As Roman Catholics around the world celebrate the biggest week of the religious calender, Pope Benedict XVI finds himself with another potential episode in the sex abuse story that has dogged the church for 10 years. Although the story is only a decade long, the atrocities and wrongdoings got their start much earlier.
The Holy Father did not mention the abuse cases specifically, but defiantly answered his critics in an indirect manner at the Palm Sunday service at St. Peter's square. Benedict spoke of, "the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion."
With these words, Pope Benedict XVI has further widened the gulf between the church and the people it is charged with leading and shepherding. Benedict's arrogance shows all Catholics that certain people are above the others and there is no need to discipline those who have wronged innocent children for years.
The Church is to care for its people. It is to be the ultimate model of community. If a priest harms a child, or anyone for that matter. he is to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I personally would like to see the law extended further to make an example of anyone who molests a child.
The Vatican and the individual archdioceses under it should work together to expose the priests who have betrayed the trust of the loyal flock. The leader of the flock, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI shows the ignorance and apathy of the Church's heirarchy by referring to the masses as "petty". The Church as a whole would do well to swiftly and judiciously begin a process where accused priests are put on leave and the ones who are found guilty are removed from their positions, excommunicated from the church and handed over to the local authorities to be dealt with accordingly. Only then will the people realize the church is dedicated to all that is good and begin anew during the joyful celebration of the ressurection.
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