Posted on 06/20/2004 7:50:15 PM PDT by NeoCaveman
The Los Angeles Times reports on a new "study" by Church critics who say they have scoured ancient Vatican records and forgotten Latin texts to show that "the Church has recognized the problem of abuse by priests for at least 1,700 years." In the fourth century, for example, St. Basil of Caesarea set up a detailed system of punishment to deal with clerics at his monastery who molested boys. Perpetrators were to be flogged and put in chains for six months; they were never again allowed unsupervised interaction with minors.
"In the 13th century," continues the report, "Pope Gregory IX added to church law a declaration that sexual abuse demanded expulsion from the priesthood and that perpetrators would be turned over to secular authorities. Canonical History lists 58 high-level documents dealing with sexual misconduct of the clergy — from books by saints to papal decrees to declarations by church councils — as evidence."
One landmark document, published by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741, made it easier to punish priests who solicited sex during confession in exchange for absolution, notes the newspaper. The tone of the document showed "significant sensitivity to the spiritual damage done to solicited penitents," the authors wrote.
The study, authored by a North Carolina priest and two former monks who live in Southern California, says that to guarantee that Church legislation was widely known, the Pope went so far as to order it posted on the doors of churches in Rome -- including St. Peter's Basilica. It was even in the city's market.
"Those rules became part of the canon law studied by twentieth-century priests and stayed in force until 1962, when Vatican officials opted for a more secretive process," says The Times. "In that year, Pope John XXIII approved the publication of a procedure that instructed bishops to require those involved in the investigations, including the accuser and witnesses, to take vows of secrecy. Even the 1962 document itself was to be kept by bishops in their secret archives, and they were ordered not to discuss it."
The rest, as they say, is history.
Christe elison.
Yes I know (now) that I misspelled in my previous post.
The study, authored by a North Carolina priest and two former monks who live in Southern California, says that to guarantee that Church legislation was widely known, the Pope went so far as to order it posted on the doors of churches in Rome -- including St. Peter's Basilica. It was even in the city's market.
Of course there have always been problems, that is the result of our wounded nature but atleast there were better ways of dealing it pre-62
This "document" was debunked by John Allen in NCR some months ago. I'll find it in the archives tomorrow.
Well if John Allen of the National antiCatholc Reporter said so it must be true.... (/sarcasm)
No mean feat, either, to prove a negative.
I wonder how one goes about "debunking" an assertion that a secret document existed.
Will we ever reach the end of of Pope XXIII's stupid decisions. His pontificate, once again, has proven to be a watershed for evil and damage to the Church.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.