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Every time a priest does some sort of crime it seems like it has to make national news. I saw on CNN.com the other day on the front page that a priest was arrested on harrassment charges.
I mean, I guess it’s because priests are held to a higher standard because they are “religious men” but what we all need to remember is that they are [b:30590fpi]human[/b:30590fpi] just like you and me and are subject to making mistakes. I can almost guarantee you there are many more perverts out there that are not priests and many more people that harrass others that are not priests, but why are they not making the national news?
It’s all a matter of self-control. Believe me, I am not trying to say that priests should be given any special treatment, but I do think we tend to put them on too high of a pedestal and when they stumble, we just sit there and watch them fall.
Well, yes, I think priests do have more responsibility because they are in a public role. Similarly, the President and and corporate leaders hold more responsiblities since they represent what they work for. A priest works for Christ in the Church, he is regarded as a representative of the Catholic Church. Therefore, when it is discovered that a priest is human and/or and committed a sin, many people are shocked and the news media picks up on that. I think in the past 5 years, the news has become much more sensational (probably in and attempt to snag in more viewers). The other “perverts” would not generate that same shocked “need-to-know-more-about-this-headline” reaction so, guess who gets to be in the public eye? Yep, priests that make mistakes since it is the most shocking. I am not saying that the harrasment and child molestation are ok. No, far from it. But only that the media is risking some people’s faith and the good name of the Church by over-sensationalizing the sins of the priests.
Doctors, Lawyers and Clerics. Those are the three vocations which have such a high fiduciary responsibility, such a sacred position of trust, that they are given the legal privilege of confidentiality. They may not be compelled to reveal what has transpired between themselves and their those they serve.
When the wolves in sheep’s clothing start helping themselves to the flock, it should be front page news. And the Catholic laity, which has been a passive infant worried about the effects of this black eye on their appearance, need to demand accountability as to who the perps are, where the one to two billion dollars of reparation came from and where it went, and need to demand that all gag orders on victims be lifted or otherwise our billion(s) amount to no more than hush money.
Soul of the Immaculate, pierced that the thoughts of all may be revealed, expose all thoughts and cleanse them in the living fire of your Son’s Sacred Heart. AMEN
Say, “AMEN” somebody!
Well, I agree that we need to demand accountability, but I do also feel that the media has sensationalized some of the crimes committed by priests. How come it’s not national news when a Baptist minister does something of the same magnitude of a priest? I have seen news reports about Baptist ministers sexually abusing young people as well as other crimes, but yet it is not made into a widespread media event.
My diocese just published the results of an investigation and over the last 50 years 33 out of 3026 priests have been accused of sexual abuse. Now that is only 1.09% of priests in this area over a period of [b:u6i7jy90]50 years[/b:u6i7jy90].
1.09% is much lower than the national average of the total population being accused of sexual abuse.The media just likes to make this sound like it is a unique event to Catholic priests and that a good number of priests are doing this. It just simply is not true and that is what upsets me.
1.09% is much lower than the national average of the total population being accused of sexual abuse.
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