Wed, 28. July 2010
The Hollow Men
The Macarthur Chronicle reports: In a heartfelt and candid pastoral letter, read or watched on DVD in all churches across the Macarthur region, Southern Highlands, Illawarra and Shoalhaven on July 17, Bishop of Wollongong Peter Ingham admitted the leadership of the Catholic Church failed parishioners in the diocese by its tardiness to address child sexual abuse at the hands of clergy and lay members. The church was committed to the protection of children and young people and and was “not sweeping anything under the carpet”.
"Heartfelt and candid?" If is was heartfelt it would have been done years ago. If it was candid, it would have told the whole truth. Let's be honest, the recent spate of hollow 'pastoral apologies' for the actions of numerous paedophile priests are too little too late to have any credibility. They have only begun to appear after many years of covering up by the church hierarchy were exposed - and I doubt if they would be occurring now if the church 'cover up culture' had not begun to crack open.
"Failed parishioners?" The epidemic of apologies to victims by Mr. Ingham, Mr. Pell, Mr. Ratzinger and their contempories are clearly aimed at preventing the church's flock from fleeing the church. They will remain hollow apologies until they hand over every bit of information at their disposal - on all known and suspected paedophile priests - to the local police and demand that they be prosecuted. They will remain hollow as long as the Vatican harbours a transgressor inside it's protected 'state boundaries.' They will remain hollow until they themselves admit their own disgraceful roles in the cover up.
“not sweeping anything under the carpet?" The Catholic Church has been given a free ride on this scandalous issue by governments world-wide and no less so here in Australia. Only a church would be allowed by governments to get away with covering up multiple crimes. No organisation other than a religious one would permit their staff or members to repeatedly trangress the law and remain as employees.
Only priests would be allowed by governments to get away with so much paedophile activity with so few prosecutions. Only bishops and cardinals would be exempt from prosecution after obstructing justice. Child care professionals outside the religious sector would be reported and dealt with harshly, with full public support. Why are churches and religious practicioners regarded as above the law?