This past couple of weeks the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Australia has shone yet more light on the terrible abuse committed by church leaders; this time in Ballarat, Victoria. It’s enough to bring a man to his knees.
The public hearings have revealed some gut-wrenching personal accounts: stories of young people (and their families) crippled by sexual abuse; stories of utter betrayal; stories we would rather not hear - stories we must hear.
It’s hard being a Catholic today; it’s hard being a Catholic priest today.
Indeed, such is the extent of the crisis that in some circles priest and paedophile have become interchangeable words. It is as if we have moved from an unhealthy, “A priest would never do that”, to a just as unhealthy, “He’s a priest, so he probably did do that.”
The following question in a letter in The Weekend Australian epitomises this collapse in trust: “Are there any parents with young children who still take them to church? If so, can they explain why?”
Our collective shame is deep because good people are being condemned by association.
But we must not fall prey to self-pity because, we are not nearly as innocent, or as damaged, as the children who are only now being given a voice.
It behoves us all in the Church, then, to be agents of change and ensure that Christ’s exhortation to “wash feet” is a non-negotiable quality in our church leaders – our shepherds.
And while we should acknowledge that dramatic changes are taking place, we must also acknowledge that too many of our shepherds have acted like the “hired men” in John’s Gospel “who abandon the sheep when they see a wolf coming … leaving the wolves to attack and scatter the sheep.” (Jn 10: 12)
Underpinning this “hired men” culture is a clericalism in which men feel set apart, pursuing the trappings of power and prestige – acting like corporate CEOs hell-bent on protecting the company brand instead of, like shepherds, being willing to lay down their lives (and their reputations) for their sheep.
But the people of God, people everywhere, are longing for us to simply face facts, to face the truth with humility – that’s what good shepherds do.
Might I suggest, then, that our Pope consider convening an Ecumenical Council of the Church – Vatican III – in which the “hired men” culture is addressed and called to account, victims are afforded a voice, a collective wisdom is given room to breathe and act, and the “feminine genius”, the voice of women, is given a central role.
It is better for a man, for a church, to roam the streets destitute, foraging for the bread of truth, than to roam the corridors of power feasting on privileges and food that does not last. Ours is a profound responsibility: to humbly and gently walk alongside others, especially the most vulnerable, no matter the cost.
That’s what it means to be a truly Catholic Church.
Fr Peter Day is a priest based in the Australian Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Above: Laicised priest Gerald Ridsdale, known to have abused 54 children, gave evidence to the commission from jail via video link
Loading ...
What do you think?
You can post as a subscriber user ...
User comments (13)
The Catholic Church is currently in a state of sin over the abuse issue and it's not just the historical sexual and physical abuse but also a general attitude of abuse that pervades parts of the church.
For too long the Church has been concerned with protecting its image so it is time that these crimes are brought out to the open and the perpetrators are taken into account. This is best done by those set up by Governments such as the Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Australia. The Pope convening an investigation will not bring out the truth as covering up will still occur.
so, your brand is damaged beyond all repair, but you still seem to be touting a "Catholic Church", no? You seem to be human enough and compassionate enough to be able to distinguish the sheep from the wolves---so why don't you abandon your current damaged employer and start your own ministry, Mr Day? Why do you still want to be known as a "Catholic priest"?
I think you get it wrong speaking about " hired men " ,,,,,, they are wolves ! Living off the sheep and failing to protect them
Only when the priests and religious who have remained silent, obedient and supportive of their wayward masters come out on the side of the abused and their families and SPEAK UP will Fr Peter Day's words be other than another lot of codswallop. The Papal Nuncios are also in the mix.
I would support, and i expect to see Vatican Council III. It would be an event of the world, where more and many voices from all the corners of the earth would be heard. The Council fathers and mothers would be allowed to debate and listen to each primarily. The pressing, urgent and unresolved questions would be studied. There would be especially a closer look at the teachings and acts of Jesus Christ as foundational. We would look the cultural heritage so as to understand where we are at present, and project into the future with hope. We would, without being held hostage of the past, learn lessons from the errors. We would deepen and expand Church doctrine in a way that gives life to the Church in modern times. Vatican Council III or whatever name it is given would be a Council where the disciples of Jesus Christ in our times would once again be encouraged to give flavour to the world, and shine through the dark times. In brief, the followers of Christ would be called once again to be the light and salt of the earth in our day and age! We would certainly be led and pushed (or even surprised) by the wisdom of God's Spirit.
Aloysius Beebwa
abeebwa@hotmail.com
In addition to my previous points, Peter Day’s point regarding “the “feminine genius”, the voice of women, [being] …given a central role.” is crucial to the movement that we desperately need in the Church today. That women cannot stand at an altar and bless (consecrate if you prefer) bread and wine, and operate as pastors and bishops in Catholicism displays a narrow, limited understanding of God. We say that God is beyond human imagining, and yet too often we restrict God to our human concepts. THAT God, for many in and outside the Church, IS TOO SMALL!
Peter Day’s discussion is excellent and I commend him, particularly re the problems of the “hired men”/clericalism syndrome. On this, a new model and preparation for the diocesan permanent deaconate and priesthood (thus a better episcopacy in addition to those from religious orders), is overdue. The quasi-monastic, removed seminary preparation is obsolete. Candidates for ordination should attend university/theological colleges to undertake study like any lay person undertaking any discipline, dealing with everyday life in society and managing to exist day to day outside a seminary. That’s reality. Yes, supported by a diocese/archdiocese, (having been truly nominated and accepted by the laity, by a system to be determined, not automatic acceptance by bishop or diocesan consulters alone). No ‘mens club’ seminary life, but functioning as any candidate for ministry within, say, the Anglican and Protestant traditions. Clergy, newly ordained or otherwise, apply for parishes and attend interviews with a parish board which, representing the parish community, has a say in the suitability of candidates for that parish; its culture, vision etc. Same applies to religious. Prospective pastors/parish priests subject to a parish board, not simply nominated by the order/congregation. As for Bishops, these should be appointed by an arch/diocesan synodical process with appropriate lay representation. Is the Church, arch/dioceses and orders capable of reform in this regard?
Well said Father Peter. I live in an Australian Diocese where a greatly respected priest was recently made a scapegoat for deficiencies in Canon Law. By that I mean numerous references to 'pontifical secrecy', secrets of the holy office', 'oaths of secrecy' and so on contained in the Code and its supporting documents. We, as church, will be unable to bring a just and lasting closure to the abuse problems until those references are removed.
I think the juxtaposition of a photograph of a paedophile priest above the article by Father Peter Day is an appalling bit of editing. As I was reading the article I assumed it was a picture of the author and not of someone not even mentioned by name in the article itself. Shame! My sympathies to Fr. Peter. . .
I accept what you state, Peter. However, it is very disconcerting when Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council endeavors to put some distance between the Church's responses and Cardinal Pell only to have a number of the Hierarchy come out in support of Cardinal Pell as the harbinger of truth before the Royal Commission has expressed any view about the veracity of the Cardinal. When will they ever learn? Do they not understand that the actions of a few have destroyed their credibility? The only hope, for the moment, is for lay men and particularly women to lead the way as they have some chance of being listened to.
When approached by a victim of abuse, clarity of response by the Church bishops and cardinals needs to be consistent with the words of Pope Francis. The policies such as Path to Healing (NZ) need to give victims confidence in the processes rather than confusion and further problems especially if there is current intimidation by a perpetrator, and especially if that perpetrator is powerful in the Church. In my view and from my experience, policies need replacing, and those working with the policies need training. Certainly that is the case in NZ.
I recently composed and posted this comment on another site, Bilgramage, because of its ongoing discussion relative to the Church hierarchy's protective culture of pedophile clergy.
I question whether a male pedophile can validly and licitly be ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood. Unless a prospective ordinand has the congruent temperament and genetic disposition as well as an eminent and paramount intent to function “in loco Christi,” with all that that implies, the ritual of ordination cannot confer the Sacrament. The voluntarium of the pedophile has been seriously compromised and apodictically impeded and hence the conferral of Orders is vitiated.