What an unholy mess
There is a lot of digital ink currently bleeding all over the internet regarding this topic. I will only add a little.
In the Old Testament there are multiple examples of men rending their garments (tearing apart their clothes off of their bodies) and then sitting in sackcloth and ashes to mourn a great atrocity. I don’t know what that looks like in the modern era, but it would be nice to see someone, anyone, in the clerical ranks try at least to rise to this level of mourning.
Please do not mistake my intent here. I grieve with the victims and their families. I grieve with the Church catholic (universal). I grieve for the clergy that must make some very difficult and painful decisions. But let us not forget, it was sin that got us here. And sin will always take us places we really don’t want to go. So, with renewed conviction, let us repent and believe the Gospel: Christ came to save sinners!
Some additional thoughts and links:
A Dominican priest and professor of theology offered his thoughts on cleanup. It’s a very practical list of basic principles without pretending it will be easy to implement.
The resignation of a cardinal is no small thing. For covering up years of sexual abuse and flagrant immoral behavior himself. Then there’s this monstrosity, a Florida diocese that was more like a gay sex club. Lord have mercy.
Soli Deo Gloria
