Breaking news on CNN just now: this afternoon at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, Pope Benedict met privately with five victims of clerical sexual abuse, who were accompanied by Cardinal O'Malley of Boston. John Allen is on CNN right now saying that this is literally unprecedented, and that even though Benedict has talked critically of the abuse scandal since he's been here, "This action this afternoon probably speaks louder than the words."
I'll say! This is very encouraging. Allen reports that the victims who met with Benedict are expected to speak to reporters later. This gives me hope. This is very good!
UPDATE: This just in from the Boston Globe:
Pope Benedict XVI, in a dramatic move likely to alter forever the image of his pontificate, met this afternoon with five victims of clergy sexual abuse from Boston.[snip]
The victims – including men and women, all of them abused as minors by priests in the Boston area – met with the 81-year-old pontiff at the papal nunciature, which is the Vatican’s Embassy here, for about a half hour. They were accompanied by O’Malley. ...
Today’s meeting caps a remarkable start to Benedict’s first papal trip to the United States, in which the 81-year-old pontiff has repeatedly discussed the abuse crisis. His comments have been criticized by victim advocates, who want him to go further by disciplining bishops who failed to remove abusive priests, but the remarks have nonetheless been striking for their detail and frequency.
"This is a huge step forward,'' said the Rev. Keith F. Pecklers, a professor of theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. "We basically were told before he arrived that he would probably address this topic at one event, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and now we've had three references, plus this meeting, which is hugely significant. It means he is trying to communicate that he's taking this very seriously, and that it's the fundamental issue in the US church right now in terms of trying to move forward. He wants to give a clear signal to America that he gets it.''
Terrific, terrific news. I'll keep updating, as we learn what was said between the pope and the five.
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Rod, I thought about commenting on the earlier post when you seemed to indicate that you thought that the Holy Father's address to the Bishops fell short. Now, I did not watch that address on television, or read it, I listed to it via radio. I really listened, as one must, as PBXVI has a significant German accent. I heard something very different. I heard him giving a course in "Bishoping 101".
Frankly, I could hear his restraint as he described what Bishops are called to do, without raising the roof. He was very clear, I thought. OK, this is what I heard.
1) This is YOUR job, your vocation, your calling, your responsibility.
2) You are to address the issue of sexual abuse by "binding the wounds of the victims", knowing your priests, supporting their priestly vocations and caring for the laity. Get with it, do it, and do it NOW.
3) There are contributing factors in the culture of this country which are leading many astray. Pornography, violence, a loss of the sense of the sacred bonds of marriage. YOU need to address this issues with the priests and laity of your diocese.
4) YOU are the shepherds. Get your a**es out there and lead and protect your flock!
I heard the passion and pain in the Holy Father's voice. Just because he didn't use the language that I would use, doesn't mean that he wasn't laying down the law in no uncertain terms. Oh, and just because some Bishops, who shall remain nameless (we know who you are, Excellencies) choose to try to spin that address, doesn't mean that they are really unaware that PBXVI has thrown down the gauntlet. After hearing this address, I guessed that he would lead by example and try to personally help bind those terrible wounds. Yeah, I found out today that that is exactly what he did. He did it without fanfare or photo ops because it was The Right Thing To Do. I suspect that he also did it to lead his brother Bishops by example.
He is unlikely to start executing, flogging, or humiliating Cardinals, Bishops and priests in St Peter's square, but he is also unlikely to tolerate any further behavior that he sees as injurious to the Body of Christ. God bless you, Holy Father. May God grant him many years. (Thank you, Lord, for giving us the gift of Pope Benedict.)
Mary Margaret:
Great comment!!! Yes, the Pope led by example. He didn't tell the bishops what to do so much as show them what to do (by meeting privately with the abuse victims). He "walked the walk" rather than merely "talk the talk."
Also liked that the Pope respected the privacy of these victims and didn't try to make a big photo-op out of it. That shows real sensitivity and concern for the people who were hurt by this.
All Catholics -- and all people of faith -- can be proud of this Pope and the way he is handling himself this week.
I am not sure that anything the Pope could do would be enough for Rod. He is seriously ticked off about the scandal, and rightfully so, but still.....over at Mark Shea's blog, Mark wonders why Rod has joined the Orthodox Church, which presupposes an acceptance of Eastern ecclesiology about bishops, collegiality, first among equals, etc., and then expects the Pope to go all Innocent III on the bishops. I mean, which is it? Also, the scandal in the Catholic Church is big big news because we're the 800 pound gorilla, so to speak. I don't read everything Rod writes, often miss DMN for example so I don't know, Rod, are you as exercised about the scandals in your own Church? They seem every bit as nasty as the ones in ours, if not as widespread, but perhaps not as widespread due to the fact that there are just so many more Catholic priests and Catholic kids. People on Mark's blog were waxing indignant about the "rotteness" of the scandals in various Orthodox jurisdictions and I am not knowledgeable enough about this to know. If Orthodox priests screw up and molest someone, who takes them to task? Their bishop? What if the bishop doesn't do anything? Where does it go after that? Like, maybe the Metropolitan or something? I am not being snarky, I really want to know. At least churches with a hierarchy have some recourse, we had a horrible scandal in my area about 20 years ago where one of these independent nondenom guys was messing with boys and there was really no one to do anything, until I think one of the parents called the cops or something. Which makes me think, I know people don't want to put their kids through the whole legal process and maybe they were moved by the bishops' self-serving telling them not to drag the Church's good name into the mud, but it is a pity that more of these parents didn't call the law. I'm not criticizing them, mind you, but still, it would have been nice to see a couple of Father Perv's frog marched out of their rectories in handcuffs. Could have put the fear of God into some of these guys!
Well, God bless the Pope, anyway, with this meeting today and his actions with the late and unlamented Marcel Maciel, he is on the right track anyway!
All Catholics -- and all people of faith -- can be proud of this Pope and the way he is handling himself this week.
This Catholic couldn't agree more.
I have teated many sexual offenders over twenty years, the Pope's statement was only that. Imagine a leader, boss, parent instructing, admonishing and lets look at studies that show behavioral change and outcome. Nothing , nothing will change without STRICT cause and effect and appropriate treatment groups. So far there is very very little done by the Catholic church in this arena. A dear friend and associate wrote a book to be out in the fall, his website is up he is a professional in the field, Catholic and has been abused. Please check out www.abovehisshoulders.com. I think one will find it helpfull.
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