Everyone knows that the Catholic Church has made serious, tragic mistakes re: the sexual abuse of children. Thousands of children and their families have suffered terribly because priests sexually attacked children, and bishops and archbishops covered up these crimes. They were crimes. The Church failed in its responsibility to protect these children.
In the last few years, the Catholic Church has changed its policies and practices. Now, if a person makes an allegation against a Catholic priest and if even one allegation APPEARS to be true, the Church removes that priest from Church work TILL HE DIES. The Catholic Church, at least in the United States, has a very strict program for dealing with priests who may or may not have committed a crime. Still, as we saw on the Pope's recent trip to England, many people continue to criticize the Church re: sexual abuse of children.
Yet, apparently, the same "concern" and response to other people who sexually abuse children is NOT the same. An article on the "Chicago Tribune" 10/7/10, pointed out that DOCTORS/MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS who may have sexually abused children are treated very differently than Catholic priests. If someone alleges sexual abuse by the doctor, the State of Illinois allows these people to continue to "treat" people, including children. Where are the protesters? Where are all the law enforcement people who are so upset about sexual abuse when it happens in a church hall, but not so worried when it happens in a doctor's office?
Seventy-five per cent (75%) of all sexual abuse happens in families. This is true in Chicago, and throughout the United States. Yet, very few families ever report the actions of their relatives when it is clear that these relatives are harming children.(Ask anyone who works at a children's advocacy center.) It is easy to blame "the Church". It is much harder to accept responsibility for what happens in ones own family.
This all leaves me wondering. Are all the people who become so upset when they learn a priest has abused a child, just as upset and angry when it is the family doctor/dentist, older brother/uncle or aunt who is the perpetrator? Why are authorities in the State of Illinois so concerned about arresting any priest who hurts a child (they should arrest him!), not as concerned when it is someone with M.D. after his/her name?