Category Archives: sexual abuse crisis in church

February 21, 2013 · 11:18 am

lent, a looming conclave, and the sexual abuse crisis

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Mea Maxima Culpa; Silence in the House of God

This year, the global church entered into Lent with the bombshell announcement of Pope Benedict’s abdication. The news over-shadowed all other church stories in the media – for a day or two. Papabile prognostications quickly replaced emotional commentaries and quickly drafted summaries and evaluations of Pope Benedict’s legacy.

John L. Allen Jr. has provided daily commentaries for the National Catholic Reporter. Allen is my favorite Vatican journalist and writer. He has an amazing depth of knowledge and the ear of many at the heart of the action. His respectful and balanced writing has obviously won him the respect of many in Rome. Besides keeping us updated on the latest details of the transition period, Allen has been writing daily essays on each of the Cardinals who are considered possible contenders to don the papal whites. The essays are valuable, as he points out the positive and negative qualities (real or perceived) of each candidate.

Perhaps because we aren’t wrapped up in mourning the death of a pope, more attention is being made on vetting the cardinals in the public forum. This is a good thing. With transparency and honesty, though, comes a realization there is no perfect person to step into the shoes of Peter. The sexual abuse scandal continues to make international head-lines with new revelations each day.

Should Cardinal Roger Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles, be allowed to participate in the conclave after court documents were released showing his role in the cover-up of abuse cases?

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, was deposed Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by clergy sex abuse victims. He was called to testify over his management of priests in the Milwaukee archdiocese, which he led from 2002-2009.

Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana was highlighted as the Papabile of the day by John Allen on Tuesday. By the afternoon, his remarks during an interview with Christiane Amanpour on CNN were making headlines. He told Amanpour that the sexual abuse crisis has not reached his country because, “African traditional systems kind of protect or have protected its population against this tendency. Because in several communities, in several cultures in Africa homosexuality or for that matter any affair between two sexes of the same kind are not countenanced in our society.” As the lid is blown off the abuse crisis around the world, his denial is either naïve or dangerously ignorant.

Hubby and I sat and watched Mea Maxima Culpa this past weekend. It was a difficult documentary to watch. The only thing worse than the ongoing abuse perpetrated by these most unholy of priests, was the institutional denial and cover-up from bishops and the highest offices in the Vatican. Sadly, the smoking gun too often pointed to the desk of the current Pope.

Perhaps this is the true Lenten penance of our church; to finally face head-on the reality of a scandal so evil and so far reaching. As the College of Cardinals prepares to elect the pope, it is a reality that can no longer be ignored. The people of God demand that justice be done. We must have a pope with a proven record of standing on the side of the victims, not on upholding the pure image of the church. Is there such a man?

Here is a short piece I wrote for the NCR Today blog.

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May 16, 2012 · 9:32 pm

what do you do with a problem like Raymond Lahey?

In 2009, Raymond Lahey (then bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia) was stopped at the Ottawa airport and his computer was searched. It was found to contain large quantities of child pornography. On May 4, 2011, Lahey pleaded guilty to possessing and importing the images and asked to begin serving his sentence immediately. At his sentencing hearing, the 71 year old admitted to being addicted to internet pornography, and that he was also involved in a ten year relationship with a man. On January 4, 2012, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail. He was given credit for eight months already served, and was set free. This was the legal punishment meted out by the Canadian courts.

Today, the Vatican imposed its own canonical sentence on Lahey. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops was informed that the former bishop is now stripped of his clerical status. The CCCB press release states,

According to Canon 292 of the Code of Canon Law, the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has the following effects: loss of the rights and duties attached to the clerical state, except for the obligation of celibacy; prohibition of the exercise of any ministry, except as provided for by Canon 976 of the Code of Canon Law in those cases involving danger of death; loss of all offices and functions and of all delegated power, as well as prohibition of the use of clerical attire. Raymond Lahey has accepted the Decree of Dismissal, which also requires him to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in reparation for the harm and the scandal he has caused, and for the sanctification of clergy.

According to the Diocese of Antigonish, this is one of the most severe canonical penalties that the Roman Catholic Church can impose. REALLY???

On the positive side, Lahey admitted guilt immediately. Granted, the guilt was admitted once he was caught. But, he spared the people of Canada and the faithful in the pews from an expensive court case. Justice was meted out swiftly, especially in comparison to other clerical sexual abuse cases in North America.

Now, some might wonder if this case is as severe as those who are guilty of the physical sexual abuse of children. After all, the crime was merely possession of child pornography. But, child pornography IS sexual abuse and exploitation. Those are real children in the images, children who are being sexually abused. The proper reaction to such images is horror and a desire to save the children; not sexual gratification.

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is actively fighting against pornography because of its exploitive nature. Women Religious around the world have banded together to fight against human trafficking because it provides the victims for an ever growing sex market. It is worth noting that it is the women of our church who are at the fore-front of these actions.

So, a bishop is caught and admits guilt to a disgusting crime. The crime is made all the more disgusting because of his trusted role as not only a priest, but as a bishop. He spends eight months in jail. And now, the poor man is defrocked.

According to the Canon law description, defrocking is equivalent to losing one’s job. Yes, there is shame and loss of employment security. This is a common consequence of criminal charges. At least he didn’t get a Vatican promotion.

Ah, but he is still required to obey his vow of celibacy. REALLY? Who is going to monitor this? He has already admitted to having a long term relationship with a man. He wasn’t living a celibate life as a bishop. Why would he as a lay person?

As to the severity of the canonical punishment meted out to Lahey,  I can’t help but think of how many times bishops have shot off their mouths excommunicating members of their flock, threatening them with eternal damnation. Having your clerical collar and all its privileges stripped away seems a light punishment in comparison.

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April 13, 2012 · 11:02 am

Archbishop to be adopted into aboriginal community – Winnipeg Free Press

Archbishop to be adopted into aboriginal community – Winnipeg Free Press.

Earlier this week, I wrote a post on an essay written by Ian Hunter. Hunter was critical of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission here in Canada, and of general apologies given by those who aren’t the original perpetrators of the abuse.

Our local bishop, Archbishop James Weisgerber, was a strong supporter of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As former President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, he arranged for a personal meeting at the Vatican between Benedict XVI and aboriginal representatives on April 29, 2009. He has since made many friendships with members of the aboriginal community.

Tomorrow, at a  ceremony at Thunderbird House in Winnipeg, Archbishop Weisgerber will be formally adopted into the aboriginal community.

For Derek Nepinak, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs grand chief, the adoption sends a signal of good faith to the public, and it offers a pledge that non-native and Anishinaabe cultures work together in the name of a shared future. “We can’t just sit down and engage in a discussion, say ‘I’m sorry’ and walk away. We have to engage with each other and recognize and apply our ceremonies in a mutually respectful way,” Nepinak said.

What a wonderful sign of the power of true reconciliation. Yes, we must go further than just saying I’m sorry. But acknowledging a wrong and asking forgiveness is the first step towards building real bonds in our too often divided world. Congratulations to our aboriginal leaders and Archbishop for showing us reconciliation in action.

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April 11, 2012 · 11:10 am

an unapologetic anti-apology view

Ian Hunter, Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Law at Western University in London, Ont., has written a commentary over at The Catholic Register titled I’m sorry, this column is about the blame game. Hunter is critical of umbrella-style apologies given by churches and governments for sins of the past. He uses the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada as an example. The Commission travels the country and provides opportunities for former Residential School students to tell their stories.  Hunter believes,

The interesting thing about this worldwide pandemic of apologizing is that its common feature is the debasement of truth and language. Such apologies debase truth because the person proffering the apology is seldom the one who has committed any historical harm, as indeed the recipient is seldom one who suffered it. Such apologies debase language because, for an apology to be meaningful, contrition must precede regret. In these politically correct exercises, the person apologizing seldom has reason to be contrite, while the recipient has his sense of victimhood officially confirmed.

The Residential School issue is filled with legal and ethical complexities. At the time, schools were built to provide education in remote areas where there was none. We know, now, the errors of colonialism by churches and governments. Taking children from their homes and way of life was wrong. Trying to replace their culture and heritage with that of white, western European society was wrong. Verbally, physically and sexually abusing those same children was not only wrong, it was unconscionably evil. How do we make it right? How do we begin to repair the damage that was done so justice can be served?

Not all religious and priests, lay women and men who taught in these schools were abusers. Not all children were abused. But recompense must be made. Sadly, this has left many dioceses and religious orders on the verge off, or in actual bankruptcy. As with all abuse scandals, many innocent women and men are tainted with the fall-out. The legal issues of justice for evils perpetrated so many years ago are complicated. Apologizing is not.

After a wrong has been acknowledged, apologizing is the first logical step in any reconciliation process. Yes, ideally, the apology should come from the perpetrator. But, when a person acts in the name of a larger body, then that body must apologize also. When John Paul II publicly apologized for the evils of the Inquisition, he was humbly admitting that the Church had erred. An apology will not bring back the dead or undo the suffering, but it tells the world that we know and acknowledge that evil was done in the name of the Church. And with acknowledgement there is contrition and a desire to not let history repeat itself.

Professor Hunter does make a point regarding empty apologies. There are lawyers who provide seminars to businesses on how to make apologies without admitting legal liability. We see frequent examples of empty apologies from politicians and media personalities. “I apologize for my hurtful words” is replaced with, “I apologize if my words hurt you.” This kind of apology takes the responsibility off the perpetrator and places it on the victim.

The weakness of Professor Hunter’s argument is highlighted near the conclusion of his essay,

Nor is our penchant for historical apologies unrelated to the feminization of our era. It is feelings, not thoughts, that are valued today. If I feel wronged, then I must have been wronged. If my life has not turned out as I had hoped, someone must be to blame and who better than the government?

Ah, so the feminization of our era is the problem. Worrying if someone was wronged and apologizing for that wrong is more a woman thing. Men need to stay focused on cerebral matters and leave the messiness of feelings to us.

I’m truly sorry that you think this way, Professor Hunter.

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February 8, 2012 · 3:00 pm

reality and a 5 minute retreat

The international clerical sexual abuse and cover-up scandals are again making Catholic news head-lines this week. Signs of progress are coming from an Abuse Summit taking place at the Vatican. From heart-wrenching personal witnesses by victims, to public penitential prayers, to acknowledgement of the accountability of both bishops and priests; there is hope that eyes are being opened and denials will no longer be accepted. John Allen’s daily reports over at the National Catholic Reporter give an insightful commentary on the summit proceedings.

Another NCR article chronicles a well-known story of massive cover-up and re-victimization of the abused not just by the offending clergy, but by their own families and parishes. Clerical power thwarts victims in Poland is a difficult article to read. I found my heart racing, and my body filling with angry tension. This is the country of my heritage with a culture of devoted Catholics, colorful pilgrimages, and love for the Blessed Mother. Yet, it is also the Church that angered my grand-father decades ago for its clericalism and greed.

By now, we know that our Church consists of sinners and saints. We cannot run from the reality of evil, for it must be faced and eradicated. But we also need to be nurtured and reminded of the existence of a loving God. We need to be reminded that we are beloved by God. And, we need to be reminded that we are loved by others. This is especially true for those who have been so deeply hurt and wounded.

I began my daily online reading with an uplifting piece from Sandy Prather’s column, Breaking Open the Ordinary in the Prairie Messenger. It raised my spirits, and I returned to it again after the depressing reading later in the day. If you can, take some time to read the entire reflection. It makes for a wonderful 5 minute retreat…

We likely will never have the actual experience of clouds parting and seeing the Holy Spirit descending like a dove upon us, but each of us needs to hear at least once in our life the spoken words: “You are the beloved; in you I am well pleased.” As disciples of Jesus, we carry the message to each other: God delights in you. It is to be affirmed into life.

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January 24, 2012 · 10:56 am

pelvic politics, cont’d

The term “pelvic politics” describes the perception of an unbalanced emphasis on sexual issues by some bishops and conservative Catholics. Church teachings on birth control, abortion, gay marriage, co-habitation, celibacy and a male-only priesthood all become a litmus test for identifying a faithful Catholic. Too often, the test becomes a weapon of righteous judgment and condemnation. Sitting on the wrong side of the orthodoxy fence can deny you a church wedding, election support, or employment in church run institutions. Ecclesial promotions for ordained members are dependent on their public support of these teachings. In extreme cases, excommunications have been meted out to those who have publicly questioned or not supported them; usually by extremely-minded bishops.

Yesterday’s post included this quote from David DeCosse,

the bishops’ emphasis on law as the pre-eminent category of conscience means that they leave little room for practical reasoning to help the conscience figure out what to do in the face of complexity.

For me, of all the issues listed here, the one that is most black and white is that of abortion. It is not a form of contraception. It’s the intentional killing of an unborn child. And yet, there are cases that reflect the “face of complexity”; cases that show the moral dilemma that must be faced in the grey in between. Cases that need a wise mind and compassionate heart to discern what is right and wrong in a specific situation.

What about the woman in Phoenix who was 11 weeks pregnant with her fifth child and suffered heart failure? What about the nine year old girl in Brazil, raped and impregnated by her stepfather? In both cases, an abortion was performed to save the life of the mother. In both cases, excommunications were declared on all those involved (except for the young girl due to her age). Instead of praising the Church’s moral superiority and conviction, these stories showed to the world a Church lacking in compassion and understanding.

It is easy to raise the accusatory banner of hypocrisy at pharisaic church leaders who place heavy burdens on us while sexually abusing or covering up the abuse of others. It is difficult to listen to sermons on the importance of marriage and fidelity when stories appear of bishops having long term relationships and fathering children. Righteous rants on the “intrinsic evil” of homosexuality ring hollow, when the presence of homosexuality in the ranks of the ordained is ignored or denied.

But anger will get us nowhere. We need to stop and take a breath, together, and revisit the gospel call to life. Where should our focus be?

Up here, in the great white north, the words of the late Pierre Elliott Trudeau still resound in the psyche of our modern history. In 1967, as a young Justice Minister, he introduced an Omnibus Bill in the House of Commons that included decriminalizing homosexual acts performed in private, telling reporters “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.” His intention was good. But, we still need moral guide-lines and laws to support them. In Canada, we have seen the dangers of human rights and freedoms going amuck when pedophiles demand the right to own child pornography. Or white-supremacists hide behind freedom of speech to spread their hatred and pass it on to their children.

The state and the church do have a place in the bedrooms of the nation when those bedrooms hide sexual abuse and rape. We have the moral obligation to denounce and prosecute those who kidnap or buy and sell humans into sexual slavery. We must insist that the possession, itself, of child pornography is wrong; because behind the pictures are real children being exploited.

In this time of global violence and injustice, it’s time for Catholics to stop being the religion of ‘nay’ and begin truly promoting a culture of life that acknowledges the face of complexity of our modern times. Too many issues are being ignored while we continue to count the number of angels dancing on the proverbial pin head.

It’s interesting that while church leaders are still debating the moral use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa, Women Religious around the world are banding together to stop human trafficking.

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January 5, 2012 · 10:59 am

more bishops in the news

Barely a week goes by without reading head-lines of ongoing or newly exposed sexual scandals in the Church. Yesterday was not a good day for bishops in the news. Here in Canada, the disgraced Bishop Raymond Lahey was “sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years probation but will receive a two-for-one credit for time served. Lahey pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography for the purposes of importation to  Canada.” (CBC News Report) Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala has resigned after admitting he fathered two children. (NCR)

Both stories have started a flurry of online discussions. Many are infuriated that Lahey is already freed. (see National Post) Over at the National Catholic Reporter, an editorial by Michael Sean Winters  and a letter from Pax Christi try to balance the news of Bishop Zavala with acknowledgement of his many social justice efforts. While some describe genuine shock and sadness over Zavala’s resignation, there appears to be no love lost over Lahey.

I’m presently reading Render Unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church by Jason Berry. It’s a long, depressing slog of a read. It exposes not only the web of secrecy behind the abuse scandals, but also the abuse of parish and diocesan funds used to pay for cover-ups and legal costs.

Hopefully all this will explain my need for a good rant today…

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus sees Nathanael approaching and says, “”Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” (John 1:47) The NRSV translation replaces duplicity with deceit. Both words are effective, but there is something about the image of duplicity that is worth pondering. Duplicity is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It is a two-faced person.  It is someone who presents the world with one persona that can be trusted and respected, while secretly living a life of lies. Once the lie is revealed, trust is lost. And, sadly, the distrust is often passed on to others through association. This is what is happening in our church.

In no way can I relate my own frustrations and anger to those who have been directly abused, deceived or hurt by duplicitous, deceitful, sinful priests and bishops. Yet, I do have anger; and it’s not going away. I’m angry at the pomposity of clericalism that has put men on a pedestal by virtue of ordination. I’m angry at the men who defiled this sacramental gift in such horrific ways. I’m angry for all the years (centuries!) that Catholics have been told to pray, pay and obey; no questions asked.

I`m angry because my church is now being identified with these sinful and corrupt leaders. This is wrong. But, it is understandable. The culture of clericalism was built on inflated egos, greedily hoarding power and authority. Too many priests and bishops claimed to be the sole voice of the church, in all matters. They claimed to BE the church. All decision-making powers rested with them, and they made sure we understood this. Well, now they can take responsibility for the loss of trust and respect that our church has suffered. They can take responsibility for the aura of duplicity and hypocrisy that surrounds us.

I have been blessed with many priests and bishops of integrity in my life. These men have my respect, affection, and continued prayerful support; especially in these difficult times. These men also have the wisdom to know that WE are, together, the Church. And only together can we get through this mess. It is time for us all to more intentionally embrace a life of integrity, and demand it of our leaders.

And, it is time to bury the old clerical culture for good.

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September 14, 2011 · 8:57 am

a not so random thought

I posted some random thoughts yesterday on the news that American lawyers were trying to bring a case against Vatican leaders to the International Criminal Court. My thoughts were random, because I really wasn`t sure what to think. This morning, I found a more reasoned voice online. Michael Sean Winters, again over at National Catholic Reporter, wrote a scathing editorial called Shame on SNAP`s lawyers. He writes,

In Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the crimes were ordered by political leaders. No one, so far as I know, has suggested that Pope Benedict XVI ordered any priest to rape a child. There is a difference, a moral difference, between a systematic attempt to slaughter a people and an effort to cover up the crimes of one’s subordinates. So far as I know, no one has been charged at the ICC with trying to cover up the genocide in Rwanda or the ethnic cleansing in Sarajevo. Those who have been charged perpetrated the crimes….

This legal effort to get the ICC involved not only holds out false hopes for the victims of clergy sex abuse, it is an offense against the thousands upon thousands of dead, maimed and raped victims of Milosevic’s crimes as well as the hundreds of thousands of victims of genocide in Rwanda. To treat other crimes like those crimes is to diminish the unique evil which considered rape and murder a means to an end.

This thoughtful and well-reasoned analysis was a much needed answer to my own uncertainty and discomfort with this news story. I encourage anyone who is interested to read Winter`s full editorial. And, of course, any thoughts or reflections are always welcomed! After all, that`s what dialogue is all about.

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September 13, 2011 · 12:34 pm

Intl Criminal Court urged to investigate Vatican officials | National Catholic Reporter

Lawyers today filed a petition with the International Criminal Court on behalf of clergy sex abuse victims urging an investigation of high-ranking Roman Catholic Church leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, charging that the widespread sexual abuse by priests in various countries and the handling of those cases by bishops and authorities in the Vatican constitute widespread human rights abuses.

via Intl Criminal Court urged to investigate Vatican officials | National Catholic Reporter.

This news story is bound to kick-start many a debate. Is this a justified approach towards accountability? Is it merely a publicity move, with no chance of further action?

Here are some random thoughts,

  • I completely agree that rape and other forms of sexual violence are a crime against humanity, and need to be judged as such.
  • I also agree that the Church has much to answer for after decades of cover-ups, denials, and shuffling around of abusive priests.
  • Pondering history, I wonder how the Church would have fared post Crusade and Inquisition times if there had been an International Court at the time.
  • I`m puzzled at my own reaction to this story. On the one hand, I`m saddened to see my Church being equated with countries that have committed some of the worst horrors of our time. On the other hand, part of me is eager to see true accountability for the wide spread rapes committed by clergy around the world.
  • I find it interesting that American lawyers are eager to prosecute Church leaders through an International Criminal Court which is not supported by its own government.
I`d love to hear your own thoughts….random or not!

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