A Church internal enquiry is useless (Main Forum)

by clommer , United States, Friday, August 03, 2012, 02:44 (292 days ago) @ James

James
If one reads through all of the documentation which demonstrates the absolute corruption of the Church and reads again the condemnation by Enda Kenny, one can only conclude that this is a situation that never attained such proportions in the history of the Church. Lord Acton's observation of the Church was based on far less corruption than exists today. From that one can observe that nothing either could be done or would be done internally by the power structure in the Church. I am not talking about what translation to use or frequency of confession or any matters that properly are Church matters. I am talking about the actual threat to children and the destruction of psyche as well as the destruction of their souls.

The Church does not have the capacity to cure the problem and perforce neither does civil society with its system of laws. Whenever society finds a situation that cannot be cured by resort to lawyers and negotiation, it usually resorts to some sort of draconian measure such as war. In fact war is the term used whenever society is faced with an insurmountable problem such as war on drugs.

It is true that corrupt politicians and political leaders use summary methods to enhance or preserve their control. You listed several nasty international figures with whom I have nothing but condemnation. You might have included Ratzinger who silenced over 100 theologians who dared to have a difference of opinion. He and JPII were successful in destroying liberation theology which assisted South American despots such as Pinochet in staying in power. History is indeed murky and far from black and white.

I suggested summary action to see what reaction there would be and at the same time see if there was any solution other than wait and see. The state or society cannot reform the Administration of the Church. Even if it could it would present more problems than it solved. The Church apparently cannot reform itself. Therefore we are left with an organization that is outrageously corrupt insofar as the raping of children by clerics is concerned. Moreover the criminal law is unable for whatever reason to solve the problem. A conviction here or there is punishment for a wrongdoer but does not resolve the problem or remove the root cause. I think all will agree that all pedophiles are sick but not so sick that they should avoid punishment for their crimes. The real problem is with the Bishops and the power structure of the Church. That power structure is not confined internally but also has external effect. When I said a suspended sentence was not just you suggest that I have in mind an outrageous sentence. On the contrary, I object not to the sentence but to the suspension. If it were a layman instead of a Bishop then in all probability it would not have been suspended.

This deference to the Church because it is the Church has exacerbated the problem and has been used as a weapon by the hierarchy. On You tube there is a video of Ratzinger reacting violently to a reporter inquiring about Marciel. He responded by saying that he knew nothing (a lie) and then that the press is always attacking the Church (another exaggeration).
The structure uses this deference as a weapon which is why I suggest that a summary measure be employed to thwart this erosion. I did not suggest that this be permanent policy or should replace rule of law or trials or a criminal justice system. I suggest it be used once - once in two thousand years and then only because the cancer has grown to such an extent that it must be dealt with in a swift and dramatic fashion. I would limit it to the cover-up of criminal pedophile behavior. But I do think it should be world wide. It will never happen. A few prosecutions here and there is about all that will happen.

There is no question but that the clergy (priests, Bishops, Cardinals and Popes) have all been knocked off their pedestals and are now viewed with a jaundiced eye. Perhaps that is the only improvement that society can expect. I doubt that the Vatican will install a pastoral litmus test for Bishops and discard the present orthodox loyalty-based litmus test. But the damage has been done and the pronouncements of the Bishops are ignored or taken with a grain of salt. The laity's reaction to the summary judgment imposed on the american nuns is proof of this.

I note your objection to summary dispositions and I concur with your examples. However, the Church has a history of summary dispositions with no explanations, no appeal and no disclosure of the evidence against the accused. I think summary justice imposed on the hierarchs would be poetic justice. Live by the sword die by the sword. But as true believers we all know that true justice only exists in the afterlife where the Perfect Judge will settle all scores.. While I will never convince you I hope that I have encouraged you to be diligent in seeing that what procedures are followed will be utilized to the fullest extent.