Joe O

You speak of armchair experts….as if you have some inside feeling on the lifelong pain and life changing experiences of the abused innocent children (now adults) by by those representing the RC church organization.

I see your pain is the loss of image (I dare to say respect) for a church you put much trust in . Your challenge is to rise from the ashes of something you were likely not a party to and to be Christian enough not to put your frustration on those wronged, the abused. For their pain and impact from this abuse is broad and a lifelong curse for them. As a committed Christian, I expect you would be more humble and caring than that.

You seem comforted to dwell in the financial reparations grudgingly (only after legal suites were filed) paid by parishioners (guided by the RC organization) for the crimes committed by those in the service of the RC organization. Maybe you got suckered by the only part of the RC organization that could have intervened and made a difference to stop the shameful unchristian activity and did not knowingly do so….Well that is your internal RC cross to bear, not mine. (I chose to turn my back on it, remember)?

I often say to my children, saying sorry is easy and not enough. It rings hollow if you do not show that you understand what was done was wrong, proactively make reparations to those wronged and ensure them that that measures are in place to ensure it will not happen again. How does the RC church measure up to that elementary standard? To me it is a failing grade.

Why do I reject your analogy of incest in a family verses sexual abuse in a corporation? There a multitude of family structures, many healthy and functional, some less so, and others totally dysfunctional. A family is a small closed unit with limited resources to deal with problems occuring. But, a cooperation, like the catholic church, has a diversity of members, is open in structure and has a multitude of resources and finances to deal with complex issues….if it chooses to deal with them.

I realize the Vatican has promoted analogies with the family unit, to explain away responsibility for the RC sexual abuse. It may work and be comforting for you, but not for me.

Here are a few simple measures to put this sad era behind the Rc church and to start over:

1) Recognize the wrong that was committed and fix the problem Seek credible and independent help to root out those who abused. Do this in an open, public manner, not behind closed doors.
2) Do not dwell on the costs of repairing damages done by those in your organization.
3) Reach out to the victims and spare no expense to heal them and their families.
4) Recognize that sexual abuse at youth often has a deep impact on those abused, on their mental health and on their relationships with family and loved ones. Reach out in a Christian and charitable way to help those impacted to make them healthy and healed. Offer and pay for professional help.
5) Do not put those abused through the a legal system that puts them through the pain again.