What's Wrong with the Catholic Church #16

The following are my views on some of the recent Church statements regarding modern life and its challenges. A particularly useful source is Zenit: (www.zenit.org).

On the Economic Sphere. "Therefore, even in competition, 'the Church's social doctrine holds that authentically human social relationships of friendship, solidarity and reciprocity can also be conducted within economic activity, and not only outside it or after it. The economic sphere is neither ethically neutral, nor inherently inhuman and opposed to society. It is part and parcel of human activity and precisely because it is human, it must be structured and governed in an ethical manner.'" (Zenit, 8/23/09). I can't improve on that.
On the Priesthood, in this, the Year of the Priest. Several articles declare the central role of the Catholic priest, the only human being who can change bread and wine into the true presence of Jesus Christ for all the Faithful to receive, despite our unworthiness. That gift is derivative from the Bishops, the successors of the Apostles. But it is theirs upon ordination to the priesthood; and thus they should be more highly valued than they are in the Church hierarchy. They should be obedient, within the understanding of filial respect. But this should not preclude assistance, correction and guidance of father by son when necessary.
A Culture of Life is discussed in a Zenit article dated 11/21/09. "Without God, man no longer perceives himself as 'mysteriously other' in relation to the various earthly creatures, and is considered as one of many living beings, as an organizm that, at best, has reached a very high level of perfection...." Sound familiar? That is the immoral and amoral subtext to all of the rationalizations justifying abortion, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia. After all, we "humans" are only the latest in a line of evolutionary beings stretching from the amoeba to our present imperfect state. And forget that the Son of God, for our unique sake, became Man...not monkey.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, through its President William Donohue and its publication, Catalyst (www.catholicleague.org) regularly shines a spotlight on the constant defamations piled on the Church by people who are generally guilt-ridden and worried about their own past and future. What else can explain the vitriol?
The Church is rightly mounting a sustained defense of Marriage, the life-long union of a man and a woman as the foundation of society. Where the Church over-reaches, without jurisdiction and with sad consequences, in my opinion, is in the discharge by such a loving and committed couple of their inherent charge to develop responsibly a family of offspring for whom they can properly care. Here, the only forbidden action would be anything that destroys or manipulates an already conceived fertilized ovum from the instant of fertilization.
The outreach by the Church to dis-affected members of the Anglican Church is, in my opinion, is a true manifestation of the Faith, Hope and Charity that sustains Christianity. And it is being offered with proper sensitivity and accommodation to fellow Christians. I hope that there is no retreat from the implementation of this offer. (See the article in America magazine entitled "Bridge Over the River Tiber", Nov. 16, 2009).
What to do with pro-abortion "Catholics" and "Catholic politicians" during their lives...and after death. This is an important source of continuing discord and distress among Catholic Bishops, priests and the Laity, most recently crystallized in the debate among Archbishop Raymond Burke, Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley and the Kennedy family. In my opinion, such individuals should not be offered Holy Communion during their lives - until they repent or until their deaths, when the justice and the mercy of God should not be anticipated or pre-empted by refusal of Christian burial.
Finally for now, there follows an article on the statement by Irish prelates on the rampant child abuse reported to have occurred between 1975 and 2004 in that bastion of Catholicism. The article is printed below as the only way to distinguish this clear, unambiguous and heartfelt cry from the obfuscation and obstruction of justice that defined the approach of the American hierarchy to this disaster...culminating in a coronation-like sendoff for Cardinal Law before his deportation to Rome. The epitome of "what's right...and wrong...with the Catholic Church".

==================================================
ZENIT, The world seen from Rome
News Agency
==================================================

Irish Prelates Lament Report on Child Abuse
Say No Apology Is Sufficient

DUBLIN, Ireland, NOV. 27, 2009 (Zenit.org).- In response to the publication of a report about sexual abuse of children by clergy, the archbishop of Dublin is stating that "no apology is sufficient."

The report, which details abuse cases in the Dublin Archdiocese from 1975 to 2004 and the response of Church and state authorities to these accusations, was published Thursday by the Commission of Investigation.

The investigation began three years ago, under the leadership of Justice Yvonne Murphy, a High Court judge from Dublin.

The publication of this Dublin report comes several months after the Ryan report, which detailed widespread child abuse in Catholic schools throughout the country.

In a statement posted on the Dublin archdiocesan Web site after the Murphy report's public release, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin affirmed, "It is difficult to find words to describe how I feel today."

"What can I say," he continued, "when I have to share with you the revolting story of the sexual assault and rape of so many young children and teenagers by priests of the archdiocese or who ministered in the diocese?"

"No words of apology will ever be sufficient," the prelate said.

He thanked Murphy for the "diligent and professional work in producing this report" which, he affirmed, "will provide an invaluable framework for how we can better protect the children of today and the future."

Traumatic

No report, the archbishop acknowledged, "can give an indication of the suffering and trauma endured by the children, and indeed the suffering also of their family members."

He continued: "Many survivors have not yet been able to speak about abuse they experienced. For them the publication of the report must be truly traumatic."

Archbishop Martin urges these victims to "turn to some trusted friend, to a counselor or counseling service of their choice," or to the Diocesan Child Protection Service in order to seek help.

This report, he said, "highlights devastating failings of the past" that "call on all of us to scrupulously apply clear guidelines and norms."

"One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the report," the prelate affirmed, "is that while Church leaders -- bishops and religious superiors -- failed," many parents worked hard to try to stop the abuse.

He explained that "almost every parent who came to the diocese to report abuse clearly understood the awfulness of what was involved."

Archbishop Martin continued: "Almost exclusively their primary motivation was to try to ensure that what happened to their child, or in some case to themselves, did not happen to other children.

"Their motivation was not about money or revenge; it was quite simply about that most basic human sense of right and wrong and that basic Christian motivation of concern for others.

"The survivors of abuse who courageously remained determined to have the full truth heard by all deserve our recognition and admiration."

Horrendous scandal

The archbishop acknowledged that "excuses, denials and minimizations were taken from priest abusers who were at the least in denial, at worst devious in multiple ways, and decisions were taken which resulted in more children being abused."

Thus, he said, efforts to "protect the Church" and "avoid scandal" have only resulted in "bringing this horrendous scandal on the Church today."

"The damage done to children abused by priests can never be undone," the prelate affirmed.

He offered "to each and every survivor, my apology, my sorrow and my shame for what happened to them."

Archbishop Martin noted that there are many priests in his archdiocese that share his "sense of shame" about this "offense to God and affront to the priesthood" by the perpetrators.

He added, "I hope that all of us -- bishops, priests and lay persons -- working together can rebuild trust by ensuring that day after day the Church in the Archdiocese of Dublin becomes a safer environment for children."

The archbishop concluded: "Today, it must be unequivocally recalled that the Archdiocese of Dublin failed to recognize the theft of childhood which survivors endured and the diocese failed in its responses to them when they had the courage to come forward, compounding the damage done to their innocence.

"For that no words of apology will ever be sufficient."

Healing and hope

Cardinal Desmond Connell, who served as archbishop of Dublin from 1988 to 2004, acknowledged that the report was "severely critical of the diocesan response" to the "appalling problem" of child sexual abuse, "particularly in my earlier years in office."

"From the time I became aware of this history," he said, "I have experienced distress and bewilderment that those placed in a position of sacred trust could be guilty of such heinous offenses and cause such appalling harm to vulnerable young people."

"The abuse of children is an unspeakable crime," the prelate added.

He said, "I wish to express without reservation my bitter regret that failures on my part contributed to the suffering of victims in any form."

The cardinal concluded: "I apologize again now from my heart and ask the forgiveness of those who have been so shamefully harmed.

"It has long been my prayer that they may be able to rebuild their lives and find healing and hope for the future."

In another press release, the archdiocese reported that its Child Protection Service is currently working to "minimize the possibility of abuse happening, and if it does to maximize the possibility of detection."