Corruption Within Catholic Church Overshadowed

By Charlotte Luft
The Stylus
February 23, 2016

http://www.thestylus.net/news/view.php/1017345/Corruption-within-Catholic-church-oversh

The Catholic Church has been a powerful institution since its inception; even during a time when people who were found to be Catholic were killed, the church had great power and sway.

The key element behind the church’s power was the idea that Catholicism was for the common man.

The idea of Catholicism has evolved since it was created as it has switched from the common man’s religion to a religion of the rich and powerful.

The introduction of money into the church system has lead to corruption on multiple levels, but perhaps the most atrocious institution that has evolved into the church system is the sexual abuse of children.

According to the columbia.com article, “Catholic clergy scandal: Possibly just 5 out of 77 sexual abusers convicted” by The Associated Press, there is a list of 77 Catholic priests and clergy members who were listed as allegedly sexually abusing children, of those accused on the list only about five were convicted of the crime.

Where is the accountability from the Catholic Church? Why aren’t people more concerned about the abuses of power by the Catholic Church?

When singer Sinead O’Connor called out the church for abuses against her as a child, and the insurmountable power they seemed to have over the people in Ireland and around the world, many people ignored what she said and got irritated she ruined a Saturday Night Live episode with her politics.

O’Connor performed and said her piece on SNL almost 24 years ago and we’re still hearing about the abuses of the Catholic Church and doing nothing about it.

According to the seattletimes.com article, “Few clergy on Catholic child-sex list ever convicted” by Lewis Kamb, the list of 77 clergy was compiled by the archdiocese board who were complied by the Catholic Church after allegations of sexual abuse against a child were made.

Following an addition to the list, a Catholic priest or clergy member would be put under a “two-year review by a consultant and an archdiocese-appointed board.”

Of the people who were put onto the list only one was convicted in the State of Washington. The other four convicted were arrested out of state.

Why were the other priests and clergy members on the list not put under investigation? How can the Catholic Church have so much control outside of the U. S. legal system?

Does freedom of religion now cover the freedom to be accused of sexually molesting a child and not put under investigation by officers of the law?

Priest Dennis Kemp went before a court of law after the situation was examined by the archdiocese, but the prosecutors did not charge him.

The church being able to exude so much power over a system which is supposed to be impartial and fair needs to stop.

In the seattletimes.com article there is a quote from a consultant to the archdiocese law firm who is helping to compile the lists of priests who were convicted or accused of sexual crimes against a child named Kathleen McChesney.

“The allegations were either brought after the statute of limitations or there might not have been a proper investigation,” McChesney said.

The church still having so much power over our governmental practices is concerning. Religion is not wrong, but religion having control over a system which is supposed to be separate is.

When people gain positions of power they should be held accountable by another position of power. The amount of control the Catholic Church has over people is amazing as it is, but adding in the power of being able to control the system which punishes for wrongdoings, there is too much power in one set of hands.

The views of the Catholic Church do not at all coincide with protecting child molesters so why do they do it?

It is hard to believe in a religious organization which does not support things such as gay marriage and abortion rights, but shields corrupt people who abuse children.

The Catholic Church needs to clean up its act otherwise it is going to lose parishioners.