Rome- Pope talks "platitudes" on abuse; SNAP responds
Again, the pope alludes only to pedophile priests, not corrupt bishops.
Again, he focuses on the harm to the church, not the innocent, wounded children.
Again, he speaks in vague platitudes, refusing to even accurately name the crisis.
Again, he refuses to even recommend, much less take, a single effective prevention step.
Pope Benedict claims 'mystery' surrounding why priests abuse. The pontiff's wrong: there's little mystery here. In 1887, Lord Acton explained it best: "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Priest have long had power, sometimes almost absolute power, over devout and defenseless kids. So they've abused that power and those kids.
And even now, bishops have nearly absolute power over their dioceses, staff and in some places, their flocks. So they abuse that power, and ignore, hide and enable heinous crimes against kids.
Until secular authorities or the pope take dramatic steps to limit bishops' power and hold them personally responsible for crimes by their employees, little will change. Until effective "checks and balances" are set up that "rein in" the nearly boundless authority of bishops, little will change.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 4 comments
The abuse of children by priests is not a mystery. Human reason understands why children were abused. Enabling bishops and their advisors covered-up for sick priests, and by their silence, permitted these sick men to continue their abuse of children. There is nothing mysterious about the sexual abuse scandal, and the fact that the pope would make such an outrageous claim, shows that he is incapable of facing the truth. When will the pope stop pretending? JPII, Benedict, and every enabling bishop knew what was going on. There was no mystery, but plenty of secrecy which kept everyone except the bishops and predator priests from knowing the truth.
Benedict states that the Irish church has been shaken âin an appalling wayâ by the revelations that priests and religious sexually abused children and others entrusted to their care. What is appalling is Benedictâs refusal to face the truth. What is appalling is that JPII knew about the scandal and did nothing to stop it. What is appalling is that bishops throughout the world covered up for their predator priests, thus allowing these priests to continue their abuse. How appalling is it when so many children could have been spared unbelievable emotional, spiritual, and physical pain if the bishops had stopped these men from abusing?
What is so appalling is that Benedict actually thinks that we believe him. In his previous letter to the Irish people, his words rang hollow, and this message is no different. If he actually told the truth and asked for the resignation of every bishop who enabled priests to abuse, he and the church would regain some credibility. That will not happen because Benedict is incapable of telling the truth. Now that is really appalling!
It is Herr Ratzinger who is the mystery. He sat on untold numbers of cases, well aware this inhuman, disgusting behavior against children was in progress by his beloved priests and bishops, and did nothing to stop it! Nothing! He was obsessively concerned with the image of his Cult and blew off all paternal care for the victims of his clergyâs sexual abuse. Whatâs mysterious about this?
If this man thinks that by confessing his gross sins of omission before some lap dog Vatican chaplain is sufficient to purify his soul, he has to be psychologically unbalanced. His apologies are insulting and worthless. Not until he publicly admits his personal culpability and sinfulness will victims finally find peace.
His sins are public in nature, and need to be confessed openly in the public forum. Only in so doing can this man hope to obtain forgiveness from his victims and from his God.