UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Barbara Dorris on February 19, 2013
To say that Cardinal Peter Turkson’s claims about clergy abuse in Africa are uninformed would be far too kind. We hope this awful comment disqualifies him from consideration as the next pope.
We hear less about clergy sex crimes and cover ups in Africa for the same reasons we do throughout the developing world: there tends to be lesser funding for law enforcement, less vigorous civil justice systems, less independent journalism, and an even greater power and wealth difference between church officials and their congregants.
So when we hear Turkson’s assertion that the sexual abuse crisis hasn’t come to Africa because of cultural reasons that demonize homosexuality, we can’t help but be upset and worried. Not only is the link between homosexuality and child abuse a fallacy, but it is a weak shield to hide behind.
It’s hard to address a crisis you don’t think exists. So we fear for the safety of kids in Turkson’s diocese if he denies there are predatory priests there.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.