Reference to shame not enough to satisfy critics

By MICHAEL VALPY, RELIGION AND ETHICS REPORTER, The Globe and Mail
Monday, July 29, 2002

Mike Emerton of Voice of the Faithful said American Catholics who have been shocked by the sex scandals staining their church do not just want to see fingers pointed at a few bad priests.

"What the Pope should have done is acknowledge everyone's role -- the role of members of the hierarchy who moved bad priests around, who treated victims without compassion, who used laity's money for lawyers and lawsuits, who are responsible for cover-ups.

"That's what people are looking for, and that's what they haven't seen."

Mr. Emerton said the Pope should have given concrete assurances to the hundreds of thousands who attended the World Youth Day mass that such an evil would never occur again.

Mr. Emerton's criticism was echoed by officials from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, an advocacy group for victims.

David Gagnon, the organization's Canadian director, said the Pope should have instructed the 450 bishops gathered with him at the altar to treat victims with compassion.

"He chose to minimize the crisis and affirm the priesthood, which to survivors is a very disturbing thing," Mr. Gagnon said.

In his homily, the Pope said, "The harm done by some priests and religious to the young and vulnerable fills us all with a deep sense of sadness and shame." He then told young people to focus on good priests and support them and be close to them.

More than 300 priests in the United States have been relieved of their duties this year because of allegations they abused young people.

Canada has had sex scandals involving Catholic clergy over the past 10 years.