‘Yeah, well
your priests, like little boys.”
your priests, like little boys.”
There it is.
The slap in the face meant to silence a Catholic and degrade the priesthood. You would think it had been enough already,
but the priest/sex scandal card still gets played, often in comments under
articles or on Facebook posts. It has shown up a few times in comments under my
articles.
The slap in the face meant to silence a Catholic and degrade the priesthood. You would think it had been enough already,
but the priest/sex scandal card still gets played, often in comments under
articles or on Facebook posts. It has shown up a few times in comments under my
articles.
Too often,
Catholics cringe and duck out. It was the goal all along of the one who spit out
the vitriolic attack; to silence his opponent and chalk up one for the
anti-Catholic team. Should you end
it and walk away? As the saying goes,
“Don’t fight with fools, they’ll beat you with experience every time.” But
wait, priests act in the place of Jesus Christ. Will you not defend Christ?
Catholics cringe and duck out. It was the goal all along of the one who spit out
the vitriolic attack; to silence his opponent and chalk up one for the
anti-Catholic team. Should you end
it and walk away? As the saying goes,
“Don’t fight with fools, they’ll beat you with experience every time.” But
wait, priests act in the place of Jesus Christ. Will you not defend Christ?
Responding to
a slam on the priesthood or anything against the Catholic faith is an
opportunity to witness to others. I avoid engaging haters in their sport, but
to varying degrees, I do respond. After
all, the media’s dogpile on the priesthood has left many misinformed.
a slam on the priesthood or anything against the Catholic faith is an
opportunity to witness to others. I avoid engaging haters in their sport, but
to varying degrees, I do respond. After
all, the media’s dogpile on the priesthood has left many misinformed.
The Statistics
Sex abuse of children is epidemic throughout
society. Pedophilia among priests is
extremely rare, only 0.3% of the entire clergy (Yes, 0.3% is still too
much but it’s not the impression the public has.) This figure was cited in the book
Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a
Contemporary Crisis by non-Catholic scholar, Philip Jenkins.
society. Pedophilia among priests is
extremely rare, only 0.3% of the entire clergy (Yes, 0.3% is still too
much but it’s not the impression the public has.) This figure was cited in the book
Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a
Contemporary Crisis by non-Catholic scholar, Philip Jenkins.
In the Boston scandal, the media reported that
eighty priests were pedophiles, yet ultimately, only four were actually guilty
of molesting children. So in spite of the pedophile priest
scandal being shameful, it’s nothing like the media has represented it. The Media Report.com has reported that:
eighty priests were pedophiles, yet ultimately, only four were actually guilty
of molesting children. So in spite of the pedophile priest
scandal being shameful, it’s nothing like the media has represented it. The Media Report.com has reported that:
* “Catholic priests abuse at a
rate far lower than that
rate far lower than that
of other males in the general population.”
* Most of the reported
cases of abuse were an historical anomaly, occurring during a narrow time period
from the Sixties to the early Eighties. The
handling of those cases was a reflection of that era, not the Church. Experts in the field at the time, believed offenders
could be successfully rehabilitated. Offenders were sent for treatment, rather
than reported to police, which resulted in a temporary spike in recidivism.
cases of abuse were an historical anomaly, occurring during a narrow time period
from the Sixties to the early Eighties. The
handling of those cases was a reflection of that era, not the Church. Experts in the field at the time, believed offenders
could be successfully rehabilitated. Offenders were sent for treatment, rather
than reported to police, which resulted in a temporary spike in recidivism.
* It has been reported that sexual abuse by teachers
in public schools is “more than 100 times” that by Catholic
priests. Yet there is little reporting on this but old allegations of abuse by
Catholic priests keep getting rehashed.
in public schools is “more than 100 times” that by Catholic
priests. Yet there is little reporting on this but old allegations of abuse by
Catholic priests keep getting rehashed.
For more detailed
statistics and findings see the John Jay report released on May 18, 2011 at John Jay College of
Criminal Justice of the City University of New York which examined the clergy
sexual abuse crisis in the U.S. Catholic Church in depth.
statistics and findings see the John Jay report released on May 18, 2011 at John Jay College of
Criminal Justice of the City University of New York which examined the clergy
sexual abuse crisis in the U.S. Catholic Church in depth.
It is the most comprehensive study on child
sexual abuse ever conducted by a major organization and covered the time period
1950-2010. During that time, 5 percent of the total number of priests during that
period were accused of sexually inappropriate behavior and less than 4 percent
of those accused could be considered pedophiles — that is, men who prey on
children.
sexual abuse ever conducted by a major organization and covered the time period
1950-2010. During that time, 5 percent of the total number of priests during that
period were accused of sexually inappropriate behavior and less than 4 percent
of those accused could be considered pedophiles — that is, men who prey on
children.
Findings included the observation that the
Church has addressed this aggressively and “the decrease in incidence of sexual
abuse cases by clergy was more rapid than the overall societal patterns.”
Church has addressed this aggressively and “the decrease in incidence of sexual
abuse cases by clergy was more rapid than the overall societal patterns.”
According to an article in the secular Psychology
Today, “Overall, the profile presented by
the John Jay researchers (who, by the way, are non-Catholics working in a
secular state run university) of the typical clergy sex offender in the
Catholic Church is certainly quite different than the stereotype typically
presented in the press during the past decade.”
Today, “Overall, the profile presented by
the John Jay researchers (who, by the way, are non-Catholics working in a
secular state run university) of the typical clergy sex offender in the
Catholic Church is certainly quite different than the stereotype typically
presented in the press during the past decade.”
Why the Bullying?
Why has the
media vigorously attacked the priesthood? I believe there are several reasons. Part of it is an anti-Catholic and anti-religion
mindset. Protestant faiths, even if they
split from another Protestant sect, ultimately broke away from the Catholic
Church so that is the one they tend to discredit in order to defend
themselves. And if one opposes Catholic
teaching on contraception, homosexuality or anything else, then the priesthood
is a favorite target.
media vigorously attacked the priesthood? I believe there are several reasons. Part of it is an anti-Catholic and anti-religion
mindset. Protestant faiths, even if they
split from another Protestant sect, ultimately broke away from the Catholic
Church so that is the one they tend to discredit in order to defend
themselves. And if one opposes Catholic
teaching on contraception, homosexuality or anything else, then the priesthood
is a favorite target.
Another reason
for the attacks speaks to the true value of the priesthood. Catholic priests are held in high esteem,
above other denominations and occupations. An offending priest is bigger news than when anyone else in
society offends. We expect more from them. The
sensationalizing proves that priests really do hold a special place in our
world.
for the attacks speaks to the true value of the priesthood. Catholic priests are held in high esteem,
above other denominations and occupations. An offending priest is bigger news than when anyone else in
society offends. We expect more from them. The
sensationalizing proves that priests really do hold a special place in our
world.
We have
greater expectations for the priesthood because it is greater. Why else, when
Hollywood makes a movie on exorcism, it is a Catholic priest that goes head to
head with evil? The Catholic priesthood
represents Christ and Christianity in a bigger way than other denominations. Priests bring us the Eucharist and absolve our sins in the place of Jesus during
confession. The shockwaves for wrongdoing are much fiercer because
of what is represented by them. Even non-Catholics, whether they like to admit
it or not, hold priests to a higher standard.
greater expectations for the priesthood because it is greater. Why else, when
Hollywood makes a movie on exorcism, it is a Catholic priest that goes head to
head with evil? The Catholic priesthood
represents Christ and Christianity in a bigger way than other denominations. Priests bring us the Eucharist and absolve our sins in the place of Jesus during
confession. The shockwaves for wrongdoing are much fiercer because
of what is represented by them. Even non-Catholics, whether they like to admit
it or not, hold priests to a higher standard.
Thus far,
when I’ve encountered such attacks, I respond that although it’s understandable that priests are held to a higher standard, it’s well documented that
there are as much or more abusers in the general population. And any priest
that has abused, behaved in stark opposition to Catholic teaching so rather than represent the Church, he betrayed it. It sometimes
silences them and if not, I do not feed the trolls further.
when I’ve encountered such attacks, I respond that although it’s understandable that priests are held to a higher standard, it’s well documented that
there are as much or more abusers in the general population. And any priest
that has abused, behaved in stark opposition to Catholic teaching so rather than represent the Church, he betrayed it. It sometimes
silences them and if not, I do not feed the trolls further.
The point is
that not only should we defend our priests, but knowing the facts makes it
easy. And aside from the facts is our
witness, loyalty, and courage to our beloved shepherds and faith.
If Catholics everywhere spoke up (without getting sucked into mud
slinging) more detractors would be better informed and less inclined to risk
looking like ignorant bullies.
Prayer for Priests
By St. Therese of Lisieux
O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world’s contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit
and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and
consolation here and in heaven
their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
that not only should we defend our priests, but knowing the facts makes it
easy. And aside from the facts is our
witness, loyalty, and courage to our beloved shepherds and faith.
If Catholics everywhere spoke up (without getting sucked into mud
slinging) more detractors would be better informed and less inclined to risk
looking like ignorant bullies.
Prayer for Priests
By St. Therese of Lisieux
O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world’s contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit
and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and
consolation here and in heaven
their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________________
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