Abandoned Altars

With Pope Benedict’s arrival in the US just days away, interest is growing in his role in the clergy sex abuse scandals. A British documentary revives the charges that he led the cover-up.

That is but the tip of the proverbial iceberg, I’m afraid. Recent historical research for a book I’m writing has convinced me that Joseph Ratzinger is largely responsible for the scandals erupting in the first place. And he is directly responsible for their ending. Details can be found here.

That’s right. The scandals are over, folks. You just have not realized it yet.

Why is this important? First of all, they are over because the cover-up is in place even worse than before.

Secondly, it is because of the way it was done – in utter secrecy, privately with no oversight, appeal or remedy beyond the confines of the institution. The Catholic Church has arrogantly undertaken to administer its own brand of justice and to lie to the world about it.

Given the recent history of the Church, there are considerable legitimate doubts that arise should about such “justice.” All too many times priests have been forgiven, transferred to green pastures with clean slates, and let loose to prey again. Historically, it is all too clear that the fear of scandal has not led to more diligent guardianship but merely the cover-up of failure.

But there are even greater issues at stake. These are not rules for private clubs, for instance, subject to secular law. The Roman Catholic Church has its own internal law, not subject to the state, with its own penalties and prescriptions. It has never looked to the state for “justice” only protection of its interests.

Such powerful private laws – “privileges” – are medieval, utterly offensive to modern pluralist society. This is nothing less than a return to the Dark Ages.

If the Catholic Church can impose its own secret penalties on priests for raping children, why shouldn’t Muslim clerics impose Sharia on its members, and mandate death, for instance, even for careless infidel cartoonists? Or rabbis impose the Talmud as they see fit? Or, as in recent days, cult leaders imprison and forcibly marry off underage girls?

Where do you draw the line?

That is why I came up with the BOYCOTT BENEDICT!! campaign. I’ve protested the pope before – I led the only group of clergy abuse survivors demonstrating against John Paul II at World Youth Day in 1993. And I can tell you it just doesn’t work. Not only because of the numbers (in Denver there were 5 of us victims against 500,000 screaming fanatics) but because we couldn’t get within miles. The late Tom Economus, who tried to deliver a petition from victims to the papal party that weekend, had the same experience.

The point is that outsiders can’t force the Catholic Church or any religion to change attitudes, but they can oppose, shame, and ignore them. After all Benedict shamelessly plays the crowd, as these pictures show. Perhaps, just perhaps, if his stadium Masses were ill-attended, if he was criticized at the UN, maybe it would sink in that the world is onto his game. That might do more for real reform of the Church than all the protesters ever could.

I have posted a timeline that touches on the key events. Comments are open, but moderated, which means even if you disagree with me, if it’s a good one (and not too personally insulting) it will be posted. Even if not, I will be reading them, so get your shots in.