The Tragedy of Priestly Child Abuse
Seldom asked questions concerning the culpability of the Roman Hierarchy
The child abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic church is one of the great tragedies of life. Foremost in the tragic events is the untold damage done to the children who were molested. But in the publicity that has been given to the scandal, this seems to be only a peripheral issue.
Another tragedy is that some Protestants are licking their chops waiting for another priest or better still, an archbishop, to fall. If glossing over the crimes was the correct solution, as the Catholic hierarchy seems to believe was the correct way, it would still not solve the emotional damages done to the innocent.
It would also seem that the Catholic laity has contributed to the crisis. There is a solid majority of Catholics that have determined to be better Catholics because of the scandals. These could be commended were it not for the fact that they have failed to see the real foundational problem.
Others may be thinking seriously about leaving the Church, but if it is not for the correct reason, they will probably soon learn that no human religionist is infallibly correct all the time.
Some have blamed celibacy, and although the Vatican has consistently denied this, one wonders whether priests should take more seriously St. Paul's's admonition, "It is better to marry than to burn." (1 Corinthians 7:9)
Some have blamed homosexuality, and while it is possible to be a chaste homosexual, one wonders how this life style would be recognizable in a celibate state. The priest who said he was a homosexual, but did not practice it because he was celibate is still a mystery to many.
While celibacy and homosexuality have not been found to be absolutely not guilty, there is a more basic fault to be recognized as the real root of the scandal.
The Roman Catholic Church is a hierarchical organization. The word "hierarchy" can only really mean the rule (archy) of the priests (hierus). It is the men in the upper echelon of this hierarchy who must bear much of the responsibility and whose very apparent failure is to blame for the current state of affairs.
Even Pope John Paul II promoted an archbishop who had paid $125,000 in hush money to a young man who had been molested first by his priest, and later by that very archbishop. Other coverups and payments are too numerous to recall in this short article.
Hierarchical failure leads us to examine the authority of the hierarchy. To examine whether this basic structure is biblical we will go to the words of Jesus Christ Himself.
He said in Matthew 20:25, "The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO WITH YOU." (Emphasis added)
Sts. Irenaeus and Ignatius, both of whom said some good things, were wrong in their 2nd century assessment that, in order to survive, the Church needed ruling, or monarchical, bishops. As soon as this disobedience to Jesus Christ was exercised, the basic error was in place.
Jesus Christ had been the Lord of the Church, but he was now being replaced by the Bishop. All of the woes that have befallen the Church can be traced to this initial disobedience.
At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ Himself appointed the One Who would follow Him in His role as Teacher and Leader of the Church. In St. John 14:26, 15:26 and 16:1-11, Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit would be His Vicar. As visible bishops replaced the Lord Jesus, a visible pope assumed the function of Vicar of Christ.
Even religious men are not perfect. The vast majority of Roman Catholic priests have never been indicted for child abuse. But we know that the first word about marriage in the Bible is God's statement, "It is not good for man to be alone." We see that marriage is a normal state for men.
To impress a young man (often a pre-puberty youth) to aspire to the priesthood, and then to make his entrance into what he considers God's best for him only possible if celibacy is adhered to is tragic. To groom the young man in an Augustinian view of the hazards of female friendship compounds the tragedy.
Then to put that man, living in an abnormal lifestyle, in close proximity to boys that have already put him, as a priest, on a pedestal, is to open the floodgates to what we see today.
There are numerous lives already ruined. There are priests who, although paying their debt to society in prisons, will never pay back what they have stolen from these children. But it is time to think clearly and soberly about what has been shown to be the root of the problem, and to redirect much of our previous religious thinking.
We fully understand that God never makes a mistake. To allow this scandal to surface could be His way of waking people up to the dangers of any religion that falls short of His standard.
No one expects any human to be perfect. That is why Jesus Christ insisted that His Church be overseen by a greater-than-human, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit. While reports are on the increase that Pope John Paul II did little to address the problem in the Church, there is a Divinely-appointed Leader Who never errs.
Would you like a Vicar of Christ Who is always infallible and is always ready to personally help you in this life? Would you like to embrace a Savior Who completed the work on your behalf when He died, once-for-all, on Calvary? Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
It is our sincere prayer that you be led by the Holy Spirit to true repentance and Bible salvation. You can start this path by reading John's Gospel and respond to the moving of the Spirit of God.