I’m sure by now we’re all familiar with the current controversy involving Pope Benedict XVI. It was recently revealed through newly-found letters that back in the 1980s, at a time when Pope Benedict XVI was only a Cardinal, he failed to act on pleas to defrock a priest in California who had already been charged with multiple counts of child molestation. Years later, the same priest was charged with many more counts of child molestation, was imprisoned, and admitted to molesting “tons” of children. Now, the future of Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican are in jeopardy.
Although I believe pedophilia and homosexuality should never be compared and are two completely separate things, I feel like it’s crucial to point out Pope Benedict’s stand against homosexuality. From the beginning of his reign as Pope, Pope Benedict XVI has done everything in his power to prevent homosexuals from entering the seminary and to prevent gay couples from being recognized legally. Yet Pope Benedict continuously put off defrocking a priest who had sexually molested many children. In other words, Pope Benedict XVI condemns consensual relationships between two adults of the same sex but appears to defend adults who force children to have sexual relationships with them.
Now, atheist campaigners are threatening to arrest Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Britain later this year, believing that the Pope will not be able to claim diplomatic immunity from arrest since the Vatican isn’t recognized as a country by the United Nations. From what I’ve heard, certain Catholics think this is ridiculous and believe it is wrong to arrest the Pope as if he were any common person. Not being a Catholic myself, I’ve never really understood the general concept of having a Pope. It is to my knowledge that all Christians, including Catholics, believe in one god and feel it is wrong to worship false idols. Yet the importance many Catholics put on the Pope’s views and opinions, and on visiting the Vatican seems to indicate that Catholics view the Pope as being worthy of being worshipped. And to me, it seems that the Pope more closely resembles an elected official than a god. However, regardless of anyone’s religious beliefs, shouldn’t everyone be able to see that forcing a child into being sexually active is immoral? And if the Pope couldn’t recognize the immorality in such a situation, then why do people feel he is superior to everyone else and shouldn’t be criminalized for his defense of the priest?
In hearing about this situation, what comes to my mind is that since this priest had already been charged for child molestation back at the time that Pope Benedict XVI wouldn’t defrock him, why wasn’t he automatically forced to leave the Catholic Church? It’s as if the Catholic Diocese completely disregards federal legislation and believes that a convicted criminal may still be worthy of holding a position as a priest. Additionally, in many of these cases of child molestation by various Catholic clergy, the Catholic Diocese investigates the issue and then later decides whether or not to alert authorities of the situation. If the Catholic Church really believed that all of its clergy were innocent and that there was nothing to hide, then it would be logical that the Diocese would allow the authorities to investigate the situation first.
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This is a crazy situation from every angle you look at it. No matter what your beliefs are or what your stance is on the matter at hand, its a losing situation. The vatican has a significant amount of power and for the leader, the pope, to be under such scrutiny is terrifying. To me, this is just another what the hell has this world come to kind of moment. In his defense it is possible that he kept quiet to protect the image of the Catholic church. At the time I'm sure many people would have made the same decision. Even though it doesn't seem like the most moral choice to make, he is not the guilty person. He may be the pope but he is still human and will make mistakes. It seems a little unfair to be on his case as much as everyone has been.
ReplyDeleteYour post has a lot of very valid points, and I definitely agree. The hypocrisy of the situation is outstanding. The Pope shouldn't be treated like a God at all, and he should be punished. Priests are supposed to be trusted and lead their churches in a positive way. Molesting children is something that is almost unforgivable. For a priest to be acting that way would make it difficult for those in the church to be able to trust it. There is really no argument when it comes to the crime, and for the pope to be covering it up is outrageous. The pope is a figure that the Catholic church is trying to lead, and leading him while he covers that up defeats the purpose. The pope should be better than the lies of the other priests and should be setting an example. These are things he Should do, but not what he did do, and its a shame.
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