BishopAccountability.org
	Reader's View: Clerical Sexual Abuse Is Centuries Old By Frank Abbott Duluth News Tribune August 15 2010 http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/176416/group/Opinion/ It is inconceivable that Bishop Raphael Fliss could not recall a $3 million settlement for priest abuse in 1989 or how much money was actually applied to conceal activities. It was so long ago, he suggested in the July 1 story, “Abuse survivors want former Superior diocese bishop investigated.” He was in charge! Cleric sexual abuse is centuries old. In early 300 at the Synod of Elvira, in what is now Grenada in southern Spain, 19 bishops and 26 presbyters, deacons and laymen assembled to restore order and discipline in the church. They adopted 81 canons pertaining to marriage, sexuality and other disciplines. Canon 18: Bishops, presbyters and deacons once appointed shall not receive Communion, even at death, if guilty of sexual immorality. Canon 33 was the first known mandate for cleric celibacy. Jesus called celibacy a special gift not everyone can manage. In 1039, reform monk Petrus Damiani (Petrus De Honesti) attacked homosexual and other sexual practices by clergy as subversive disruptions against moral order. He was especially indignant about priests having sexual relations with adolescent boys, and he singled out superiors who failed in their duties to uphold church discipline. In 1049, Damiani authored the “Book of Gomorrah” (Libre Gomorrhianus), railing against priesthood sexual abuse. The book was a scathing discourse on the vices of clergy dedicated to Pope Leo IX, who first praised it but was persuaded it was exaggerated and softened decisive actions against offenders. By 1600, priests were promoted or moved from locations where they abused children. Was this the church’s “don’t ask, don’t tell”? Did this initiate the concealment of offenders being applied today? Concealment or cover-up by church hierarchy led to untruths and stonewalling, prolonging sordid details, causing greater loss of credibility and disillusionment among followers. St. Peter Damian was pronounced a doctor of the church by Pope Leo XII in 1828. FRANK ABBOTT SUPERIOR The writer cited Wikipedia, Synod of Elvira, Petrus Damiani, Book of Gomorrah, and other sites cited in the above as his sources for this letter.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.