The Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church: A History of Reform
The sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church has been a recurring issue for decades. It involves a priest who abuses children and a bishop who fails to immediately remove him from contact with children. This article will explore the history of the crisis, the reforms that have been implemented, and the ongoing efforts to prevent future abuse.
The Boston Globe's Revelation
On January 6th, 2002, the Boston Globe published the story of Father John Gigan, who had abused more than 130 children over 30 years. Boston Cardinal Bernard Law believed that the problem could be solved by moving him to a new parish after abuse cases. So, John Gigan was transferred to half a dozen parishes. At each new parish, parents complained to the archdiocese. Gigan's case triggered a wave of complaints against other American bishops who had also put avoidance of scandal above the protection of children.
The Pope's Response
The pope summoned all American cardinals to the Vatican to brief him on the sexual abuse scandals. He stated that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young. These words changed history. The bishops would have to remove the rotten apple in the basket before it tainted the rest of the church.
The Dallas Charter
After meeting at the Vatican, all the American bishops met in Dallas and signed a document titled "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." They proposed that it should be mandatory for the bishop to report abuse to the authorities and to expel the priest after the first offense against a minor. For these to become mandatory rules for the bishops, authorization from the Vatican was needed. American bishops traveled to Rome to negotiate a formula that would allow them to immediately remove guilty priests.
The One Strike and You're Out Policy
Some senior Vatican officials thought that these aggressive policies, the so-called "one strike and you're out" policy, is what the church needed. Others were quite opposed to it because they felt it's a betrayal of the church's long tradition of canon law, which does not use one size fits-all penalties. Only one cardinal fully supported the determination of the four American bishops: the prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, Joseph Ratzinger. His support was critical in getting what they proposed.
The Essential Norms
The American bishops proposed not just a set of policies but actual binding norms under Church law. They came to Rome to get the approval for them, which is technically called a "recogo." After a bit of back and forth, that recogo was granted. So that by 2002, we didn't just have a climate of goodwill or a sort of gentleman's commitment to doing this right. We had binding law that bishops were obliged to follow. As a result, the proposals became the essential norms, the essential rules that every American bishop had to follow.
Expelling Guilty Priests
The norms were adopted on December 8th, 2002. From that moment on, the United States began expelling guilty priests. Several bishops who had not aggressively dealt with the problem went into early retirement. On March 19, 2010, Benedict XVI wrote a long letter to the Catholics of Ireland on sexual abuse by clergy. In the letter, the pope identified four factors that have worsened this crisis: the poor selection of candidates for the priesthood, insufficient moral and spiritual formation in seminaries, the social tendency to protect clergy, and a mistaken concern for the reputation of the church and to avoid scandals, which leads to a failure to apply the canonical penalties and the failure to safeguard the dignity of the victims as human beings.
A Culture of Protection
For decades, we had a culture in which protecting the good name of the church meant we have to keep this in-house. We had a tribal morality within the clerical club that said that keeping the struggling members of that club afloat is the most important moral duty we've got. Which meant that we forgot about the moral concerns of the children, their parents, their families, the entire church.
A New Climate
Today, the climate is radically different. If there is a credible accusation of abuse against a Catholic priest virtually anywhere in the world, you can take it to the bank that two things are going to happen. One, that guy is going to be removed from ministry by his bishop. And two, that guy is going to be reported to the police. Child abuse is seriously harmful, and unfortunately, as old as humanity. But it is more painful when caused by a person who has dedicated his life to God and serving others. Good intentions are not enough. In places where no cleanup is attempted, the bad apples will continue doing harm to new victims and damaging the image of priests.
The Opportunity for Reform
The Catholic Church has the opportunity to lead an historic revolution. A diocese free of child abuse is a model and first step toward a crime-free society. The reforms that have been implemented are a step in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done. The church must continue to prioritize the protection of children and young people above all else.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The reforms have led to the expulsion of guilty priests.
- The essential norms have become binding law that bishops are obliged to follow.
- The church has the opportunity to lead an historic revolution.
Cons:
- The poor selection of candidates for the priesthood and insufficient moral and spiritual formation in seminaries have worsened the crisis.
- Some senior Vatican officials were opposed to the "one strike and you're out" policy.
- For decades, the church had a culture of protecting the good name of the church at the expense of the victims.
Highlights
- The sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church involves a priest who abuses children and a bishop who fails to immediately remove him from contact with children.
- The Boston Globe's revelation of Father John Gigan's abuse triggered a wave of complaints against other American bishops who had also put avoidance of scandal above the protection of children.
- The American bishops proposed actual binding norms under Church law, which became the essential rules that every American bishop had to follow.
- The Catholic Church has the opportunity to lead an historic revolution by prioritizing the protection of children and young people above all else.
FAQ
Q: What is the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church?
A: The sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church involves a priest who abuses children and a bishop who fails to immediately remove him from contact with children.
Q: What reforms have been implemented?
A: The American bishops proposed actual binding norms under Church law, which became the essential rules that every American bishop had to follow. The reforms have led to the expulsion of guilty priests.
Q: What factors have worsened the crisis?
A: The poor selection of candidates for the priesthood, insufficient moral and spiritual formation in seminaries, the social tendency to protect clergy, and a mistaken concern for the reputation of the church and to avoid scandals, which leads to a failure to apply the canonical penalties and the failure to safeguard the dignity of the victims as human beings.
Q: What is the opportunity for reform?
A: The Catholic Church has the opportunity to lead an historic revolution by prioritizing the protection of children and young people above all else.
Resources:
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