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	Facing up to the Abuse Crisis By Tom Sheridan Catholic Explorer April 21, 2008 http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/commentary/facing-up-the-to-abuse-crisis.shtml Sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll. In some media accounts last week, Pope Benedict XVI blamed clergy sexual abuse of minors on the influence of those three all-American vices. That's an easy — albeit incomplete — answer to the church's scandalous crisis. Neither is it exactly what the pope had in mind when he mentioned the breakdown of society contributing to the tragic molestation of thousands of minors by clergy. That Pope Benedict's American apostolic journey would address the crisis which has consumed much of the church's energy over the past five-plus years was widely speculated. Some expected a pro forma apology for the church's role in the abuse and its aftermath. Others feared he might shy away from the topic. Rather, Pope Benedict faced it head-on, raising the issue with reporters during his flight to the U.S., in his address to the U.S. bishops and again during the open-air Mass in Washington. At each venue, he called the abuse shameful. And on April 17 the pope talked with and prayed with several victims of clergy sexual abuse from Boston, center of the current scandal. That event wasn't on the pope's official schedule, though many had both anticipated and hoped for it. One victim said the symbolism was a step in the right direction. Still others said it was long overdue. Pro-forma apology for the horror of the abuse? Hardly. Shy away from a face to face with victims? No way. During his April 16 meeting with bishops, Pope Benedict acknowledged the assessment of Cardinal Francis George of Chicago that some bishops "badly handled" offending clergy and the aftermath. Clergy who have "betrayed their priestly obligations and duties by such gravely immoral behavior" brought pain to the victims and to the church, Pope Benedict told the bishops. "As you strive to eliminate this evil, ... you may be assured of the prayerful support of God's people throughout the world. ... It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged," he added. Despite its missteps, the pope approved of the U.S. church's response, beginning in Dallas in 2002, to identify and discipline offending clergy, create safe environments for children, raise awareness of abuse in society and to foster healing of individuals and families shattered by abuse. Not everyone was pleased, however. Some victims' groups picketed the popemobile's route demanding censure for bishops they said were unresponsive to the crisis. At the April 17 Mass at Nationals Park, 45,000 people heard the pope again acknowledge the pain of the abuse scandal. "No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse," Pope Benedict said in his homily. "Nor," he said, "can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the church." But what about sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll? In his messages the pope recognized the perils and promises of the larger society in which the church functions. He said the question of abuse must be "addressed ... within the wider context of sexual mores," asking, "What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media?" In other words, we're a society awash in images counter to Christian values. The Catholic Church is hardly alone in facing the problem of sexual abuse. It exists in schools, sports, families and even other faiths. But while that doesn't diminish the church's shame, it highlights the challenge facing people of faith and values. The pope is correct: Society has a role in forming values, perhaps especially sexual ones. It is a challenge for people of faith, those like the pope who have hope in Christ, to help reform society.
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