Additional Comments Pertaining to the Scandal in the Catholic Church

I promised I would write again about the ongoing sex scandals within the Catholic Church. Sadly, there are still too many in the Church hierarchy who seem not to understand the horror of what has occurred. 

The above video from an NBC interview with Cardinal Cupich of Chicago is one of the most shameful things I have seen in a very long time. The Cardinal claims the above snippet is out of context. I have read the full transcript here and it doesn't seem out of context to me. You may make your own judgment.

Here is why that snippet so bothers me: The Catholic Church has one job and that is to facilitate the salvation of every soul on earth. It has a secondary mission of helping the world's poor better their lives. [The good news is there is less extreme poverty than at any time in the history of our planet. That does not mean our work is done but it does mean it can be concentrated where it is most needed.]

It is an utter mystery to me why some of the Church's hierarchy still don't seem to get it. I can hardly think of any greater sin than the rape or molestation of children. Jesus himself seems to agree:

"...whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

So, Cardinal Cupich's glib answer about the importance of global warming is completely unacceptable. Justice demands that those still active who have molested children, or covered it up, be held accountable but I increasingly doubt that will happen in this lifetime. If Pope Francis hasn't acted by now, I doubt he will, with perhaps, some high profile exceptions so it looks like he is engaged in the issue. The Pope himself is accountable to no one on this earth and he seems to like (perhaps too much) being Pope. My guess is Francis is not going anywhere. For more "predictions" along this line, see Fr. Dwight Longenecker's forecasts here.

There is good news: I believe there are now sufficient measures in place that additional molestations of children taking place are extremely unlikely. Your children at a Catholic church or school are as safe as anyone can reasonably make them.

There are wonderful priests and bishops across our nation who do outstanding work every day. They have been unfairly tarred with this brush and need our love, support and, most of all, prayers. I am blessed to live in the Diocese of Wichita which is outstanding and there are many others like it across our nation and the world.

So, don't be discouraged. Keep praying. Have faith. We will get through this.