nation when it comes to exposing sexual abuse by priest.
 
A spokesman for the Archdiocese called the statement “unreliable and scurrilous.” 
 
Yet sexual abuse allegations involving clergy continue to make headlines and critics say the Archdiocese is often parochial and unwilling to reveal the identity of faithless priests fearing widespread clergy agitation, humiliation and exposure to hostile litigation. 
 
Ecclesiastical misconduct, which doesn’t rise to criminality, is even more secretive and rarely defrocking or loss of the clerical state, commonly called laicization, for consensual sexual indiscretions or financial improprieties is made public.
 
The overwhelming majority of priests are faithful believers, love God, want to serve God, and want to serve the people of God with piety.  
 
The solution against secretive prelate supremacy is greater secular control over the day-to-day management of church affairs, especially in matters of transparency and social empathy.