BishopAccountability.org
	Open Letter to Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro Sambi By Frank J. Douglas Voice from the Desert June 30, 2010 http://reform-network.net/?p=5949 Dear Archbishop Sambi: Enclosed you’ll find a U.S. penny—one cent—as my contribution to the Peter’s Pence collection. The Pope’s charities in lands far, far away need support, but I believe there are more pressing needs here in the U.S. My lowly penny has a lofty message—In God We Trust. With this penny I intend to make a statement: I am appalled at the Pope’s performance to date in addressing the clergy sex abuse scandal. The scandal and the failed attempts by the Pope and his bishops to keep this scandal under wraps and secret from Catholic donors worldwide are unprecedented. Selling indulgences pales in comparison to the rapes and molestations–soul murder–of tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of innocent children worldwide by priests, brothers, and nuns of the Institutional Church. The scandal and the clumsy attempts at cover up by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II have been well documented for more than 25 years by newspapers, television, and cable networks, and on the World Wide Web. Thirty million American Catholics have left the church. Yet Pope Benedict seems to be blind and deaf to these facts. It seems that the Pope places his highest priority on saving his own personal reputation, the reputation of his predecessor, and the reputation of the Institution. He and closest advisors place great store, it seems, in a few transparent, carefully orchestrated events in which the Pope meets with a handful of victims and then tells us through the media how much he feels the victims’ pain. And then there are the endless words, words, words and apologies, apologies, and apologies. It’s as if words and apologies will make the extended nightmare go away and hasten the sunrise of the following morning. I and many others await meaningful, concrete actions, not more papal words and apologies. Cardinal Bernard Law sits in a place of high honor in Rome. It’s time the Pope rids himself and all of us of this symbol of mindless papal loyalty. The Pope ignores, it seems, the command of the Good Samaritan parable to be a good neighbor to the abused person who lies at the side of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30) stripped of his/her clothes, beaten, and half dead. So rather than give to the Pope’s worthy charities in Kenya, Bosnia, and Rwanda, I’ll apply the common sense principle that charity begins at home by giving to U.S. non-profits that act like the Good Samaritan and minister to abuse victims and survivors. Because of the life-long effects of childhood abuse, water and wine need to be poured out (Luke 10: 34) onto abuse victims/survivors for their entire lives. If BP must compensate those who have been harmed by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, shouldn’t the Universal Church—Pope, bishops, priests, all of us—compensate abuse victims/survivors? Sincerely, Frank J. Douglas Send the Bishops a Message 8064 W. Greensleeves Way Tucson, AZ 85743 Contact: Frankdouglas62@yahoo.com (520) 404-2489 (cell)
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