Pederasty and the Church

Vatican City. Photo Credit

Reading about the proceedings in the recent Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese settlement with 508 plaintiffs has once again left me reeling. 508 cases of sexual abuse, many of which included pederasty and pedophilia.

It seems to me that when that happens out in the world rather than within the sacred confines of Mother Church, we punish the perpetrators with jail sentences. Then we make sure they never have another opportunity to have close contact with children.

And here money is being paid in order to avoid a trial with all its unwanted publicity, oblique apologies are made, and we’re back to business as usual.

Boston left me reeling too.

A documentary I saw several years ago about pederasty in the Catholic church in Brazil was equally horrifying in its seeming lack of care about the innocents who have been harmed.

France, Portugal, Germany...and we are told this is only the tip of the iceberg.

How is this possible? Where is the outrage? Who is putting an end to this? Is anyone putting an end to it?