Civil authorities must confront clergy sexual abuse scandal

Chicago Sun Times
November 12, 2020

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/11/12/21559338/catholic-church-sexual-abuse-scandal-vatican-report-pope-francis-letters

Without the whole and complete truth, there can be no justice; and without justice there will be no healing.

I welcomed your news story on Wednesday about the Vatican report regarding former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

Once again, we see the unwillingness and even inability of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church to confront and resolve its clergy sexual abuse scandal. And this time it is a report by the Vatican itself that documents the utter failure of church leadership at the highest level.

Who can be trusted to right this tilting ship?

Civil governments must take the lead and do what the church won’t do: find and declare the truth. Without the whole and complete truth, there can be no justice; and without justice there will be no healing.

The culprits must be held accountable, regardless their social or professional status. Doing so serves the common good of our society.