The Scandal Driving the Church Sex Scandal

American Thinker ^ | April 01, 2010 | Selwyn Duke

[neverdem]

We've all heard the story. Hundreds of young sexual abuse victims long afraid to come forward for fear of embarrassment and scorn, abusers escaping prosecution and quietly moving to different jurisdictions, authorities covering up the crimes to avoid scandal and litigation. It's a saga of grave, grave sin.

Of course, you would assume that I'm talking about the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal.

And you would be wrong.

I'm describing the situation in America's schools -- something that, although mirroring the problems dogging the Church, is strangely ignored.

Let's examine the similarities using statistics from the United States. According to the John Jay Report, 10,667 people made allegations of child sexual abuse (not all were substantiated) committed by priests between 1950 and 2002; according to an AP investigation, at least 1,801 educators committed sexual misconduct involving minors between 2001 and 2005. So the per annum tally is:

Number of people making allegations against priests - 205

Criminal educators - 360

Now, since it's logical to assume that numerous individuals made accusations against the same priests, the number of clerical transgressors is no doubt less than 205. Yet even if we use the 205 figure, the number of offenders appears to be approximately 76 percent greater among educators. But that doesn't even begin to tell the whole story.

While it's obvious that a certain percentage of cases must have gone unreported in both education and the Church, the latter has been subjected to intense media scrutiny while the former has remained off the radar screen. Thus, it's reasonable to assume that the percentage is higher in education. As to this, the AP tells us about a Congress-mandated study placing the number of students sexually abused by an education worker at some point between kindergarten and 12^th grade at 4.5 million. Furthermore, the AP found that most of this sexual abuse is never reported and that even when it does come to light, often no action is taken.

Of course, the other side of the coin is that the number of teachers nationwide is greater than that of priests, so a raw-numbers analysis may be deceptive. So let's examine the rate. Wapedia reports the following: "A Perspective on Clergy Sexual Abuse by Dr. Thomas Plante of Stanford University and Santa Clara University states that 'available research suggests that approximately 2 to 5% of priests have had a sexual experience with a minor' which ‘is lower than the general adult male population that is best estimated to be closer to 8%.'"

Now let's look within the numbers, at the nature of the abuse and abusers. While we hear a lot of media reports about sultry female teachers seducing young teenage boys, the reality is that almost nine out of ten school offenders are male.It's also true that in the cases of both the Church and the schools, the abuse is, by definition, not pedophilia, as the abused were mainly adolescents, not children.

Here critics may point out that there is a difference: The abuse among priests is mainly homosexual in nature. This is true, but I can't imagine that it would bother the secular left very much. After all, this is the set that for years has maintained that there is a moral equivalence between heterosexual and homosexual behavior and that saying otherwise is bigotry. Unless they're now changing their tune...

Another similarity is the cover-up by school officials, who, as stated earlier, were motivated by the same priorities as the most remiss bishop: a desire to avoid embarrassment, scandal, and punitive court judgments. As an example, the AP presents the story of Gary Lindsey, an Iowa teacher who was fired from his first job for sexual misconduct but then allowed to work elsewhere for about thirty more years. During these decades, Lindsey transgressed against other students, dodging the hangman every time with the complicity of school administration. And his is no isolated case. In fact, the practice of transferring sexual predators is so common that it has become known as "passing the trash," and the abusers have been dubbed "mobile molesters."

Despite this, we currently have trash being passed daily -- it's called media reportage. Why don't we hear stories about people who believe that the schools should be defunded, or that parents should stop sending their children to them (similar things are said about the Church)? Why has the Vatican been placed in the unenviable position of having to defend itself with the "Look, others have the same problems" argument? Why does Rome have to take up the cudgels for itself and point out that its woes just reflect the wider society? It's because the media aren't doing their job.

...That is, at least, what their job should be. What some within the mainstream media see it as being -- to attack traditionalist institutions -- they're doing very well. 

The Church receives such disproportionate scrutiny for the same reason why the media will happily smear Pope Pius XII as a Nazi sympathizer when he was possibly WWII's greatest hero and why they paint the Crusades as imperialistic wars when they were but a defense against Muslim aggression: The media views the Church as an enemy. They despise its teachings on abortion, the all-male priesthood, and, in particular, sexuality. You see, if the schools taught such things, then they too would surely be in the crosshairs. But their embrace of all the left's favorite isms grants them great immunity.   

Now, this might be where I'm supposed to issue the obligatory statement about how we're all appalled by the sex crimes in question.

But it's not really true.

And what comes to mind is late Massachusetts congressman Gerry Studds. In 1983, it was revealed that he had had sexual relations with a 17-year-old male page, which, as ephebophilia (attraction to older adolescents), is precisely that of which many transgressing priests are guilty. And what was his punishment?

The liberals in his district reelected him six more times until his retirement in 1996.

By the way, some may point out that Studds' behavior was legal, as the age of consent in Washington, D.C. was 16. Of these people, I would ask: Are you equally charitable with priests who had "legal" relationships with teenage boys?

Then there is serial sex criminal Alfred Kinsey, the bug researcher-cum-human sexuality "expert" who ran a pedophile ring disguised as a research team. If you read the piece I wrote about him (and trust me, this one is worth the time), you'll find that his research included things such as encouraging pedophiles to continue committing crimes so that he could collect more "data." Yet there has never been a hue and cry for a pound of flesh from the Kinsey Institute; the University of Indiana in Bloomington, where the deviant plied his trade; or Paul Gebhard, a still-living Kinsey co-author and partner in crime. On the contrary, the left not only defends Kinsey, but it even lauded him in a whitewashed 2004 film.                   

So do the Church's critics really care about sexual abuse? Some do, for sure. But there's no doubt that many of those using the issue to attack the Church do not. And "using" is the key word. If they truly cared about sexual abuse of youth, they would take pains to emphasize that it isn't limited to the priesthood. Oh, I'm not saying that they would necessarily do this to defend the Church; they would do it to truly expose the problem. Instead, they're simply interested in exposing the Church to ridicule, and to this end, they use these abuse victims as a convenient vehicle through which to attack a hated adversary. This is typical of the left, which makes a practice of using people as human shields, props, and political hammers.

Of course, crimes against innocence are abhorrent, and those committing them should be rooted out wherever and whoever they may be. Likewise, those who knowingly and negligently facilitate their abuse must be punished harshly, and the incompetent should lose their positions. But this just states the obvious. If we really want to move toward a more sexually sane society -- get at the root causes, as it were -- then we must delve more deeply. 

We can argue about facts and figures. We can debate whether sexual trespass is worse in schools or in churches, and many will, no doubt, try to make the case that the secular world is a safer place. But of this there is no doubt: The social phenomena making us a more libertine and morally unmoored civilization are the handiwork of the left.

It was not the Church that sexualized society with Kinseyesque sex miseducation and prurient messages everywhere -- in movies, shows, music and on the Internet. That was leftist academia, Hollywood, and their brothers in porn. It was not the Church that expanded the First Amendment to include protection of obscene imagery. That was leftist judges. It was not the Church that spread moral relativism and its corollary, "If it feels good, do it," an idea that can find pedophilia no worse than peanut butter. That was leftist philosophers and the millions who wanted freedom to sin. It was not the Church that, reducing man to mere beast, found a basis for his behavior in the animal kingdom. That was leftist anthropologists and their acolytes. And it was not the Church that first subordinated punishment to "rehabilitation" and subscribed to slap-on-the-wrist pseudo-justice. That was leftist psychology. Of course, insofar as the Church has allowed itself to become infected with the spirit of the age, it is culpable. But know that it is the infected, not the infection.

As for the cure, the Church has done much in recent times to root out sexual abuse -- far more than the schools. Even closer to the point, its teachings provide necessary guide rails for man's sexuality. Yet critics call this age-old wisdom "antiquated." The left obviously prefers to take its lead from the Kinsey Distorts, Hugh Hefner, and Hollywood. But if the pleasure principle is going to be our master, then we shouldn't wonder why we're taking our children on a field trip through Caligula's court.

Contact Selwyn Duke

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The Roman Catholic Church is becoming more and more dear to me as it is attacked again and again.

Just like with Joseph and his brothers, the world may wish evil on the RCC for its own nefarious purposes, but the Lord means for this convicting light to be good.

My enemy's enemy is not always my friend.

If it took Obama's vile HC to facilitate the truth to come out about the papacy, so be it.

However a more realistic way to look at this situation is that much of the media has been complicit in keeping a lid on this scandal for decades.

But watch and see. This, too, will evaporate. And very little will change.

[HarleyD]

The Roman Catholic Church is becoming more and more dear to me as it is attacked again and again....Again, Satan is attacking conservative Christians in whatever denomination and trying to rout them.

This is nothing new. Those who wish to live a godly life will face persecution. Christians and (true)Christianity has always faced attacks.

That being said, Christians also are fully capable of self inflicted wounds. We can't feel sorry for ourselves when the world attacks us for when we have evil in our mist. We are told in the scriptures that we are to set an example and be set apart.

It is our task, therefore, to afford to all an opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings, lest, on account of those who are accustomed to be ignorant of our affairs, we should incur the penalty due to them for mental blindness; (4) and it is your business, when you hear us, to be found, as reason demands, good judges. For if, when ye have learned the truth, you do not what is just, you will be before God without excuse. - Justin Martyr

Your pity is misplaced.

[Lorica]

Thank you.

[Quix]

In this era, there will be MORE change . . .

from worse to worse.

Evil is getting darker and darker and more and more wide spread.

Thankfully, God will raise up a Standard against it.

[Quix]

INDEED.

[little jeremiah]

Nailed it.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I wonder what the agenda is of a seven year old rape victim?

Exactly. The RCC would prefer to blame the victims than look for the malignancy within.

The core of the problem cannot be fixed -- the RCC believes its priestcraft to be "another Christ" - an "alter Christus."

Thus, this special class of humanity is "entitled" to whatever it desires.

And it's ludicrous to believe the Roman Catholic church is "conservative." Left or right, the RCC is grounded in the top-down hierarchy of Roman Catholic social justice theory which is the antithesis of what founded this country and has sustained it for 200 years -- individual initiative and Scripture as the final authority for men's conscience.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Amen. If we don’t see the opposition clearly, we’re more likely to succumb to its error.

[Quix]

Far too true in to many areas on too many issues for too many individuals.

Sigh.

[count-your-change]

Policy has trumped principle, The interests of the hierarchy are thus equated precisely with God’s interests.

So what’s a few children placed in the hands of homosexuals if a “greater good” is served?

[xzins]

We can't feel sorry for ourselves when the world attacks us for when we have evil in our midst....your pity is misplaced.

I disagree on biblical grounds. Jesus said that the enemy would sow tares amidst the wheat AND that removing them will be a job completed at the end times.

I am an ordained Methodist elder with decades of experience in that hierarchy as well as the US Army hierarchy. I know organizational systems as well as the next guy, I think.

It has taught me that those who practice their Christianity in a non-hierarchical denomination really have ZERO idea about the issues at hand. (Mind you, I think a "connected" Christianity (hierarchy) is the legitimate Biblical interpretation of Church structure.)

Likewise, I believe in the Church Invisible comprised of ALL true believers of all time. Every sincere believer in Christ, no matter the denomination or nation, is a brother or sister of mine.

So, allow me to repeat my position: Tares among wheat with churches having hierarchies that ALSO will have tares. Satan's purpose is obvious. He wishes to discredit, damage the wheat in any manner that he can.

In this argument, I will stand with my CONSERVATIVE Roman Catholic, pro-life brothers and sisters. In fact, in this argument, I am a CONSERVATIVE Roman Catholic.

The timing of these attacks on Catholicism is related to Catholicism's standing for life. It shows me the reason that darkness wants to discredit this field of wheat at this particular time. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..."

[HiTech RedNeck]

As to this, the AP tells us about a Congress-mandated study placing the number of students sexually abused by an education worker at some point between kindergarten and 12th grade at 4.5 million.

Well, find this incredibly busy education worker and kick him out!

Some quick googling (so sue me google) comes up with recent numbers of 6.8 million teachers in the USA and 408,000 Catholic priests in the world. Project those numbers per capita and the teachers don't look quite so bad.

[lentulusgracchus]

Thus, this special class of humanity is "entitled" to whatever it desires.

I've never heard that in all my years. You talking to seminary gays?

And it's ludicrous to believe the Roman Catholic church is "conservative." Left or right, the RCC is grounded in the top-down hierarchy of Roman Catholic social justice theory which is the antithesis of what founded this country and has sustained it for 200 years ....

The Church has been "conservative" in the same way that American conservatives have always been the 18th- and 19th-century "liberals". And yes, the Church has opposed several of the beliefs that underlie American political theory. They are quite conservative that way.

Hence the Monroe Doctrine, by which the young U.S. entered into a collaboration with Great Britain to frustrate the tripartite Hapsburg-Romanoff-papal alliance outlined in the secret codicils of the Treaty of Vienna, which pledged the Catholic (and Orthodox) powers which defeated Napoleon to oppose liberalism (Jeffersonianism) in the New World and help preserve Spain's godly New World Empire, for the good of men's souls. (As they saw it.)

[Running On Empty]

Thanks for this post and also for your post #40.

Your decades of experience has profitted you well and have given you the gracious simplicity of wisdom.

[HarleyD]

I disagree on biblical grounds. Jesus said that the enemy would sow tares amidst the wheat AND that removing them will be a job completed at the end times.

If these are tares in the Church, then they are to be cast out. If they are Christians, then they are to be reprimanded. They are not suppose to be shuffled to another job somewhere. I thought it was with some irony that Justin Martyr talked about sexual immorality with children in the letter I referenced.

I would suggest there are many biblical examples of Christians-not tares-being lax in their behavior. A case in point is the Corinthians who seemed to excuse the behavior of a man committing sexual immorality with his father's wife. (I Cor 5) Paul was pretty upset Christians were arrogant about the matter rather than mournful. We are to be the light of the world, ambassadors for Christ, holy and blameless. We are not to ignore (and excuse) bad behavior within the church. We are to act upon it.

While I'm very familiar with hierarchies having been in a number of them myself, this is one of the reasons I don't believe the early church was structure under a hierarchical system. Hierarchical systems lend themselves early to corruption. When the hierarchy votes to recognize gays to marry or women to preach, what are you going to do? Wmfights has often brought up many excellent arguments why the early churches were individually run. It's our Baptist nature.

As far as the timing of these attacks, I'd say bring them on. Our God is mighty and fully capable of anything puny man can throw at us. But if it is God's will that we perish, then so be it. We will not bow down to their satanic visions. However, just like Joshua found out at Ai, we cannot go into battle if we have sin among our mist. Keep in mind that abortion in the church mirrors secular society. We need to repent and cleanse ourselves.

[xzins]

I would suggest there are many biblical examples of Christians-not tares-being lax in their behavior. A case in point is the Corinthians who seemed to excuse the behavior of a man committing sexual immorality with his father's wife. (I Cor 5) Paul was pretty upset Christians were arrogant about the matter rather than mournful.

This is an excellent scripture, but you do recall that Paul was willing to make an attempt to redeem the individual in question. If I recall 2 Corinthians correctly, Paul's gambit paid off. The man repented.

Now, I think that the statistical data is irrefutable that there is so little success (none) in rehabbing certain varieties of sex offenders that it MUST become policy that they be totally removed from any position of authority or ministry within the church. There must be no return ever to such a position. If ordained, they must be stripped of their orders. Forever. They must have their bodies "turned over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh that their spirits may be saved in the Day of the Lord." And if some of them truly repent, then so much the better. But they must never, ever be restored to authority/ministry. Ever.

My denomination also has a very involved system with the "rights of defendants" identical to those in our US justice system. In short, it's virtually impossible to convict anyone of anything short of a video showing them in the act. This does carry protection of the individual in church matters a bit too far. We must not entertain accusations against elders on the testimony of one witness, but we also must allow reasonable accusations to see the light of day and receive a fair hearing.

It is just as important to protect the sheepfold as it is to protect members from false accusation.

[Running On Empty]

“Paul’s gambit paid off. The man repented.”

I have thought often as I have read on this thread, and the many like it:

“Where evil aboundeth, grace aboundeth more.”

“Though your sins be as scarlet...”

I pray that heaven will be rejoicing more at the return of one back to God and that this will come about because of the prayers of 99 other righteous men.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The timing of these attacks on Catholicism is related to Catholicism's standing for life.

Your ecumenicism is clouding your judgment, IMO. The "timing" of these accusations are a distant second to the preeminent question -- are these valid accusations or not?

these attacks on Catholicism

Attacks on Catholicism? We're not talking about criticizing an organization for impertinence or a lack of Biblical clarity. We're talking about sexual molestation of children that either did or did not occur. The only "attacks" here are those perpetrated on children by pederast priests.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

In fact, in this argument, I am a CONSERVATIVE Roman Catholic.

What in the world are you talking about? No one is denying Roman Catholics the right to worship as they please. "In this argument" we're talking about pedophilia in the Roman Catholic church where the labels of conservative/liberal don't even enter into the discussion.

What's really happening is that the media has always been complicit in the decades-long cover-up of this pedophilia scandal, and now, for several reasons, the scandal is permitted to see the light of day. So the story gets signified. Now we're supposed to know about it.

But the story has always been there.

[HarleyD]

Now, I think that the statistical data is irrefutable that there is so little success (none) in rehabbing certain varieties of sex offenders that it MUST become policy that they be totally removed from any position of authority or ministry within the church. There must be no return ever to such a position.

If that is the case then the Catholic Church is totally wrong in returning these pedeophile priests to even different positions. I'm sorry but I can't identify with this inexcusable behavior of the hierarcy of the Church. In my opinion, it is a poor reflection on the Church for this article to try to excuse the Church by saying society is just as bad.

We must not entertain accusations against elders on the testimony of one witness, but we also must allow reasonable accusations to see the light of day and receive a fair hearing.

While it is important we treat Christians "fairly", the Bible is also clear that we must be blameless before the world. If it happens that we suffer injustice then that is OK and Paul tells us that we should just accept it (1 Cor 6:7). At some point the books will be squared.

The Church/church of our Lord Jesus should not mirror society. Rather it should show to the world that it DOES have a different message and that God DOES changes lives if we confess our sins and ask the Lord Jesus to cleanse us. How can Christians possibly carry forth this true message when so many of us are running around living our lives just like everyone else? Christianity is the ONLY religion that promises that God WILL change our hearts if we let Him. But I sincerely doubt you'd find 50% of the Christians today working out the faith with "fear and trembling". We sure make things difficult for God. It's a wonder that anyone comes to Christ for forgiveness and healing.

Christians who want to sin should be sat in a corner until they ask God for forgiveness. Tares in the church who fail to bear fruit should be kicked out until they "bear the fruit of repentence".

The primary difference between society and the church, is that the church acknowledges they are sinners before God. When the church fails to acknowledge our sins and ask forgiveness, then there is no distinction.