PENNSYLVANIA
StateCollege.com
by Patty Kleban on March 07, 2016
In the Bible, (Matthew 15: 8-9) Jesus refers to hypocrisy when he says “these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”
When the news came out last week that the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church has joined the ranks of Boston and Philadelphia, to name just a few, in facilitating sexual abuse by priests, I could not help thinking about hypocrisy. According Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathy Kane who released the summary of grand jury proceedings and years of investigation, more than 50 priests and other diocesan personnel were involved the sexual abuse of minors. Leaders in the diocese then allegedly compounded those crimes by hiding the atrocities from the proper authorities and reassigning priests to other parishes where they inevitably continued their sickness. Few if any criminal charges will be brought forward in this case because of the statute of limitations.
Is it not the definition of hypocrisy for those who we looked to for spiritual guidance and who heard our confessions and baptized and confirmed our children to not only perpetuate but cover up the torture of the weakest members of their flock? Using their status within the church, and in some cases God’s name, the men sought sexual gratification and power over others. It is not only hypocritical but both legally and morally reprehensible.
And all the while they were preaching from the pulpit about sin, confession, penance and redemption.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.