This week, the Archdiocese of New York agreed to pay 1,300 survivors of sexual abuse $800 million dollars. This is one of many, I believe, that will be adjudicated in coming years. In Pennsylvania, a bevy of lawyers hired by the Catholic Church has been working for years to keep the statute of limitations to a minimum to avoid this kind of financial payout. The problem has been in the world forever, and the Catholic Church did not invent it, but they have been at the center of this evil for as long as I have been alive. They are not alone in allowing, or at least, trying to hide this epidemic; lots of denominations have dealt with this and similar problems for centuries. There are lots of reasons why, but I don’t have the time or patience to try to deal with that. For me, the greatest evil is what this has done to the survivors and their families. All the money in the world cannot heal the pain and suffering they have undergone. I hope they don’t give up on God, because this isn’t God’s fault.
The second tragedy is what this has done to the way the Christian faith is seen by the public. To be clear – the vast majority of priests and clergy have never participated in any of this behavior; we are shocked and disgusted and embarrassed by not only the abuse, but the way hierarchies have covered it up. But like the Epstein files, there are a lot of people who have been complicit in the destruction of children’s lives. They have seen and heard and witnessed the abuse and done nothing; worse, they have assisted in the cover up and transfer of clergy to other locations. They know this is evil – they know they can do something about it – they know that God will punish them – and yet – little has been done. And they are not alone – other religious communions have done the same; the Amish are among the worst.
The only time Jesus hinted at accepting the death penalty is in Luke 17. If someone hurts a child, He said, it would be better for that person to have a millstone hung around their neck and be tossed into the sea and drowned. Jesus told His disciples that one must become like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. The job of adults is to protect those who cannot protect themselves; children and the very elderly are prime examples of groups that need to be protected. This is why New York State did this. This is why we want the Epstein files released. I believe we will be judged by God on the way we treat those who cannot defend themselves – the least of these, Jesus called them in Matthew 25. For those who have damaged children, that judgment cannot come soon enough.
Prayer – God, keep us mindful and watchful. Help us to protect those who might be injured by evil people. Amen.
Today’s art is “Cherished” by Jewell Riano-Bradley.