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	Community in Turmoil: Where Is the Vatican? The Chronicle-Herald October 2, 2009 http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorials/1145486.html IT WAS SUPPOSED to be a new beginning for the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, its parishioners and childhood victims of clerical sexual abuse when Bishop Raymond Lahey approved a $15-million settlement last month to compensate and counsel people who were molested by some clergy in the diocese over the past 59 years. The money was one acknowledgment of the extent of damage done to young lives by priests who betrayed their trust and by church officials who failed in their duty to remove offenders from positions in which they could continue to prey upon children. But another vital part of the healing and reconciliation promised that day was the bishop’s apology to the victims and their families and his pledge that the church would be "fair, responsible, respectful and, above all, compassionate." "No matter how many years have gone by," Bishop Lahey said, "we have to do what is right today." But trust, healing and reconciliation have been dealt a crushing blow by the shocking news that Bishop Lahey has been charged by Ottawa police with possessing and importing child pornography after officials at the Ottawa airport allegedly found images "of concern" on his laptop computer. News of the charges became public Wednesday, four days after the bishop suddenly resigned his post, citing personal reasons. Yesterday, he surrendered to police in Ottawa. None of the allegations have been proven and the former bishop is entitled to a presumption of innocence as a matter of due process. But should the charges be upheld, a cloud of bad faith will be cast over the reconciliation process and people will have reason to feel betrayed again by a violation of criminal law that is there to protect children. People in a host of small communities were already expressing shock at the prospect of having to raise $15 million for the abuse settlement at a time when many are having a hard time scraping together funds to keep their parishes and churches operating. Some are angry that the burden falls wholly on parishioners who had no knowledge of the abuses or authority over the abusers. If the bishop who asked them to make this sacrifice for the sake of a new beginning is tainted by use of child pornography, that may be one more shock than they are prepared to accept. It would make it harder to raise funds and avoid having to sell parish assets. And it would leave the fine words of apology and compassion ringing hollow for the victims. The community thrown into this turmoil desperately needs help and leadership that can only come from the Vatican. They should not be left in the lurch financially. They deserve a new spiritual leader who has an explicit mandate to expose and purge attitudes and behaviour that failed to protect children. However the charges against the bishop are resolved, that is what is right for the flock today. Contact: edits@herald.ca
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