Shame and disgrace. (Letters: you may be right).In April's The Examined Life ("Sins--and crimes--of our Fathers") I think Thomas Groome was much too soft on our bishops. The present crisis in the Catholic Church with priests and bishops being found guilty of pedophilia pedophilia, psychosexual disorder in which there is a preference for sexual activity with prepubertal children. Pedophiles are almost always males. The children are more often of the opposite sex (about twice as often) and are typically 13 years or age or younger; has one basic problem: those bishops, archbishops, and cardinals have paid no personal price for their aiding and abetting a·bet tr.v. a·bet·ted, a·bet·ting, a·bets 1. To approve, encourage, and support (an action or a plan of action); urge and help on. 2. of these criminals. Let us first be clear about what happened to these children: They were raped. No church that demands that those who kill unborn children should be criminally accountable can in any way condone, excuse, or allow those who rape children, or were an accessory before or after the fact, to go unpunished unpunished Adjective without suffering or resulting in a penalty: the guilty must not go unpunished, such crimes should not remain unpunished Adj. 1. . As a born, committed, and practicing Catholic, this continuing episode brings me nothing but pain and shame. Since I cannot trust my bishops or priests to value my children over their own careers, I have no choice but not to allow them to be alone with my children at any time. It is sad that the hierarchy would sacrifice the children of the church in order to save their bishops. The example of Jesus Christ would seem to point to a different course of action. Name withheld Fort Wayne, Ind. I am shamed and saddened by the ram pant pant v. To breathe rapidly and shallowly. sexual misconduct sexual misconduct Professional ethics Any behavior that violates a health professional's ethics through sexual contact of physician and his/her Pt. See Professional boundaries. of the men ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. to teach the Catholic faith, preach the gospel, and grant us absolution absolution In Christianity, a pronouncement of forgiveness of sins made to a person who has repented. This rite is based on the forgiveness that Jesus extended to sinners during his ministry. . These men are supposed to be our earthly representatives of God, our Father. How--more than how, why--should I go to confess my sins to a man who may in fact be guilty of much more than I, who might be living a hidden and sinful life? How can I put my faith in the absolution allegedly granted me? I cannot honor the priesthood when this sham is covered up by priests, bishops, and cardinals. I no longer believe that my Catholic faith is any more "special" than any other. I am sickened and disgusted by these activities. And if it is happening in Boston and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , as stated in this article, it is undoubtedly happening all over the world. What can be sacred about the priesthood? Is it any wonder the need for vocations is not being met? Name withheld Columbia, S.C. I agree totally with the sentiments expressed in Groome's article. As a practicing Catholic for 40 years, I have seen too much secrecy regarding the personnel changes that are made. We have had two pastors leave our parish under mysterious circumstances in the past 20 years. This penchant for secrecy leaves only a trail of innuendo and suspicion. I believe that the laity should have more of a partnership in these matters. Name withheld Atlanta, Ga. |
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