MONTANA
Helena Independent Record
DAVID CLOHESSY
A recent Independent Record article discussed ways to prevent clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Catholic church (“Attorneys, author, bishop weigh in on how to prevent sex abuse by clergy”). But one obvious and crucial step was not mentioned.
How about defrocking, demoting or disciplining church staff who ignore or conceal known or suspected child sex crimes? In our view, that’s the quickest and easiest way to catch predator priests after victim one or two, instead of after victim 22 or 33.
This virtually never happens. Catholic officials admit that more than 6,200 US priests have been publicly accused of sexually assaulting kids. (See bishopaccountability.org) But virtually never has a Catholic employee lost a promotion or a day’s pay for hiding these crimes. (Three U.S. bishops have voluntarily resigned their posts for their reckless, callous or deceitful actions in clergy sex scandals. But again, no one in the church hierarchy has been really punished.)
Nothing will deter such complicity like firing those who enable such horror. But it hasn’t happened. And sadly, there’s no real sign that Pope Francis is willing to do this either.
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