Not New News:  Sensational headlines appeared in newspapers and were broadcast from Boston Area television and radio stations last week: ” 1,000 children sexually abused by 274 Catholic priests in the Dioceses of Fall River, Worcester and Springfield”.  Now let us say from the start that even one case of sexual abuse of a minor by clergy of any denomination or any professional, for that matter, is as tragic as it is reprehensible, so this is not an attempt to minimize nor excuse any serious wrongdoing by clergy of any time or place.  Yet you do have to dig a bit  deeper than the sensational headlines  to learn that this is not a current trend or crisis!  Indeed, this investigation of these three Catholic  dioceses by the  Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts was conducted over a seven-year period, but the scope of the investigation covered no less than  the past 70 years!  Thus, simply saying a thousand were molested by hundreds and leaving it at that is as alarming as it is misleading! If we divide 270 priests by 70 years, we would have to stretch a bit to say that amounts to even 4 offenders  per year and thus on average not more than  1 or 2 per year in  each of these dioceses. If we divide 944 cases of abuse by 70  years, we get no more than 14 per year or not more than 5 per diocese per year .  Again, while not minimizing the tragedy of even one case or excusing the terrible wrongdoing of even one priest, the math does give us a more accurate perspective on the whole matter.  One would wonder what would be the results if the Office of the Attorney General had decided to also investigate incidents of sexual abuse of minors by personnel in public  and private schools across these three regions of Massachusetts  during the same period of time?  If we had to bet, we might have to conclude that it is very likely to show that Catholic Clergy are no more likely than other professions that work with  minors to cross lines with them that should never be crossed, and maybe it would reveal that Catholic Clergy  are even a bit less likely to do  so!   But that is the injustice of investigating only one group followed by the production of intentionally sensational  headlines, which a superficial examination  of such a report will foster!    What is buried within the Attorney General’s report but is important for us as Catholics to know is that since 2002, beginning with the publication of the Dallas Charter, and a stated policy of  “zero tolerance” of sexual or  other improprieties  with minors the Church has made admirable strides in creating and implementing polices to facilitate the  reporting of abuse as well as the prevention of  it   Thus conducting this extensive investigation it should be noted  that  at the end of it the Attorney General has no new criminal indictments to hand down regarding the church and its leadership during the course of the last 24 years!  Indeed, when new cases do come to light, they are usually very old cases that occurred well before 2002.  We will recall that it was in that year, now 24 years ago, that, due to the investigation by the  Boston Globe Spotlight Team into the Catholic Church in Boston, the Church and the world began to wake up to the ugly and unacceptable reality of sexual abuse of minors by clergy and others.  Yet while focusing nearly exclusively on the Church, the truth gets lost  that sexual abuse of minors is not only a  Catholic problem  but has actually occurred in all organizations, denominations, and  professions in which adults  may have unsupervised access to minors. Both in the Church and in other organizations serving youth, accusations of abuse had  in the past been  routinely  swept under the rug to avoid scandal, leaving those who had been victimized to suffer even more intensely without proper help or any adequate  justice for the  damage inflicted on them. Over the past 24 years, the Church has certainly tried to make reparation for this, as it must, and so let us pray for all who have been seriously  harmed that they will be given justice and find some measure of healing and peace.  But at the same time, in service to the whole truth, let us not accept the impression that seems  to be purposefully perpetuated  when only the Catholic Church is still investigated as if this  is somehow a problem particular to our clergy  alone!   The truth is that this is an all too  human problem, and so in all walks of life there will be  some who, no matter their education, occupation, or religious affiliations, will be plagued with the affliction of  being  attracted to minors.  Those so afflicted  are to be pitied as much, or maybe even more so, than they are to be vilified.  They need to be encouraged to seek professional  help before they act on their impulses and end up doing irreparable harm to a young person  and ruining  their own lives in the process as well!  In all  Christian charity, let us not hesitate to pray for them as well as those who have already crossed the line and thus suffer rejection, exclusion, shame, isolation, and terrible guilt as a result.  May we also  pray for those falsely accused who suffer all that and more as well, but for no just cause; may God in his mercy reveal their innocence that they may be exonerated!

 

 

 At Last – The Raffle Drawing:  This Sunday, October 11, at noon in the Parish Hall, we will draw the names of the winners of the  $5000 grand prize  and other prizes in our annual Summer Raffle. No need to be present to win; only a stub or more  in the drum is necessary for that!  Tickets can be purchased in the Parish Hall from 11:30 to 11:55 AM!  Witnesses are  most welcome and encouraged to be present to attest that all is conducted  fairly!  Good luck to all who have participated by taking a chance to more in this important fundraiser!