THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 3, NUMBER 33, SEPT. 14, 2003

THE CURRENT CRISIS – PART ONE

          Almost two years ago I wrote a series of articles for publication in one of the magazines published by brethren concerning the crisis in Roman Catholicism.  I also included these articles in a small monthly paper I used to publish, as well as putting them into sermon form for presentation at a lectureship series.  The crisis has not abated, if anything it has gotten worse, and I continue to receive requests for this information.  Consequently, I have decided to include present it in The Northern Kentucky Searcher as well.  The following is the text of a sermon delivered in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It will require several issues to present it all.

            The Roman Catholic Church finds itself awash in a sea of scandal relating to sexual misconduct by priests.  The misconduct has been primarily the abuse of young boys by homosexual pedophiles in the priesthood.  The scandal involves not only the acts of abuse themselves, but the efforts of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the United States to cover them up.

            Here is a thumbnail sketch of the principal events that have unfolded as this tale of sin and ungodliness has come to light.  The timeline, and the research that went into it, comes via the Indianapolis Star, March 24, 2002.  I use it with their permissions.

            On January 9< 2—2, “Cardinal Law of Boston apologized for the crimes of the Reverend John J. Geoghan (since murdered in prison, g.l.) and implemented a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse by priests.”  On the 30^th of January, 2002, the Archdiocese of Boston turned over to the authorities the names of dozens of former priests, dating back 40 years, who left the clergy because of allegations of child abuse.

            Within the six days of February 2-7, 2002, “Eight active priests who were suspended from the Archdiocese of Boston admitted allegations of sexual misconduct, and at least 20 names of current and former priests were delivered to the Massachusetts district attorney.  On Feb. 9 & 10, the dioceses of Worchester, Massachusetts and Portland, Marine, announced that they would reveal the names of priests who had histories of pedophilia, and on Feb. 15, the diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, said that it had given the prosecutor the names of 14 priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children from 1963-1987.

            On Feb. 22, 2002, “the Archdiocese of Philadelphia revealed it had recently dismissed all remaining diocesan priests it had ever determined engaged in sexual conduct with a minor.  It admitted knowing of 35 priests who abused about 50 children during the past 50 years.”  The Archdiocese of St. Louis announced on Feb. 26, 2002, that a priest had been removed as a 15 year old sexual abuse charge against him had been revealed.  Also on Feb. 26, Cardinal Bevilacqua, of Philadelphia, publicly apologized to victims of sexual abuse by priests in his archdiocese and promised that no toleration of child abuse would be allowed.

            On March 1, 2002, “The Archdiocese of Boston agreed to turn over the names of people allegedly molested by priests and details of the incidents.”  March 3 found several Southern California priests told to retire or leave their ministries by Cardinal Mahony due to their part in past sexual abuse cases.  On march 8, 2002, “the bishop of Palm Beach, Florida, Anthony O’Connell, resigned after admitting he sexually abused a student 25 years earlier, and on March 12, the church reached a settlement with 86 of Geoghan’s alleged 200 victims that could reach 30 million dollars.”  Cardinal Law would ultimately back out of that agreement.

            On March 16, 2002, “court documents revealed that New York Cardinal Egan, while bishop of the Bridgeport, Connecticut diocese, did not aggressively investigate sexual abuse allegations, did not refer complaints to criminal authorities and allowed priests to continue working for years after allegations were made.”  March 18 found the Archdiocese of Miami choosing not to appeal the Florida Supreme Court ruling that prohibited the use of the First Amendment to protect the Archdiocese against lawsuits alleging that sexual abuse by priests had taken place, and on March 19, “the Archdiocese of Miami confirmed that church leaders paid several men to keep quiet about sexual abuse allegations against a priest who resigned in August, 1999.”  On Friday, March 15, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that as “many as five priests in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati who had been accused of sexual misconduct with teens were still serving in priestly roles.”  In August of 2003, the Enquirer quoted the Archbishop of Covington as saying that 8% of the priests in his diocese had engaged in sexual misconduct over the last 30 years.

            This is just the tip of the ice-berg, with more information coming to light on an almost daily basis across the land.  Michael S. Rose, a noted Catholic editor, writer, and the author of Goodbye, Good Men, wrote, “It is a scandal of untold proportions, at least a 100 times worse than what the media have already uncovered in the United States.”

            Even as we recoil in horror at the revelations of such abuse, it would be a grievous error to think that sexual misconduct is limited to the Roman Catholic clergy.  Such is not the case.  Other religious organizations have also experienced sexual sins among their leaders.  Even the Lord’s church has not been immune to sexual misconduct that has torn apart congregations, wrecked homes, and brought reproach upon the church.  Yet it must be admitted that the sexual abuse among the Roman Catholic clergy is astonishing due to the size of the problem and the extent to which their hierarchy went to cover it up.

                                                            To be continued….