For a religion that preaches abstinence, is against birth control and abortion, supposedly forbids rape, and claims homosexuality is a sin, the Catholic clergy is coming to light, thanks to diligent media and a growing number of victims unafraid to speak out, as the biggest offenders.
With the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI came stories of profligate child sex abuse cases that had been quietly swept under the rug for so long, and without much finesse, that people just ignored the lump in the Catholic carpet without questioning what is was or why it was there; accepting it as part of the status quo. Now, two weeks later, another sordid scandal has leaked to the press; a gay priest sex ring.
Reported by La Repubblica, apparently there is a secret report that reveals sex scandals within the Vatican. High ranking clergy members, it states, meet with male prostitutes at known gay bars outside Vatican walls. These prostitutes are reported as blackmailing the priests and prelates. The priests have been caught on camera “Dirty Dancing” and even “in the act” of fornication. Some are even witnessed to be cross-dressing. (Don’t they already wear dresses?)
The church preaches about the evils of women being temptresses, having premarital sex, using birth control, but somehow the sermons on abstinence, homosexuality, child rape, and vice have either flown over the heads of these priests or they consider themselves above it all somehow – a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to Christianity.
This latest revelation of corruption within the Vatican is said to have been the straw that broke Benedict’s back; the reason why he threw up his hands and resigned. However, in Did Child Sex Abuse End a Papacy? and From Conspiracy Theory to Fact: Pope Seeks Immunity from Child Sex Crimes, we find out that the Pope knew about an arrest warrant with his name on it concerning the multitude of child sex abuse cases he helped cover up. So which is it? Did the Pope resign because he knew he’d aided and abetted pedophile priests by doing nothing about the child sex abuse scandals or did he resign because the corruption of sexual vice and deviancy ran so deep in the church that to cut it out would cause it to bleed to death? We may never know the exact answer. Perhaps claiming ill health was the truth. All the deception, lies, and cover-ups could definitely wear down a man of his age, not to mention the crisis of conscience. Either way, the Vatican is not the pristine palace of religious purity and piety it purports to be.
There’s more sex going on in the Vatican than on a Vivid Entertainment adult film set.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Timothy Dolan was questioned February 20th, 2013 by lawyers in a three hour session regarding a 500-person class action suit charging sexual abuse by clergy in the Milwaukee Archdiocese while he was in charge. Dolan did something no other cardinal had done before; he decided to publish a list of offending priests for the public. (I applaud this) Because of the high number of child sex abuse cases against them, the Milwaukee Archdiocese had to claim bankruptcy in 2011 due to the high-dollar payouts to those abused.
In Los Angeles, former archbishop Roger Mahoney, who was stripped of his duties, will also be questioned by attorneys on this case regarding his leadership while a multitude of children were sexually abused by clergy in the LA archdiocese. Both of these cardinals were in charge during a time of some of the most heinous cases of child sexual abuse, and both will travel to Rome to join the conclave and vote in the next pope.
Does it make any sense that those who will elect the next pontiff are the same individuals caught up in sex scandals? Should they be allowed to continue to live in luxury removed from prosecution in civilian courts?
These are the questions the faithful should be asking – and they are. Catholics from around the world are getting organized and petitioning that cardinals involved in sex abuse cases and scandals should not be allowed to vote in conclave. The current petition specifies Cardinal Roger Mahoney. (To view and/or sign this petition, click here).
The behavior of the leadership of the Catholic Church has become an abject embarrassment for the laity. Average everyday Catholics are angry and ashamed of what has become of their faith. It’s no wonder membership has been steadily dwindling. It’s time for reform. It’s time for sexually abusive priests to be prosecuted by civilian courts without interference or protection by the church. Crime is crime, and rape is rape. If the church wants to absolve the offenders of their sins, so be it, but let the courts prosecute them and get them permanently off the streets and away from their victims. Criminals belong in prison, not comfortably ensconced behind Vatican walls.
M. Gwynn has authored two books, Harvest and The Cat Who Wanted to be a Reindeer on Amazon.com .
All articles by Michele Gwynn are under copyright and cannot be re-posted whole without written consent by the author. Partial re-posting with a link back to the original article is permitted. For consent, questions, or comments, email megwynn@msn.com.
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