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	Father's Day Letter to Pope Benedict Voice from the Desert June 21, 2010 http://reform-network.net/?p=5762 Pope Benedict XVI The Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See 3339 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008 Dear Pope Benedict: Greetings and salutations from the Sonoran Desert city of Tucson, Arizona, USA. Today is Father's Day throughout our country. It's the one day during the year when we Americans honor our fathers in a special way. Some dads get neckties. Others get extra special treatment from their wives, kids, and grandkids. The more affluent dads are lucky enough to get the latest super duper whiz bang gizmo like a 4G cell phone or even an Apple iPad. I won't be getting any Father's Day gifts because, like you, I'm not a dad. I am, however, a proud godfather. One goddaughter, who lives on Long Island in New York, is a mom with two great kids, a loving husband, and a daily schedule that is as hectic as a CEO, which in a very real sense she is. The other goddaughter is a recent college grad who lives in Chicago and is pursuing acting lessons while working part time to pay the rent. You are the spiritual father of the world's Catholics. I am not trained in theology, but I understand well the notion that a bishop views the priests under his authority as spiritual sons. It's only natural, therefore, for a bishop to try to protect one of "his" priests who is credibly accused of one or more sexual crimes against children or vulnerable adults. That the bishop has an emotional and financial investment in each of his priests is clear. After all, the bishop chooses his priests and pays for their education. The priests in the parishes are the financial intermediaries through whom flow the contributions of the Catholic laity that sustain the priests, the bishops and you, Pope Benedict. One of your many titles is Holy Father. But, Pope Benedict, I for one can no longer use that title in addressing you. Why? Because of the ineffective, even scandalous way that you and your top advisors from the Vatican Curia are handling the crisis of clergy sex abuse of innocent children and the cover up of these heinous crimes by high church officials. You have been long on words and apologies but short on substantive action. Your top Curial officials have made outrageous statements recently. During Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican, at which you, Pope Benedict, were present, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, called examination of your and the church's record on abuse and cover up "petty gossip." Previously, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state and the Number 2 man in authority at the Vatican, speaking in Chile said that the sex scandals bedeviling the church are linked to homosexuality and not celibacy among priests. Using homosexuals as scapegoats is, as some in the USA would say, is a dog that won't hunt. People understand how large organizations work. Top representatives of the CEO don't speak publicly on substantive policy issues without the full knowledge and approval of the person at the top. People know that these words of Cardinals Sodano and Bertone have the papal stamp of approval, the papal imprimatur. Pope Benedict, the time for denial, blame-shifting, and obfuscation is over and has been over for some time. Now is the time to pursue truth with a single-minded passion. The truth shall make you and me—all of us—free. Truth must be served no matter how much it may hurt you personally and the church corporately. Today, Father's Day, is the time to protect our children whether we are biological fathers or not. Children must be safe from all dangerous predators, clerical and lay alike. To risk the safety of children is inexcusable. Happy Father's Day. Sincerely, Frank J. Douglas 8064 W. Greensleeves Way Tucson, AZ 85743 (520) 579-9575 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 579-9575 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 579-9575 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (home) (520) 404-2489 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 404-2489 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (cell) Contact: Frankdouglas62@yahoo.com
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