David Ancell / Sunday March 07, 2004
By now, you have read plenty of things about the John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s report on the abuse scandal. You have probably also heard earlier statements claiming to have “turned the corner” on the scandal. Honestly, I don’t know what turn the corner means.
However, even if the sex abuse scandal could be relegated to the history books, the real scandal would not be over with. Does anyone remember the Final Communique of the meeting of the American cardinals with Rome in April 2002. In it, there are these lines:
) Given the doctrinal issues underlying the deplorable behavior in question, certain lines of response have been proposed:
a) the Pastors of the Church need clearly to promote the correct moral teaching of the Church and publicly to reprimand individuals who spread dissent and groups which advance ambiguous approaches to pastoral care;
b) a new and serious Apostolic Visitation of seminaries and other institutes of formation must be made without delay, with particular emphasis on the need for fidelity to the Church’s teaching, especially in the area of morality, and the need for a deeper study of the criteria of suitability of candidates to the priesthood.
Where are the plans for promotion of proper teaching in the Church? We just had a committee report discussing the poor quality of high school catechetical texts which basically said that six years went by since the last report without much action being taken. How about the enforcement of Ex Corde Ecclesiae? Are theology professors who are not seeking the mandatum being publicly reprimanded for their dissident teaching? Nope.
However, we can’t absolve ourselves either. If we go to or send kids to a “Catholic” school without determining whether or not they are making efforts to teach what the Church teaches, we are guilty. We are supporting them in their adultery against the faith. We need to boycott these people. If there are lame religious education classes offered on a smaller scale, we might consider going to set the record straight by arguing with the bad teaching.
Until the scandal of dissent is solved, we cannot say that the scandal in the Church is history. However, we can affect this. We can start with our nearest Catholic neighbor, our local parish, our local Catholic school. We must do this for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
« Passion Review
Christianity is Not Altruism, Part II »
No comments have been made on this post.
Please note that all comments are moderated, and they will be posted once approved.