why did the church not doing anything about the pedophiles?

Question

the bishop in phoenix az, said they didnt do anything because they were unclear about the law involving it,, come on give me a break,, this guy didnt know that abusing kids is a crime,, and why do they still go to the church,

Answer 1

Did he really say that?

No wonder people are leaving the faith in droves

Answer 2

To start with, I am a Catholic. These events are tragic and repeated cases of abuse are abominable. So, I'm not writing an apology.

The events that you mention occurred in the 50's and 60's for the most part. Some were more recent, to be sure but the majority of reported cases occurred some time ago. The pastors in charge of the individual churches would receive a report of abuse. The priest denies the charge. The pastor receives the priest's excuse but has him transferred just to be sure. It was truthfully inconceivable to a pastor that a priest of his was engaging in such activity. The priest would confess all of his sins to the pastor to show his good faith - but - he would omit the abuses. This act is totally contrary to all Church teachings and the confession would have only increased the priest's guilt. Also, the laws at the time were not as severe as they are now. Families that had gay members and pedophiles kept it in the family - a tragedy in itself. When uncovered, many of the priests and pastors involved were prosecuted. The uncovering alerted the remainder of the Church that bad acts such as these were much more prevalent that previously imagined. New steps were taken to identify pedophiles while in training, prior to their taking a position in a parish. All people in Catholic Churches are instructed to immediately report any abuse. And, of course, all subsequent abuses, when proved to be true, will result in public prosecution.

There are so many more pedophiles out there than could be earlier imagined. Teachers and familty members are the largest group of culprits. This does not lessen the damage done.



I appreciate your question and I totally understand your attitudes on this matter. I pray that we have seen the last of it.

Answer 3

I believe that pedophile priests and the bishops that protected them should all burn in hell. They probably committed one of the biggest sins of all time with what they did.. The question is why did they do it?

I believe that the bishops didn't believe in what was going on. They only listened to the side of the pedophile, not the child victim. They believed that (1) the child made up the story, or (2) it was blown completely out of proportion, or (3) the pedophile priest certainly would never do anything like this again.. In short, they believed the problem could be ignored.

I also believe that the parents of the victims should share some of the blame. If my child came to me and told me that a man molested him, then I would immediately investigate, call lawyers, and prosecute. I can't imagine accepting any hush money.. What were those parents thinking? Think about it. Put yourself in the place of the parents, and ask yourself what would you do as a parent?

Answer 4

I would have to agree with Granny Annie and ask what you are doing about the teachers who molest their students (and do you know that statisticly, your child is 15 times more likely to be molested by a teacher, 26 time more likely to be molested by a family member and 18 times more likely to be molested by a friend of the family)?

As for being unclear about the law, if this information was learned in the confessional, then there isn't a whole lot any priest could do - it is a mortal sin, and an automatic excommunication to break that seal and I don't know a single priest who would do that. It sucks, but that is the way it is.

I think I remember, however, that the Church is changing its rules governing confession making it able to reveal a person doing harm to a child. I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the Vatican looking into it. (If there is anyone out here that can confirm or deny it, let me know.)

Answer 5

I'll tell you what a better question would be.... why is it that the forces of law always pussyfoot around whenever they are dealing with anything that involves "The Church"? They find themselves confronting a situation that involves people who proclaim themselves "God's Representatives on Earth" and they put on their "polite hat" and tippytoe around that situation as if they are stepping on eggshells. That is why it took years and years before they would even begin to think of starting a serious investigation into Pedophile Priests.

Answer 6

The bishop's response was a bit naive.

On the other hand, what are you secular types doing about the pedophiles who DON'T wear collars? How many out there are shielding a family member from the consequences of their actions because after all, it's a sickness and they can't help it and they ARE kin, etc., etc., etc.

Answer 7

I really don't know. But they should do something, because not only does it give that church a bad name it gives all Church's a bad name.

Answer 8

Because they don't want to endanger the public perception of the Church. Which, they did more so by not coming forward with the problems.

Answer 9

Didn't want to lose another priest.
The whole country needs to make the child molesters disappear. Drop the in the middle of the ocean and let God judge them.

Answer 10

hi mr mom, the churches, are not allowed to betray a confidance, however bad it may be, the fraze they usualy use is turn the other cheek, and keep stum. blue

Answer 11

It was easier for them to pay a settlement then have to admit there is a problem pretty bad, i know.