UNITED STATES
Father Kenneth Lasch
Thursday March 2, 2017
Website Editor’s Note: Last week, I posted a combination of several articles dealing with the unfinished business associated with the scandal of sexual abuse in the RC Church. I realize that many if not most folks in the pew assume it’s over and done with. But alas, notwithstanding Pope Francis’ intention to hold accountable bishops who defaulted on their responsibility to protect children and vulnerable adults, in fact the process of adjudication and justice has broken down. In his Apostolic Letter, ‘As a Loving Mother’, Pope Francis laid down the procedure whereby bishops are to be held accountable: “The diocesan Bishop or Eparch, or one who holds a temporary title and is responsible for a Particular Church or other community of faithful that is its legal equivalent, according to can. 368 CIC or can. 313 CCEO, can be legitimately removed from office if he has through negligence committed or through omission facilitated acts that have caused grave harm to others, either to physical persons or to the community as a whole. The harm may be physical, moral, spiritual or through the use of patrimony.” [Article One, § 1}
The Commission established by Pope Francis to deal with allegations of sexual abuse has been stalled for over two years.
In the light of so many wonderful words and counsels written and spoken that have emanated from Pope Francis moving the Church toward a renewal spearheaded by the Second Vatican Council, it is disheartening to acknowledge the fact that he has dropped the ball on following up on his own admonitions and exhortations regarding sexual abuse. There is no question that justice and mercy must embrace [Psalm 87] but there can be no mercy until there is justice, no justice until there is full disclosure and accountability.
The following video except is riveting testimony that has emerged from the Royal Commission on Sexual Abuse in Australia. It may be rightly assumed to be testimony that might be duplicated in other parts of the world. Based on the history of sexual abuse in Ireland, in the US and in other countries across the globe, it is chilling to imagine what such a commission might yield in this country. Click Testimony.
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.