Pope speaks out about sex abuse scandals

Associated Press ^ | March 21, 2002 | By VICTOR L. SIMPSON - Associated Press Writer

[MeekOneGOP]

	Posted on Thu, Mar. 21, 2002
	Pope speaks out about sex abuse scandals By VICTOR L. SIMPSON Associated Press Writer VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II on Thursday broke his silence on the sex abuse cases rocking the Roman Catholic Church, saying the "grave scandal" was casting a "dark shadow of suspicion" over all priests. In an annual message to priests worldwide, the pope said "as priests we are personally and profoundly afflicted by the sins of some of our brothers who have betrayed the grace of ordination." He said they had succumbed "to the most grievous forms" of what he called, using the Latin phrase, "mystery of evil." "Grave scandal is caused, with the result that a dark shadow of suspicion is cast over all the other fine priests who perform their ministry with honesty and integrity and often with heroic self-sacrifice," the pope said. John Paul said the Church "shows her concern for the victims and strives to respond in truth and justice to each of these painful situations." It was the first time the pope publicly addressed the issue since widescale accusations of sexual misconduct by priests surfaced in the United States in recent months. The accusations have led to the resignation of one bishop, from Palm Beach, Fla., and tarnished the reputation of Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston for failing to take action against a child-molesting priest. The problem has worldwide implications for the Church. In January, the Catholic Church in Ireland agreed to a landmark $110 million payment to children abused by clergy over decades. More than 20 priests, brothers and nuns have been convicted of molesting children. Sexual abuse cases involving cover-ups have also been reported in England, France and Australia, among other countries. John Paul has been described as particularly saddened by sexual harassment allegations leveled against the archbishop of Poznan in the pope's native Poland. Archbishop Juliusz Paetz, who worked with John Paul at the Vatican and was sent by him to Poland in 1982, denied the allegations in a letter read in parishes last Sunday. For years, the Vatican viewed such reports as attempts to discredit the church or as part of an orchestrated campaign against celibacy. At a Vatican news conference to present the pope's letter, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos said John Paul was "supportive" of bishops and priests in dioceses shaken by the scandal. But he refused to answer specific questions about the sex scandal, reading a written statement that defended the Church's efforts to uphold morality and punish wrongdoers within their ranks. He cited a study showing that 3 percent of American clergymen had the "tendency" to abuse minors and that 0.3 percent were pedophiles. He said there were no comparative studies for other categories "including parents and relatives."

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© 2001 startelegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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[ThomasMore]

Christ teaches that all are worthy of forgiveness (providing, of course, the penitence is paid).

That's the whole idea of excommunication. It is to "shake up" the one who has already excommunicated himself from the body of Christ in and through his behavior. One can repent of his sin and be recieved back into the body. Bishop Reginald Cawcutt (sp?) of South Africa is a good example of a bishop preaching and living heresy. For his actions, statements and lifestyle, (which are totally contradictory to the gospel), he should be one of the first to go. I remember viewing a site called "St. Sebastian's Angels", of which he took part. It was blatant homosexual porn for priests".

I am so bummed over this. The good in the church will suffer dearly for this.

[ThomasMore]

The issue is that Church leaders have too long kept their heads in the sand and hoped the problem would go away

They also haven't faced the REAL problem.

Homosexuality in the priesthood. The last five years has been an eyeopener for me. The church needs to clean house of active homosexuals.

[SuziQ]

He cited a study showing that 3 percent of American clergymen had the "tendency" to abuse minors and that 0.3 percent were pedophiles.
This is very valuable information! Does anyone know where to find the cited study? The numbers sound approximately right to me.

The media has made this out to be a much more widespread problem than it is. Don't get me wrong, if this leads to better screening of seminary candidates and more oversight by the Bishops of the Dioceses it will be a good thing. And the Bishops have to get rid of the more liberal members of Vocations Boards who have been systematically trying to get rid of the more 'orthodox' candidates in favor of those who fit their (the libs) idea of a 'good priest'; one who will be loosey goosey with Church teachings in order to change the Church from within. If that happens, it will be the best thing to happen for the Church in a long time!

Sometimes the healing process is painful, but we know that God is in charge, and if we are faithful, things will come out better after the hurt.

I loved Ann Coulter's column mentioning that the RATE of priest abuse (total numbers of priest compared to victims) is about the same as abuse among the faculty at Yale. But we don't hear the media screaming for 'changes' at Yale, do we?

[wideawake]

Canon law requires that candidates for the priesthood be "sound in mind and body".

Homosexuality is, according to the Church's moral teaching "intrinsically disordered".

Homosexuality is a mental/emotional defect that cannot be tolerated in an ordinand.

[THEUPMAN]

doe snot ????

[ThomasMore]

The seminaries need to be cleaned out as well.

A close friend of mine just left seminary because of the rampant homosexual activity that is going on there. When he told me the intimacies, I was shocked and disgusted. This might well be the first place to begin. The issue is critical in the "Orders". I was told by another friend who was eventually ordained as a diocesan priest, that it is the "exception" in many of the "orders" to be straight.

[LouD]

Couldn't help yourself, could you?

Any opportunity to attack Catholicism, huh?

Your attack on all priests based on the misdeeds of a few is offensive, just like referring to Catholics as "mackeral snappers" as you did on another thread.

What an *sshole...

[american colleen]

"I am so bummed over this. The good in the church will suffer dearly for this. "

Ditto, except the good are already suffering greatly over this and have been for some time. We just didn't know the magnitude of evil within the Church until now.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"...costing the Church big bucks."

Other scandals which have and do cost the Church losses in contributions from loyal Catholics:

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Can Jesus Get into Georgetown?

The Case for Apostasy: Fr. McBrien's "Why I Shall Not Seek a Mandate"

President of NOW Speaks at Loyola

[ThomasMore]

Homosexuality is a mental/emotional defect that cannot be tolerated in an ordinand.

Joaquin Navaro-Valls (sp?) said something very interesting recently, that I read in "Our Sunday Visitor". He said this could be grounds to possibly annul the ordination. I don't know what this really means theologically, but you know the Vatican is looking into something.

[shadowman99]

The Roman Catholic Church is 2000 years old. It has been tested before, it is being tested now, and it will be tested again. In the end, faith is in your heart, and no small minority of priest should take that from you.

[ThomasMore]

We just didn't know the magnitude of evil within the Church until now.

That's an understatement! But it is becoming more apparent. And the domino effect is about to happen. Bishop Reginald Cawcutt of South Africa, an openly active gay, said that if Ratzinger puts the hammer down, he will begin an exposition that will rock the church.

[wideawake]

An ordination can never be undone, but an individual can be stripped of any jurisdiction to exercise priestly functions and therefore be permanently laicized.

The reason why a marriage can be annulled is because the ministers of the sacrament of marriage are not the priest (who merely stands as the Church's witness) but the two baptized Christians who contract the marriage by their vows.

If one of them never truly intended to enter into a Christian marriage, then there never was a marriage and the sacrament never took place.

In the case of ordination, the minister is the bishop and the ordinand is merely a recipient of the sacrament, not a minister. What the bishop accomplishes in the sacrament is ex opere operato, indelible, and cannot be undone

If the ordinand is not a valid candidate (i.e. mentally disfigured by perversion, in this case) then he is guilty of fraud and the Church is justified in removing the benefits of the sacrament from him, including any rights, dignities and duties accruing to the priesthood, without appeal.

[wideawake]

Good, let Cawcutt rock the Church before he goes off to his eternal punishment.

There's no disinfectant like sunlight and fresh air. If all of Cawcutt's compatriots are exposed, their church-wrecking plans will be destroyed.

[sinkspur]

I loved Ann Coulter's column mentioning that the RATE of priest abuse (total numbers of priest compared to victims) is about the same as abuse among the faculty at Yale. But we don't hear the media screaming for 'changes' at Yale, do we?

Faculty members at Yale don't have the trust of Catholic youth, nor are they entrusted with changing bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

The helping professions are all subject to being abused by predators, but, once discovered, moving them into a new position as some bishops have done is inexcusable.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"...magnitude of evil"/"...exposition that will rock the Church."

I knew there was a "magnitude of evil" in the Church at least twenty years ago, but this curious allusion to "an exposition that will rock the Church" may be revealing. Ah...oh yes...ahem...WHO do you think is behind this most ominous and banal threat? I smell a familiar odor here...Time to fumigate, please.

[Hat-Trick]

In the end, faith is in your heart, and no small minority of priest should take that from you.

Amen! When we place our faith and trust in men, buildings, and organizations, they will always fail and disappoint us. Jesus never will.

Hat-Trick

[ThomasMore]

Thanks for the explanation!

[End Times Sentinel]

…the Bishops have to get rid of the more liberal members of Vocations Boards who have been systematically trying to get rid of the more 'orthodox' candidates in favor of those who fit their (the libs) idea of a 'good priest'; one who will be loosey goosey with Church teachings in order to change the Church from within.

…the RATE of priest abuse (total numbers of priest compared to victims) is about the same as abuse among the faculty at Yale. But we don't hear the media screaming for 'changes' at Yale, do we?.

Perfectly and most logically stated! Thank you!

The Church has a VERY set and established Canon Law. It must be accepted as a whole, not in parcel. There are no “pro-choice Catholics” or (practicing)”Gay Catholics”. If this doesn’t meet to one’s liking, go find a Church that more accurately reflects your views. Do so knowing that you’ve placed yourself above the teachings of The Church too and that you’ll probably have to try to ‘splain this on Judgment Day. Do not try to change The Church to Reflect your perversions. Catholicism is not a democracy.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Robert Drobot]

Your Post # 18 is possible only for the reason of 'local' control by the congregation. An oversight responsibility the Church hasn't, until now, given parishioners. A limited role by parishioners could be created to expand communication within the Church, and could save the Church millions of dollars in settlement expenses in addition to protecting it from the worst of media innuendo.