Church must take stronger action this time
Painting the rectory the wrong color is a mistake. Child rape, knowingly transferring pedophile priests, not telling the sending and receiving parishes about the priest, allowing pedophiles to stay in ministry close to children, covering up for the “institution” placing children at risk, buying silence from victims, not reporting sex crimes to police; these are not mistakes. For the Catholic hierarchy to call these vile behaviors “mistakes” is to demean abuse victims and confuse and spin truths for an already confused and indifferent Catholic laity.
With the recent release of 6,000 documents, most of Cardinal George’s response was already available to all Catholics, the media, the police and the courts, but no one cared to look. For years cardinal George’s 2008 deposition was posted on the archdiocese website. Hiding in plain sight. But no one cared to look.
We are “shocked again”! So what will the community of Catholics, police, courts and the bishops do this time? Hold the hierarchy accountable? Demand resignations of church officials? Withhold contributions? Seek criminal charges? Or maybe just nothing, like they’ve done all along?
The outrage will subside. News cycles will move on to the Olympics. Spring will finally come. Let us all settle back into our apathy, and let the indifference and denial “beat” go on. How tragic.
Deacon Tony Jannotta
Arlington Heights