The Tragedy of Sexual Abuse of Minors

The Tragedy of Sexual Abuse of Minors
In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Wednesday, March 31, 2010

http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2010/03/scoundrel-times * George Weigel

1.Be honest and look at the statistics:
•< 2% of priests have been found guilty of sexual abuse of minors;
•98% of priests are striving to live lives of celibacy and holiness. {There were six credible cases of clerical abuse in 2009 as reported in the U.S. bishops’ annual audit, in a church of some 65 million members.}*
•35-50% of sexual abuse of minor cases occur in the home by relatives or friends;
•40% of sexual abuse of minor cases occur within the educational system.

2.Even 1 case of a sexual abuse of a minor is a tragedy.

3.Sexual abuse is often hidden and denied or excused.

4.The guilty excuse themselves by pointing to high profile perpetrators or those under suspicion of abuse.

5.Many among the critics tend to ignore the facts, refusing to accept one is innocent until proven guilty. People are angry and condemn the Church.

6.Jesus warns the angry accusers, “Judge not and you will not be judged…Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

7.Jesus called twelve men to follow him:
•Peter, the first pope denied he knew Jesus;
•Judas sold Jesus to his enemies and later hanged himself because he couldn’t accept forgiveness;
•The apostles ran away when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus.

8.Jesus founded His church on imperfect humans born with original sin; those living on this earth are not perfect. He came to call sinners.

9.If those looking for THE PERFECT CHURCH think they have found such a church, if they join this so called church, the church becomes imperfect because they (the new members) themselves are imperfect.

10.Pray for sinners that they may accept the graces God wants to give them.

11.Pray sinners ask for forgiveness and beg God for the graces to overcome their weaknesses.

12.Pray for all priests, bishops and the Pope (who come from the pool of imperfect humans); they suffer because of the scandals.

13.Throughout history (2000 years) the Catholic Church has been afflicted by sins of heresy, dishonesty, unfaithfulness and failures to teach the members how to overcome their weaknesses/sins. Yet, the Catholic Church still exists.

14.Jesus said, “Thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
G.H. and M. Kubeck