BishopAccountability.org
	Bay Area Catholics, Stand up Times Herald April 14, 2010 http://www.timesheraldonline.com/opinion/ci_14880325 The Catholic Church is no democracy, but grass-roots efforts from its dioceses can help force change -- especially in matters of moral duty rather than church doctrine. So Bay Area Catholics should continue to push the Vatican to be more forthcoming and less defensive about its handling of sexual abuse cases. Here's how far the church has to go: Last Monday, the Vatican felt the need to clarify its policy that high-ranking clerics worldwide should report sex abuse crimes to police if required by law. Could that really have been in question? The statement was a response to the mounting criticism of Pope Benedict XVI, who, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, may have been too lenient in dealing with cases of sexual abuse by priests. An Oakland case has become the flash point in this controversy. The Oakland diocese tried to do the right thing and defrock the Rev. Stephen Kiesle following his no-contest plea in 1978 to charges of molesting two preteen boys in a Union City rectory. But a letter from Cardinal Ratzinger seems to indicate his reluctance to approve this. The Vatican now says he lacked the authority to act, but his letter didn't say that. And his call for "very careful consideration, which necessitates a longer period of time" on the priest's request for dispensation from the vow of celibacy flies in the face of common sense. It shouldn't have taken nearly 10 years from the time Kiesle entered a no-contest plea for him to be formally defrocked. The church has yet to persuade the world that it has faced up to this sexual abuse crisis. Because illegal behavior is involved, it's is a societal problem -- but the Vatican is less likely to be moved by non-Catholic critics. Catholics, especially Catholic parents, need to raise their voices.
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