Time: Vatican Instruction misses a key to the scandal
May 18, 2011
Responding to the Vatican's Instruction on sex-abuse policy, Time magazine concludes that the document "addressed only half the scandal that has been rocking the Catholic Church."
The Instruction deals with the question of discipline for abusive priests, Time explains; it does not address the question of how to deal with bishops who protected the abusers, and thus forfeited their own credibility. If the bishops had carried out their disciplinary duties, the sex-abuse scandal would not have had such devastating impact. And if the bishops had retained their credibility, their current efforts to address the scandal would not be met with so much skepticism.
The Time analysis cites both CWN editor Phil Lawler and David Clohessy of SNAP, who find themselves in a rare agreement on the basic thesis of the short essay.
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Posted by: Obregon -
May. 19, 2011 12:22 AM ET USA
I have not read the document, nor do I trust Time Magazine, but this time I would say, they do have a point, if indeed the document ignores the role of the bishops in this whole mess,"The Instruction deals with the question of discipline for abusive priests, Time explains; it does not address the question of how to deal with bishops who protected the abusers, and thus forfeited their own credibility."
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Posted by: Anselm -
May. 18, 2011 11:51 PM ET USA
The rapture really must be happening on the 21st! Phil Lawler and a member of an anti-Catholic organization who serve their own self interests (and pockets) in an agreement? There goes the Four Horseman...
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
May. 18, 2011 11:04 PM ET USA
For once, I agree with Time.
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Posted by: jorchard1934 -
May. 18, 2011 8:58 PM ET USA
The credibility of the bishops has been a problem for thirty years. They have long been preoccupied with peripheral issues while the American church floated out to sea in its liturgy, its discipline, its vocations, its authentic moral voice, even its laity. Perhaps the sexual abuse was the heart of this problem because now (for the past decade), as we begin to purge ourselves of this sin, we are beginning to see real spiritual and ecclesiastical leadership. Praise God.
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Posted by: -
May. 18, 2011 6:33 PM ET USA
Something sensible on religion from Time: life is full of surprises!
