Catholic bishops claim moral authority
amidst 'confusion'
According to USA Today, the U.S. Catholic bishops had their semi-annual meeting in Baltimore this week. One item discussed was "a preliminary report on the 'causes and contexts' of the clergy sexual abuse scandal that resulted in some 14,000 abuse claims and cost the church $2.6 billion since 1950."
In a remarkable display of open-mindedness, the church invited some experts to the discussion:
"Researchers from New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice told the nearly 300 members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that homosexual orientation should not be linked to the sexual abuse, even as some church leaders have sought to make a link between gay priests and sexual abuse.
'What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,' said Margaret Smith of John Jay College. 'At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.'"
Thankfully, the Church had evidence that clearly showed they knew more about the situation than those experts:
"Since the abuse scandal erupted in the USA in 2002, the Vatican has barred seminarians with 'deep-seated homosexual tendencies,' and conducted an investigation of seminaries that concluded that 'difficulties' related to 'homosexual behavior' had been largely 'overcome.'"
I'm not sure what this has to do with sexual abuse, but you can't argue with results:
"Noting the decline in accusations against Catholic priests, Bishop Blase Cupich of Rapid City, S.D., said the report shows that 'the worst of this is behind us … I think it's safe to say that there is no safer place for a child today than in the Catholic Church.'"
That makes perfect sense. Just follow their argument carefully, and it all falls into place:
1. 14,000 people claim that they were sexually abused by a member of the Catholic clergy.
2. The church blames it on the gays.
3. The church goes on a witch hunt for gay priests.
4. The experts insist that there is no link between sex crimes and homosexuality.
5. The church insists that they know more than the experts.
6. A smaller number of people are coming forward with claims of abuse by the Catholic clergy.
7. "[T]here is no safer place for a child today than in the Catholic Church."
What a relief! For a second, it looked like the Catholic Church would have to change. Turns out, that's never going to happen.
