National
By Joan Chittister, OSB
The church has endeavored more than once, however poorly, to solve the problem of sexual abuse of minors by priests. And now it's trying again.
But maybe a little history is in order.
First, in the era before pedophilia was even a word, let alone a syndrome, bishops moved pedophile priests away from what was then called "an occasion of sin" -- a single circumstance which, with prayer and penance, could be curbed.
Only later did it become public that bishops were doing it time after time. Worse, most simply failed to launch any kind of credible investigation. More ignored the victims entirely. The goal was simply to get the man out of town happen what may to the children and families involved, in the first parish -- or in the second.