I am usually not political. I sit on my hands even when I am about to pop. But, I can’t. Pope Francis needs to call for resignation of ALL the US bishops, then re-enstate only those with lily clean hands regarding the cover ups of the pedophile priests. And if it means 5 bishops in the entire country, we are better off.
As a spouse of a military member, I experienced multiple, multiple priests serving military communities who came out on lists of pedophiles when the scandal broke. About some of them, there were rumors, but most of them were hiding in plain sight. I have read the damning statement/excuse that these problem priests were sent to the military because they would be serving adults. This ignores the families like mine, living on bases, far away from home experiencing trials without the support of family or long time friends. I trusted priests, but I learned not to trust very much. Bishops protected and hid the issue of their pedophiles by dumping them.
When the scandal broke over 15 years ago and protections were adopted, I was relieved. I was joyful. I wanted the light to shine and the dark evil practices of the past to be put aside. I felt free of that burden.
The Pennsylvania scandal feels personal to me because one of those military priests has been hiding there until recently. And now he isn’t. And yes, he is responsible for his actions, but the Pittsburgh bishop is more responsible for hiding him, in my opinion. And my outrage is because, I am sure that it does stop there. In other diocese around the US today, I am sure that there are bishops hiding and covering up. It has to stop. It must stop. However many grand jury reports it takes, it has to stop. No more cover ups. Bring on the scandals and let us have a clean house to worship Christ. Let our good and loyal priests not fear. Let us have a clean church. Let it start with our bishops who need to earn our trust. And to me, the only logical step is for them all to resign.
As a spouse of a military member, I experienced multiple, multiple priests serving military communities who came out on lists of pedophiles when the scandal broke. About some of them, there were rumors, but most of them were hiding in plain sight. I have read the damning statement/excuse that these problem priests were sent to the military because they would be serving adults. This ignores the families like mine, living on bases, far away from home experiencing trials without the support of family or long time friends. I trusted priests, but I learned not to trust very much. Bishops protected and hid the issue of their pedophiles by dumping them.
When the scandal broke over 15 years ago and protections were adopted, I was relieved. I was joyful. I wanted the light to shine and the dark evil practices of the past to be put aside. I felt free of that burden.
The Pennsylvania scandal feels personal to me because one of those military priests has been hiding there until recently. And now he isn’t. And yes, he is responsible for his actions, but the Pittsburgh bishop is more responsible for hiding him, in my opinion. And my outrage is because, I am sure that it does stop there. In other diocese around the US today, I am sure that there are bishops hiding and covering up. It has to stop. It must stop. However many grand jury reports it takes, it has to stop. No more cover ups. Bring on the scandals and let us have a clean house to worship Christ. Let our good and loyal priests not fear. Let us have a clean church. Let it start with our bishops who need to earn our trust. And to me, the only logical step is for them all to resign.
