Pope Benedict letter a major disappointment in abuse scandal

Posted on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:39 PM

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The Pope's response to the Catholic Church scandals in Ireland has come up woefully short -- which should be no surprise.

To say he was "truly sorry" was the bare minimum. Saying bishops had erred "sometimes grievously" was a light slap on the wrists for the disgraceful behavior of so many. He did not call on those bishops who are guilty to step down.

Describing the abuse of children by Irish clergy and religious as "sinful and criminal" were the usual weasel words, with no actions to follow.

No amount of Vatican-speak can remove the heart of the matter that evil men who abused children were protected and defended by the same Church that claims to speak for God on earth.

Benedict is a canon lawyer supreme, and this document, with its careful parsing and analysis, reflects that. There was no other recourse he could take.

Of course, there is a bloodless apology and a plan to do more to protect kids in the future. And no doubt, that will be the case -- but the horse has bolted and all the Pope's prelates cannot put the horse back in the stable again.

That is simply because the crime is so reprehensible and the cover-up so outrageous that the Pope resembles nothing more than a thief at the gallows repenting his crime and those of his followers.

The deed itself is so awful as to make any effort at apology or excuse for covering-up entirely useless. Young boys and girls were stripped, raped, beaten -- some even killed by their abusers. The Pope is powerless against that.

Take Cardinal Sean Brady in Ireland for instance, who last week tried to explain how in 1975 he had made two young children swear an oath of silence -- on a Bible no less -- over abuse allegations by the worst pedophile of all, Father Brendan Smyth. Even though he believed their allegations, he refused to report Smyth to the police.

No matter what way Brady tried to twist it, it is impossible to put it in any other light: He covered up the abuse of innocent children by a monster.

In any era, at any time, in any historical context, what he did was wrong. He can claim the standards of the day back in 1975 were different, but they were not. Abusing children is a heinous crime in any era.

That is why Benedict has flailed and failed with this document. There is simply no way to explain it away, no amount of apology, no plea to do better that can make the slightest bit of difference.

Against this sin, even the Pope is powerless.

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Dandyglow | Mar 22, 2010, 11:44 AM EDT

Anemic apologies do not excuse placing children in harm's way. Rewarding the conspirators continues (Research Cardinal Bernard Law and his current status). And, the hue and cry about this issue exists becasue the abuse did...no amount of deflecting the blame on either the Americans or the media will change that. They used their position of trust to violate children. That's neither an anti-Catholic or anti-Irish sentiment.

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Joanhugh | Mar 22, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT

I agree with Rebelforce all this publicity about Ireland is just anti-Catholic propaganda. Did any one read about a similar scandal in the Hasidic Jewish community in New York last year? I know it was never reported here in Boston. New York is a lot closer than Ireland. Mr. O'Dowd plays right into the hands of the anti-Catholics.I think he is one.

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kickstar | Mar 21, 2010, 04:36 AM EDT

There is one thing this church has discovered to its everlasting benefit, You can fool half the people all the time.

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RosemaryKelly | Mar 20, 2010, 03:56 PM EDT

I think it is TERRIBLE!!! I'm glad none of my boys were altar boys and also they did not go to a Catholic school. I did for about 1 year in Des Moines - taught by Mercy nuns who had NO mercy at all!!!

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Rebelforce | Mar 20, 2010, 11:46 AM EDT

It never ceases to amaze me how the American lamestream newsmedia studiously ignores Ireland and Irish news until there's something NEGATIVE to report about the Irish. Then suddenly it becomes important for Americans to know about it. The bias is so obvious you'd have to be blind not to notice it. Who says the days of anti-Irish and anti-Catholic bigotry are over in America? That's just wishful thinking.

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McNamara31 | Mar 20, 2010, 10:07 AM EDT

All of those who were involved in this criminal activity of protecting the criminals (and the church) at the cost of the little children should resign.If you attend Church this Easter, give .25 cents, representing the Vatican's involvement in 25 years of secrecy and abuse.

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