Prospera Pascha sit

Let me start of by saying, happy Easter to all. On what should be a joyous occasion for the Catholic Church, it is sadly marred with the recent sex abuse scandals that haunt the Vatican. There’s no denying the validity of these accusations; they seem irrefutable and based in some level of truth. What I want to advocate here is two separate points though. The first being that a couple drops of oil doesn’t mean the whole ocean is contaminated – the misguided actions of these individuals and their conduct does not negate the works nor the beliefs of the Church in its entirety. Secondly, and concurrently, this recent tribulation should not deter current believers away from the faith because the basis of Catholicism does not lie in castigation but in forgiveness and repentance – the very reason Jesus rose from the dead.

For critics that complain that the Church is not progressive enough, it is interesting to see these very same people holding Pope Benedict XVI in his past for decisions that were made over twenty years ago. There has been acknowledgment of poor judgment on his behalf and several of his supporters and their deepest regrets for the ultimate outcome are undoubtedly sincere. Yet, when does the slandering reach a level that inversely puts the Church in the position of a victim despite the good that it brings the world?

The unparalleled amount of good that the Church has brought the world over the past two millennia does not permit for us to look the other way on these abuses yet the media, and those that support this type of coverage and defamation, seem more intent on tearing down the Church one figurative and literal brick at a time rather than the actual matter of the abuse itself.

Those with complaints of a lack of change are uninformed. Dioceses all over the world take deliberate steps to prevent these sorts of situations from taking place, such as bringing awareness to the problem, rehabilitation, and even removal. In fact, before taking the position a campus peer minister for my church, I had to go through a training session regarding appropriate behavior when around children, a requirement for all employees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis – and I was only going to be interacting with college-aged students. Even as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger “made entirely clear efforts not to cover [sexual abuses cases] up but to tackle and investigate them. This was not always met with approval in the Vatican.” The problem is identified and measures are continually made to put an end to this pedophiliac exploitation.

These priests that committed these perverted actions were put in positions of trust and, sadly, they took advantage of that trust. If the necessary steps were taken, what more can one do? These things just happen. That doesn’t make me insensitive or coldhearted; it makes me realistic about the state of the world today. There are misguided people out there with erroneous souls, which is all the more for the need of the moral culture that an establishment such as the Church provides and cultivates.

French philosopher Blaise Pascal said, “Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid that it might be true.” Avoiding the countless theological debates that can emerge from that statement alone, it seems that the critics’ agenda regarding these stories is not one of concern but of detestation and opposition towards anything that Church represents. Interestingly, they equate that those following the beliefs are the very same as the beliefs themselves. Therefore, if one of these followers has flawed, then the entire faith must be flawed. Coming from critics that allegedly oppose generalizations of any sort, that type of perspective is hypocritical. Are the countless charitable deeds inspired by the Church and its past automatically discounted based on the minimal errors of those who happen to be associated with it? Should we ignore Mother Theresa’s efforts in Kolkata, Monsignor Richard Albert’s in Jamaica, the YMCA’s in your local community, and any other aid that is to follow from this point on? If encountering a few bad apples really does tarnish your impressions of a good harvest, perhaps it is not the Church that is being too “righteous” but yourself.

The amount of harsh publicity that Pope Benedict, the Vatican, and the entire Church have received over the past weeks should be viewed as old news by now. The Church has been under fire for as long as it has been around yet, despite the best efforts of vilifiers, it continues to thrive. In fact, just last year in 2009, Catholicism experienced a slight increase as a percentage in world religions. Those believers that feel lost and confused by these recent events and face the pressures of opposing and even hostile perspectives must not forget what Jesus told his disciples before his arrest, “‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20). Although this may not fit the conventional views of “persecution,” this malicious commentary by the press has aims of subjugating the Church and those affiliated with it, rather than just the perpetrators.

Lastly though, it ultimately comes down to forgiveness. Mistakes were made on many levels and they are past the point of defense; the Vatican had to admit responsibility and acknowledge its wrongdoing, which it did. For some, the apology did not suffice. Why? I don’t know. For those who don’t support the faith, they seem to expect more from these men and almost liken them to God, but they are not divine beings – they are human beings. They are just as capable of transgressing as you or me, and that goes for the abusers as well. If one makes a mistake, what good does it do to dwell on that misstep forever? Is it not best to recognize the fault, absolve it, and take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening again? The late John Paul II did so when he “pardoned” his would-be assassin and gave him his “complete trust” after meeting with him in prison. Appropriately named English satirist and poet Alexander Pope once wrote, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” By freeing the Church of this spiteful reporting and exposure, perhaps they will not only rid themselves of that malevolence but also experience true compassion.

My dad once told me that what amazes him most about religion is that it is not so much a story of God, but a story of man. For thousands of years, men and women have overcome and gone through so much on the basis of faith alone – not proof or concrete evidence, but faith. Whatever unexplainable force was inspiring them, these followers were humble enough to swallow their pride and live out a life according to the calling. Ridicule, punishment, torture, and even death awaited some of these individuals yet they stood strong enough in their convictions to face it with the utmost belief that what they were doing was right. I have no doubt that the Church will continue to grow as it always had, even when those in control choose to reject it and its teachings. This latest heartbreaking episode deserves notice and attention, but it also deserves reconciliation. On this day that observes resurrection, perhaps recent events will allow us to revive the strength in our faith and further our understanding for its value.