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	Experts Offer Opinions on Whether the Pope Should Be Held Responsible The Dallas Morning News April 3, 2010 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/DN-popepanel_03int.ART.State.Edition1.4d1c70e.html Below is an excerpt from On Faith, a daily online religion section sponsored by The Washington Post and Newsweek. This week, On Faith asked panelists whether Pope Benedict XVI should be held responsible for the escalating scandals over clerical sexual abuse in Europe. Should the pope resign? George Weigel, Catholic theologian and author: The question of whether Pope Benedict XVI should resign is, frankly, silly, because it assumes guilt where none has been proven or even credibly asserted. ... The charge that [Cardinal Joseph] Ratzinger, when archbishop of Munich, knowingly reassigned a dangerous predator to pastoral ministry has been flatly denied by both the archdiocese and the Vatican. Anyone who knows the elementary facts of the history of the Holy See's handling of these cases over the last decade knows that Ratzinger was at the forefront of efforts to bring abusers to book, swiftly and decisively. John Shelby Spong, former bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Newark, N.J.: Of course he should be held accountable. He approved moving Cardinal Bernard Law to the Vatican to keep him from having to answer questions under oath. ... Child abuse is a crime. Covering up a crime is also a crime. Ordination and a position in the Roman Catholic hierarchy does not make one immune to the consequences of criminal behavior. Max Carter, director, Friends Center, Guilford College: If the pope recognizes that mistakes were made, he should make apologies and amends. If he recognizes that he was the one who made the mistakes, he should similarly clear the air and, using his best Latin, cry "mea culpa." Colleen Carroll Campbell, columnist, TV/radio show host for Eternal World Television Network: Should Catholics be angry about the ongoing revelations of clergy sexual abuse? Absolutely. Do victims deserve a full accounting of how those cases were handled? Yes again. Should Benedict resign? No. He should do what a good father would do: root out the filth in his house, acknowledge the church's past failings frankly and let his flock know, in both word and action, that he shares their fury at these unspeakable crimes and their resolve that they never be repeated. Donna Freitas, assistant professor of religion, Boston University: Though the thought of the pope resigning still boggles my mind, what a powerful statement it would be to all Catholics and people everywhere! Perhaps the Catholic Church would not crumble but instead emerge as a stronger tradition. Embattled yes, but embattled in the service of being a force for good, and no longer for enabling criminal behavior.
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