The Catholic Church, known for its long standing history of concealing child sexual abuse, is now claiming transparency...but still fights to maintain and uphold the canon law: a priest cannot breach the confidentiality of Confession.
In an effort to maintain its role in society as moral leaders, the Catholic Church has made every effort within its power and financial means to conceal the harm and trauma it has created. The 900 page grand jury report on the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania mentioned in the linked article below has uncovered the following:
-300 sexual predator priests.
-Over 1000 children sexually assaulted.
-More unknown victims, numbering in the thousands, whose records were either lost or are too afraid to come forward.
-Church officials followed a “playbook for concealing the truth”
-To conceal the truth, accused priests were sent from parish to parish, and sometimes out of state.
-Allegations reported by victims were either ignored, downplayed or minimised
-Over a period of 70 years, the church persuaded victims and families to not report the abuse and law enforcement to not investigate: "The pattern was abuse, deny and cover up," said state Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a press conference in Harrisburg on Tuesday. He described a "systematic cover-up" and a "failure of law enforcement."
-Church officials who protected accused priests of predatory behaviour continue to remain in office or have received promotions.
As you read this linked article, ask yourself these questions:
-How many families is the Catholic Church responsible for destroying as a result of this?
-How many personal lives, untold in number, with a capacity for greatness did they impede?
-How much countless trauma did they willingly create around the world for victims and the families of victims by denying their story and acting as a barrier for justice?
-If the Catholic Church is now claiming transparency, that changes are being made to safeguard children and help survivors of child sexual abuse heal…ask yourself why are they still fighting to maintain the Seal of the Confessional and uphold the statutes of limitations on child sexual abuse?