Pedophilia and the Catholic Church

I've generally avoided blogging about this topic, if for no other reason than I firmly believe that any ethical system that encourages us to be better than we are deserves a measure of respect.  But, this business with the catholic church defies understanding.  The church, in my opinion, is acting in the most reprehensible manner imaginable.  Rather than clearly admit being wrong in hiding criminal acts by the clergy, the church continues to obfuscate.

Consider a recent quote from the current pope who said that Jesus “leads us toward the courage not to be intimidated by the gossip of dominant opinion.”  Lovely, just lovely.  Consider the facts.  Catholic priest in a number of countries have engaged in pedophilia.  In case you didn't know, that's a serious crime.  The Catholic church, including the current pope, systematically covered up these crimes.  In case you didn't know, that makes the Catholic church an accessory after the fact.  That is also a crime.  None of this is gossip.  It's well established fact.  It is not the Catholic faithful that need courage, rather it is the Church's hierarchy, most particularly including the Pope, that needs the courage to clearly acknowledge it's role an an accessory to systematic pedophilia.

In his remarks Benedict also prayed for “the young and those charged with protecting them.”  Now, that's certainly laudable and appropriate.  But where is the call to prayer for those charged with providing moral leadership?  Where's the call to prayer for those charged with managing the church?  Where's the call to confession and admission of sin, never mind crimes?  Absent this, the Church's hierarchy continues to set itself above it's own moral code and above the law.  It is clearly NOT above the law.  That the clergy considers itself above its own teachings isn't just wrong, it's immoral, it's a sin.

There is simply no excuse for this conduct.  Moreover, the conduct is immensely destructive of the church.  History teaches us that once before there was a time like this when the clergy set itself above it's own teachings.  The results was the protestant reformation.  One would think it would be a lesson.  Apparently not.