Canon Law and False Abuse Allegations, Part II

As we all know, in far too many cases in years past, priests were accused of sexual abuse by genuine victims—and these crimes were simply swept under the rug, by church officials who eschewed their God-given responsibility to take appropriate action. This is an established, ugly fact that is not up for debate! It’s true that there’s often more than one legitimate way for an ecclesiastical superior to deal with these problems; but doing nothing, preferring to ignore the issue in the hope that it will simply go away, never has been or will be an option, ever. Note that this is the reason why bishops and religious superiors are now obliged to contact the CDF in Rome—the Vatican wants to make sure that such horrific crimes are no longer ignored at the local level. One occasionally encounters diocesan officials who complain about Rome’s “interference” in their affairs; but the undeniable fact is, Rome wouldn’t have found it necessary to interfere at all, if local church officials had been doing their jobs properly in the first place!

...this is the reason why bishops and religious superiors are now obliged to contact the CDF in Rome—the Vatican wants to make sure that such horrific crimes are no longer ignored at the local level. One occasionally encounters diocesan officials who complain about Rome’s “interference” in their affairs; but the undeniable fact is, Rome wouldn’t have found it necessary to interfere at all, if local church officials had been doing their jobs properly in the first place!

Ping for later.

...while less than five percent of American priests have been accused of sexual abuse, some two-thirds of our bishops were apparently complicit in cover-ups...When you read how bishops -- even those of impeccable orthodoxy -- were willing to overlook the seduction of altar boys, to squirm away from responsible leadership, it's much easier to understand their typical response to complaints from the laity (or from Rome) of liturgical or catechetical problems. Men who've practiced decades of denial concerning serial abusers like Boston's Paul Shanley, closing ranks with fellow clergy addicted to sex with teenage boys against the "threat" posed by the laity, found it easy to shrug off "trivialities" like heresy and sacrilege.
-- from the thread Kneeling Before The World

The Catholic hierarchy has failed to remove the enablers of abusive priests, those who knew what was happening and refused to act. That makers them sharers in the crime.
Paul Shanley was given a letter of recommendation even after it was well known he was an active homosexual and abuser.

But kicking some old priest into the street is easier than kicking an archbishop out of his mansion.

"As we all know, in far too many cases in years past,As we all know, in far too many cases in years past,..."

One case is too many, but that a failing of individuals and not an indictment of the Church or its teachings. Human nature is flawed and fallen so no one should be surprised or shocked that institutions comprised of humans will have consequential problems. Among the 12 hand picked by Jesus were a traitor, a serial denier, and a doubter. St. Paul too spoke of the thorn in his flesh and the evil that he repeatedly did. The Church is a hospital for sinners as much as a school for saints. It's mission is ordered to redemption of sinners, forgiveness of sins, and unconditional love for all. In most cases the errors you cite are aligned to that calling. Are you the one without sin that Jesus referred to? Shall we too judge the legitimacy of all of Christianity by the sinful acts of all Christians?

Peace be with you

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