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	Charles Lewis: Catholic Church Is Forgetting Its Own Lesson of Humility By Charles Lewis National Post August 20, 2011 http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/08/20/charles-lewis-catholic-church-is-forgetting-its-own-lesson-of-humility/ There have been enough disturbing stories about sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church to push even the most devout Catholic into despair. I can say as a Roman Catholic, as someone who loves the Church deeply, that that these awful revelations cause terrible heartache. Such a revelation in the National Catholic Reporter on Friday made me feel that great sense of frustration once again. But there was also something else that made it even worse. The story concerned revelations in 2010 of sexual abuse at prestigious Jesuit-run Canisius College in Berlin. As the story spread, more and more students came forward to say they had been molested. Fr. Klaus Mertes, headmaster of the college, was honest enough to send letters to every former student to let them know that two priests had been accused of misconduct. He added that he "was deeply shaken and ashamed" by what he had learned. He eventually resigned his post. He appears to be an honorable man who missed what was going on in his own school and it will haunt him forever. The story noted that since those revelations came out a year ago, 180,000 German and 87,000 Austrian Catholics had formally left the Church. It is not clear from the story whether this is a direct consequence of what happened in Berlin or because of the abuse crisis in general. But then there was this, put in as almost an aside: Some people in the church aren't alarmed by the exodus, however, said Fr. Mertes. Certain circles actually welcome the fact that thousands are formally leaving the church in Germany. They regard it as "healthy downsizing" that enables "true Catholics" to be among themselves, he said. I am certain that Fr. Mertes does not think what is going on is part of a "healthy downsizing" but rather he was relaying how some rationalize the exodus to make it sound like it is something positive instead of the tragedy that it really is. As the National Catholic Reporter states: He recalled that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, had called stories about sexual abuse by clergy "petty gossip." "I was aghast that anyone could say that and I'm still deeply ashamed about that statement of Sodano's," Mertes said. It would be one thing if those Church officials were talking about an unfaithful group — Catholics who really don't buy into what the Church teaches — departing over genuine theological differences. But from what I can see, the exodus taking place in Germany in Austria is born out of disgust and grief — not over how many times a Catholic should attend confession during the year or a debate about the new translations of the Roman Missal. Why would anyone think that an exodus of those fed up with tales of sexual abuse might make the Church stronger? I have written as a news reporter about some of the Church's most disgraceful moments. And I have at all times been fair to the Church and moved quickly when I have felt that it was being unjustly accused as well as when it has done its own people a grave disservice. Any Church official who sees this winnowing as desirable has lost his mind and is in serious need of help. The Church should go on bended knee to these people who have left and beg them to come back. There is only so much the Church can do to make amends for the sins of the past. This is obvious. And I still believe deeply that for all these terrible story the Church is a holy institution deserving of love and respect. I for one would never leave it. One of the great teachings of the Catholic Church is to strive for humility. It is one of the most important lessons that can be imparted to the faithful. I would like to see the Church put this it into action.  It would look like this: a Catholic priest or bishop or cardinal knocking on the door of someone who has recently left and plead with them to come back. There are people who feel the Church has left them. Now the Church has a duty to remind its children that we are more than this rotten abuse crisis. To abandon them only magnifies this entire mess. Contact: clewis@nationalpost.com
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