UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism
Jerry Slevin
Leaders can show real empathy, especially in front of cameras. Ireland’s Prime Minister seemed genuinely sad today about the young women and children abused in prison laundries run mainly by nuns. Pope Benedict seemed similarly sad in his brief meetings with a few survivors of priest child sexual abuse. President Obama also seemed sad for the children raped at Penn State. But sad sighs are not enough for leaders. They must be linked to effective and adequate efforts (1) to obtain justice for innocent victims, (2) to assure the accountability of wrongdoers, including aiders and abettors, and (3) to minimize recurrences. Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard skipped the sighs and just went straight to an exemplary fully funded and staffed national royal commission.
On that score, PM Gillard gets an A+, PM Kenny passes so far, the Pope fails and, at best, the jury may still be out on the President. As noted today by SNAP Wisconsin’s usually well informed Peter Isely, the much respected UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, the leading voice internationally for protecting children, has indicated that President Obama’s Justice Department (DOJ) and the U.S. Congress recently got poor grades on protecting children from sexual abuse in religious settings, especially in the U.S. Catholic Church. SNAP also reported that its efforts to get the DOJ to act goes back a decade. Very disappointing and disturbing, to say the least.
If no one is held to account, the violation of children will just continue. Tens of thousands of innocent children have been raped in religious organizations in the USA alone. Vatican conference experts last year estimated that over 100,000 children so far have been abused by Catholic priests in the USA alone. Where have our political and religious leaders been? Where are they now? No U.S. Cardinal or Bishop has been locked up to date for child endangerment. Will that ever change, Mr. President?
In the midst of a close Italian election campaign ending this weekend, the Pope suddenly announced his resignation that apparently had been in the works for several months at least. The Pope also plans to meet after the election, but before his resignation is finalized, with a senior Italian governmental official. Italian media have recently focused more on the Pope’s resignation than on the Italian elections. Knowledgable observers have indicated this has already given the Pope’s favored candidate, Prime Minister Monti, a needed boost. Just a coincidence? We should know better within ten days whether a carefully timed papal immunity deal is under consideration. …
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