Benedict XVI Needs to Clean House

I've been watching the seemingly ever-expanding Catholic sex abuse scandal with growing amazement. What amazes me is more than the extent of some of these problems, it is how utterly clueless the church leadership appears to be. As a Catholic myself, the whole episode is painful enough. But then to top it all off with a hierarchy that fails to do even the most basic things right is really making me take stock.

I believe that most priests, nuns and monks are sincere and dedicated people. I'm talking about "most" meaning 95% here. But there have always been problem members of the priesthood. As a church member you would hear whispers about them over the years, priests who seemed to get transferred abruptly from place to place. There were various rumored reasons, from church politics to moral turpitude of various types. Then came the sex abuse revelations beginning about ten years ago in the U.S.

The church in its various arms has paid billions in settlements to victims. It looks like they get it that this has been a serious problem. But that seems to be as far as it goes. They do not appear to perceive that a whole culture of secrecy and complacency needs to be ended root and branch. An apology is not enough; there needs to see a major housecleaning. And it needs to come directly from the man at the top, Pope Benedict XVI himself.

Here is what he needs to do:

1. Come clean on his own record. If he made mistakes in judgment or was operating under an outmoded code that valued institutional whitewashing over unpleasant truths truth then that must be admitted.
2. Promulgate a new policy for the church, announce it publicly and publicize it to the skies. The policy must unequivocally state that protection of the people in the church's trust is a mandatory and sacred duty, and that violations of that trust will not be tolerated. Investigations of those charged with criminal abuses of power, particularly against children, will be turned over to the civil authorities. Due process will be followed; the way teachers and police officers' cases are now handled could be good models. But if crimes have been committed it should be the church's position to support the civil authorities in punishing such criminal predators to the full extent of the law. That would not have to include capital punishment, which the church opposes, but long incarcerations at least. The counseling services of the church will still be made available to the offenders. Only it should be in prison, if they want it, not as a means to avoid the penalty for their crimes.
3. Immediately order an investigation to see what other undiscovered skeletons remain hidden. Assign massive personnel and legal resources to it. Set them loose with a free hand to pursue any and all leads.

A pope who was more concerned about proclaiming Christ and following his teachings than defending the institutional church would do these things. The overwhelming majority of clergy, who selflessly serve God and their parishioners, would fully support these steps. The laity are already wondering why they are not being taken.

It is troublingly puzzling that the pope and the top hierarchy do not see that such an approach would save the reputation of the church rather than harming it. Instead we see statements that the press is attacking the church. We see legal opinions that the pope is immune from subpoenas and prosecution. This sort of wagon circling bodes most ill. Rather than clearing the air, it only heightens suspicion.

The church teaches its followers that they are not perfect and that they will stumble. Yet through sincere confession, penance and faith in divine guidance they can be redeemed. It is high time the church followed the advice it gives the faithful. It is time to do the right thing.