The Sexual Abuse Crisis and Pope Benedict XVI

This morning I "happened to" across a blog that I had never seen before: Roman Catholic Cop, which has the subtitle "Thoughts and perusings of a Catholic Cop on his spiritual journey." It is written by Jamie McAdams, a police officer in Kansas City, Missouri. Before a couple of comments related to the initial entry I read, I must recommend checking it out:

      Roman Catholic Cop

The subject Jamie was addressing in the first entry I read (which was his most recent entry) focused on the sexual abuse crisis facing the Church the past few years. His opening statement reminded me of a few conversations Myrna and I have had about the topic.

Although what is going on with this whole scandal saddens and pains me because the Church is being hurt by this and because so many individuals are being directly or indirectly hurt, I usually don't say much about the subject. There are a lot of factors involved, and there is quite a bit more to the story than is being reported on in the media (no matter which media). There have been some serious abuse cases, and the Church in the United States has taken some important steps to address this issue, as have religious orders and dioceses in other countries.  However, it is an ongoing issue that will continue to affect the Church and its relations with others (both in the Church and outside if the Church) for some time to come. It is something that must be addressed by each of us (including our bishops on whatever level) with a lot of prayer, fasting, and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Here are Jamie's comments on the issue:
      Roman Catholic Cop: Defending Pope Benedict XVI

In Wednesday's "Daily Ignatian Reflection," Father Michael Maher, S.J., as part of his commentary on the day's Gospel reading (Luke 24:13-35 - Jesus meeting with two disciples on the road to Emmaus), wrote, "As criticism mounts concerning the church and subsequent expressions of confusion and hurt become more openly discussed, we need to gather with greater fervor and prayer together on Sundays (and every day) to receive that gift of strength and hope that was received by the first disciples on the road to Emmaus."

Father Dominic Legge, O.P., a Dominican priest teaching theology at Providence College and a former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer who worked on constitutional issues, writes commentary on theology and liturgy in the daily lives of contemporary Catholics. He addressed this issue in a recent column, saying, in part, that the truly Catholic response is to implore the Lord for his grace to be more faithful, more chaste, more loving and more holy:
      Fr. Dominic Legge, OP : Hope in the Midst of Trial

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M., director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently wrote a column that was published in the Washington Post:
     Sister Mary Ann Walsh, RSM: Media decides, then reports

 In a recent essay in Newsweek, George Weigel, a Catholic theologian and author, addresses aspects of the issue (especially related to priestly celibacy and to Catholics becoming more Catholic):
      George Weigel: What Went Wrong


Here, also are some essays from the journalism weblog, GetReligion, which comments on journalism issues related to religion. These are written by Mollie Ziegler, a journalist who usually covers the management of government programs for the Federal Times (she happens to be a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod):
      GetReligion: Priests aren’t the problem
      GetReligion: Lost in translation, Vatican edition
      GetReligion: Differing papal perspectives     


In addition, former New York Mayor Edward I. Koch has a blog in The Jerusalem Post in which he makes various observations about the American scene. His latest post addresses some of what has been going on in the U.S. related to this issue (and others):
Ed Koch: He that is without sin, let him cast the next stone - enough already